As the new school year opens up many clubs and organizations are beginning to allow students to explore and find their places.

Junior Lanaeya Doyle is starting to prompt her Speech and Debate team and program. Doyle has put in lots of effort and time into her competitions and passion for Speech and Debate. 

“I always wanted to be a lawyer, but that changed. I think public speaking is always good for me.” Doyle said.  “Back in middle school I wanted to be a lawyer so speech and debate sounded perfect for me.”

Always having the passion to do public speaking had always been on the road for Doyle. She knew from the beginning that becoming a lawyer was what she wanted, until she was introduced to theater.

 She knew that she still wanted the skill of being able to talk in front of a crowd. 

“I mostly do prose, it’s dramatic interpretation where I give a speech off of a book, and act it out in front of people; I love doing it because of my theater groups so it feels so comfortable for me.” said Lanaeya

Speaking in public and in front of crowds is a huge part of being in speech and debate. Learning how to speak firmly and know how to control your voice to project needs some strong skill. 

“Talking to other people; before I was very nervous and had trouble controlling eye contact and now I know they’re not going to judge me for just talking,” Doyle said. 

Maintaining eye contact while speaking is a very important skill to have, especially in speech and debate. It shows that you have power over your audience, and it shows how you control your nerves. 
“ You have to just get into it and just do it, my nerves get really bad; I pace back and forth, but when I get up there, I’m up there and it’s time to perform and roll.” Doyle said. 

Speaking with others can create better communication skills, and learn how to understand others better. 

‘I feel like I’ve grown to understand what the other is saying better, ‘ said Doyle. “Speech and debate made me sit, listen, and analyze what they’re saying and know exactly what to respond with.” 

Lots of people fear speech and debate because they’re scared of public speaking; it’s a fear many have and tend to hide themselves from opportunities that could help them improve skills. 

“Just do it, Stop being nervous and just do it because every single time I get in my head about something and I end up saying I can’t do it, I end up being fine,” said Doyle. 

There is a lot of misconceptions about speech and debate; it’s fun, competitive, and interesting. It’s a great way to improve your speaking skills, publicly and learn to understand your peers more.

“ If you don’t like public speaking, join speech and debate, I know that sounds like a flip flop, but it helps so much and it’s a great way and you can be right about stuff, and who doesn’t like being right,” Doyle said.