Much has happened in our lives since the beginning of the year but I'm trying to catch up. This was our daughter's Farewell Speech as a senior speech team member. Many cried, even my husband. I've also included some photos. Marcella received the most points again this year and a trophy. Her name is also on two plaques that will hang at school. Marcella has been on the speech team all four years of high school. I've been so excited for this senior speech since my freshman year banquet, but I realize now it came way too quickly and it’s not nearly as easy as I’d hoped. I literally have a note on my phone with a couple ideas I’ve had in my head for this dating as far back as February 14 of this year. Firstly I’d like to talk about what it means to be in speech. To be in speech you have to be motivated determined, open-minded (for criticism purposes), and ready to allow your coaches and fellow speechies to change your life. -When you are even slightly motivated, it can become a domino effect from there and your possibilities for achievement will be seemingly endless. -Your determination to succeed for not only yourself but for your team as well is what gives you the leg up from those who only go so far as to have the minimum motivation. -Being open-minded is incredibly important in order to improve your performance; it is also very useful in your encounters just being a part of the speech team that help shape who you are as an individual. -Giving someone the power to change your life—even if it is in the slightest way possible—is super intense. Some people won’t let this occur during their speech team experience but I wholeheartedly believe without this element, I would not be where I am now. The list of memories I’m going to miss is too long and I’m sure there are some I’ll forget and some that are just too personal and special between me and others to mention publically. For those I will mention, I can’t believe I won’t be able to bond every tournament with team members talking about anything from speech boyfriends to judging the attire of girls from other schools and saying, “Oh McQuiggan would not even let her on the bus.” Or yelling “The South will rise again!” though that probably sounds horrible to just about anybody else, singing the Spice Girls while waiting for awards,, or not believing that we could achieve such great team sweeps success. Before I really lose it I’d like to give you speechies some advice I have learned while being a part of this family: 1) Confidence is key. It really can make a difference for your performance. 2) Take pictures! I regret not having enough memories captured over my 4 years on this team. 3) Meet deadlines. I’ve been guilty of failing to do so and if you can just get your work done, the stress will subside much quicker. 4) Actually practice after school. Just hanging out is fun & okay in moderation, but if you utilize your practice time, you will accomplish more than you thought you could. 5) Don’t let McQuiggan scare you. She isn’t too intimidating once you get comfortable around her. She just doesn’t like flaky people or liars. Avoid being either one of those and you’re good. Also, don’t let Marin fool you—she’s sweet the majority of the time but I’ve seen her angry and it’s scarier than McQuiggan on a bad day. 6) Don’t let the outcome of breaks or any place in finals define you. Successful speechies can fail and those and those that see less time on stage can amaze you. 7) Please don’t take your time on this team for granted. When it gets too much to handle, persevere a little bit longer. You will find no other experience like the one that comes with Speech. Treasure it. And 8) If not for yourselves, do it for me: sing the school fight song on the way home from every tournament with all the pride you can muster, no matter how exhausted you are. Now comes the hard part: thank yous and goodbyes. To my entire team: thank you for always being supportive and so much fun to be around. Whether I’ve told you individually or not – I love you each and every one of you. You have helped give me one of the best gifts by being my family, my team, and my home. I’m staying local the next two years for college, so I’d be happy to help any of you next season & hope I can come back & judge. I love you guys and have a great next season. Push yourselves & you will go far. To Wesley: Thank you for helping coach me, remaining fairly patient with me when I am hard to handle, and being so supportive. You are an awesome part of this team. I don’t know what Ben and I would have done without your help when we were partners, or what I would’ve done in oratory or info with you trying so hard to get me to not be a speech—bot. Thank you so much for the awesome motivational CD and for entertaining the entire team. I’m going to miss you so much. Ms. Marin: Where would I be without your genius work for intros and original speeches. You’ve always been able to come up with perfect intros for anybody’s piece within 20 minutes and you possess the incredible ability to condense a whole 5 sentences of mine into 1; I’m not sure how but it amazes me every time. I’ll miss you always being so sweet, except when you really need to lay it down on some people. I still remember doing my prose for you my freshman year and you told me after you teared up a bit. That made me so happy and gave me that much more motivation for the rest of the year and beyond. I love you, I’ll miss you, and I’m sure I’ll see you next season one way or another. Finally, Mrs. McQuiggan: Where do I even being? You’ve been like a second mother to me since my freshman year. You saw my first kiss (which was totally unexpected for me too), encouraged me back to the speech team with a tearful talk when I almost quit my sophomore year, and stayed after school until 8 p.m. on more than once occasion to ensure I had a completed speech. I’m going to miss all the hours I spent in your room practicing, getting your help with other school stuff, or oftentimes just talking about anything and everything. You have helped me with college applications that I would not have finished had it not been for your assistance, and your guidance these last few stressful weeks of high school has been much appreciated. Your hugs are a rarity, but they’re filled with so much love that just one can help heal for a long time – from the congratulatory one at state my junior year when I broke into finals, the one when you made me stress cry in your classroom, or the “you didn’t get as far as we wanted but it is sushi and I’m still proud of you for all that you’ve accomplished” one this season at state. Speaking of, I will never be able to express my gratitude for all of the time and effort you have put into me and my radio career. There is no way, no matter how talented I may or may not be; absolutely no way I could have ever been as successful as I was these past 4 years without your help. You have taught me that perfection isn’t always worth the stress and to believe in myself always no matter what. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you in the same building as me every day, always ready to help me out with whatever. I know I’m staying here for at least 2 more years and I’m sure I’ll be back to judge or to help coach if you need an extra body, but this is still going to feel like goodbye no matter what. So I want to make sure I tell you how grateful I am to have such an amazing woman in my life, how much I’ll miss you (an indescribable amount), and how you’ll always have a place in my heart. I love you Mrs. McQuiggan, thank you for everything. Speechies, two more things to leave you with. You should always keep in mind what our wonderful head coach has told us time and time again: Speech is not a sprint, it’s a marathon & Speech is sushi. I love you all very much, thank you.
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