Schools
22 March, 2024
Skilful speeches
Four students from Toogoolawah State High School gave two impromptu speeches and a prepared speech each at the school library on Friday March 8, as part of the Lions Club of Esk’s Youth of the Year quest.
The public speaking component comprised 30 percent of the assessment for each student, while an interviewing process took up the remaining 70 percent.
Year 10 student Charlie Humphreys won the public speaking component while year 11 student Eloise Alderson won overall, meaning the latter progressed to the regionals phase at Lowood on March 23.
Those two students, along with year 11 student Ashlee Pratt and year 12 student Paul Maher, gave varied speeches which made it hard for judges Garry Hutchinson, John Cumner and Tanya Sherlock to make their verdict.
Each student gave an impromptu speech in response to the question: “If you had to spend the rest of your life as a TV or movie character, who would it be and why?”
Paul chose ‘someone from Modern Family’, Ashlee chose Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds, Eloise chose Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls, and Charlie chose the doctor from Dr Who.
Each student also gave an impromptu speech in response to the question: “Who is your role model, and why?”
The two girls chose their respective fathers while Paul chose Albert Einstein.
Charlie, meanwhile, gave an informative speech despite not choosing anyone as his role model.
He later discussed ‘Give it a go… everyone should have a go’ for his prepared speech.
Paul discussed masculinity, Ashlee discussed serial killers in the media, and Eloise discussed youth in the media for their prepared speeches.
