Speaking in Public

Wow kay, first of all, it's been 2 months since I've so much as glanced at this page. Cleaned out the posts I made while I was bored stoopid annnd starting again!

So, school has started, and I'm finally top of the school food chain (year 12)! For the first time in my 12 years of education, I'm going to go home, do my homework and nerd it out till the suns long gone. Seriously.

Getting to the point of this blog.. Public Speaking (le gasp!). I was "heavily persuaded" late last year to participate in a public speaking competition. God was I nervous just hearing about it.

Basically this competition requires we do a 5minute prepared speech (sounds easy enough) and 2 2 minute speeches on the spot (this is where a part of me inside died listening). The prepared speech could be on ANY topic we wanted, however, we had to keep in mind:

1. We're speaking to a crowd of grumpy, elderly residents
2. Talking about sex or politics is a sure way to lose
3. Going over the 5 minute mark, even by a little, will drag our mark down. (;~;)

So, referring to the first two points, WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO TALK ABOUT? I spent the entire summer holidays thinking of things to talk about. It had to be something I could really elaborate on without the speech turning into mindless anecdotes and bullshit, and it also could not be about sex (saadly) or controversial issues which could well turn political (adieu whaling :[ ). It also had to be something slightly intellectual, cause a roomful of old folks aint gonna love a speech on the different ways you could eat Vegemite.

31st of January, my brain turned on.
In a sudden brainstorm I thought up 3 topics.

1. Australias justice system, compared to that of other countries (especially communists)
2. How generation Y lacks the morality, appreciation of life and respect people once had in older times.
3. How the media is the greatest influence in youths.

*Kudos to Wittey for the first idea. ♥

I went with the last option, after having googled the first two topics and coming up with very little. I struggled these past days to even start writing the speech, all I have down is "Dear ladies and gentlemen.." no kidding. I had to take in consideration, the people or "ladies and gentlemen" were elderly 80-year olds. How could my message and sense of humour get through to them? They obviously lived in an older time, with a completely different view on life and opinion. I'm scared they'll see me as just 'some teenager whining about media issues.' *cringe*

1st of February, I had a vision.
I saw/imagined (I'm no see'er) the elderly folk of Lions club keel over dying from a heart attack after hearing exciting parts of my speech.
Now, to be honest I wasn't totally shocked. A part of me was impressed my would-be speech was that exciting and entertaining that people would die from shock listening (I know right).
But, that just told me another guideline I had to follow in my speech: Keep it .. tolerable, not too exciting and flashy, yet also enough to keep the judges awake.

My track record in speeches hasn't been fabulous, and this competition being my first time publicly speaking. Till year 11, my speeches have usually gone like this:

1. Prepare speech night before assesment
2. Appear inconspicuous in class to avoid being chosen to speak
3. Make a lot of palm cards during that time
4. Speak quickly, only make eye contact when teacher is watching, mumble lines I forget and pause every now and then to fill up the time limit
5. Overall: Fluke an A/B

I'm improving though, just pray I've improved enough to live through the competition.

~ still thinking, still writing.
♥ Ice-cream eater