I think you should all know that this week I officially retired from the NFL. I was only part of this organization for 6 months, but I had to call it quits this Tuesday. I put in a lot of work and effort towards this organization but it just really wasn’t my thing.
Before
joining the team the only exposure I had to competitive speaking was through my
cousins, Jenna and Abby. I remember them performing at family holidays and
thinking it was really odd. They really got into what they were saying and
showed so much emotion. Jenna and Abby have gone onto competing in college for highly
respected speech teams. Both have a strong passion for this activity and have
been incredibly successful. I on the other hand could tell a different story.
I didn’t
choose to be in forensics, the SMSU Speech Communication Program did. (It is a required class in my major to compete in 5 tournaments) Looking back on the
past 6 months there have been a lot of ups and downs being involved with this
activity, but I will just focus on the fun times. One of the most entertaining
things I did was coming up with the unwritten rules of forensics with other newbies.
These are some of the rules we came up with:
1. You must look at your black book as if it were a science experiment.
1. You must look at your black book as if it were a science experiment.
*In some forensics pieces you use a
black book to represent the story you are telling. To put it short, people really get into using these.
2. If you are in a depressing mood, don’t compete in or watch prose because it will only make it worse.
3. If you are a girl, in order to compete you must have suits in every color, pearls, nude heels, and red lipstick.
*Seriously, where these girls find these suits is a mystery. I wore the same black suit every time I competed.
4. Making it to nationals in one event is not impressive.
*People typically qualify 5+ events to nationals. Hats off to them.
5. Bring your own snack to meets otherwise you won’t eat for 7+ hours.
6. According to my coach: “If you don’t feel like you are going to get shot at your hotel, then you aren’t doing forensics right." *We must be doing it right then.
7. If you are new to forensics, don’t compare yourself to the people you are competing against because they have been doing this for their whole lives while you have been doing it a mere 3 months.
2. If you are in a depressing mood, don’t compete in or watch prose because it will only make it worse.
3. If you are a girl, in order to compete you must have suits in every color, pearls, nude heels, and red lipstick.
*Seriously, where these girls find these suits is a mystery. I wore the same black suit every time I competed.
4. Making it to nationals in one event is not impressive.
*People typically qualify 5+ events to nationals. Hats off to them.
5. Bring your own snack to meets otherwise you won’t eat for 7+ hours.
6. According to my coach: “If you don’t feel like you are going to get shot at your hotel, then you aren’t doing forensics right." *We must be doing it right then.
7. If you are new to forensics, don’t compare yourself to the people you are competing against because they have been doing this for their whole lives while you have been doing it a mere 3 months.
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At the end
of it all I can’t complain about my experience on the forensics team; I had
early success by making it to the finals in my drama piece, met new people, became
a more confident speaker, and found an appreciation for all of those who compete in forensics.
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| It isn't a forensics meet without Coach Fokken taking a selfie with a set up photo-bomb. |
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| New friends: The one in the middle does an awesome Melissa McCarthy impression. |
