Health & Fitness
Debate Team Blog: Blame it on the Wedding Ring
Speech and Debate gives us the chance to overcome the shyness that accompanies speaking publicly and the opportunity to demonstrate innate talents that often times we didn't know we had.
Ah, a promising Monday morning: the fresh smell of coffee, the sounds of carry-on luggage being shoved into car trunks all across Solon, and...the ticking of the clock as the time approached 6:40 am, the departure time of the Solon Speech and Debate Team's flight to Dallas.
We waited anxiously at Cleveland Hopkins Airport for our coaches, the goofy yet loveable Jen and Dan to arrive...and arrive they did, 10 minutes too late.
"Blame it on the wedding ring," said Dan, cheerfully hoisting his man-purse onto his shoulder, "I left it at home this morning and had to turn back to get it." We ribbed Dan about the consequences of his not wearing a wedding ring, oblivious to the fact our flight had just taken off. Those precious 10 minutes of waiting time had meant the difference between arriving in Dallas on time and potentially missing the national tournament!
Find out what's happening in Solonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As we waited for Jen to coordinate another flight to Dallas, we took the opportunity to practice our pieces in a relatively empty airport gate--well within the public's eye. We reflected on what Speech and Debate really means to us: the chance to not only overcome the shyness and fear that typically accompanies the prospect of speaking publicly, but also the opportunity to demonstrate innate talents that oftentimes we didn't even know we had.
From acting--both comedically and dramatically--to analyzing and debating world issues, Speech/Debate allows students to express themselves in forums of fellow peers and of adults. The chance to compete at the national level is a boon that the entire team is grateful for. Nothing satisfies a Solon speech student more than to engage in friendly competition with literally hundreds of other competitors in each Speech/Debate event or category from all across the United States.
Find out what's happening in Solonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Alas, we finally arrived in the sweltering hot, 98 degree Dallas weather, and, one hour-long claustrophobic bus ride later, made it to our hotel: the Aloft Dallas. (more info here: http://www.aloftdallasdowntown.com/). After a delicious TexMex dinner, we each squeezed in another practice, and are now preparing to sleep. Day 1 of competition looms tomorrow...