Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is consistently one of humanity’s greatest fears. But, there are some who were lucky enough to have been born with nerves of steel.
Some of those live right here in Plant City, and now, they have something to show for it.
Emma Poole and Blake Stafford were the two first-place winners in last month’s Plant City Optimist Club Oratorical Contest, during which they each gave a four- to five-minute speech about their passions. Or, specifically, how their passions impact the world.
They, along with three other girls and one other boy, spoke in front of a panel of judges and an audience of 50 people. Speakers were judged not only on their speeches, but also on their appearances, personalities and presentations.
Coming up next is a zone competition in Mulberry on April 17, where they will face off against the best of the best from Lakeland and Winter Haven. It’s also where the road to a $2,500 college scholarship begins.
Read excerpts from the winning essays at the bottom of this page.
THE PIANIST
Poole, a Tomlin Middle School student, has been playing piano for about six-and-one-half years now. Through that experience, she’s grown to love jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Harry Connick Jr.
“None of my friends listen to what I listen to,” Poole says.
She says she enjoys playing fast, loud songs, but slower ballads became the backbone for her first competition speech — how her passion for playing piano has impacted other people.
The inspiration came at a nursing home. There lived an older gentleman who, according to the staff, hadn’t shown any trace of emotion in months. She decided to play a song for the man. An old church hymn finally touched the older man’s soul, and he began to cry.
After delivering her speech, Poole didn’t see the win coming.
“I thought I’d get second place,” she says. “Two of the other girls were in high school, and I was a little scared by them.”
THE NATURAL
Although it was also Stafford’s first public-speaking contest, he already was comfortable facing crowds.
The Plant City High student has had plenty of experience from his time attending Plant City Church of God, where he is a member of the drama team and occasionally speaks to the congregation.
He chose to speak about his stance against bullying, part of which came from personal experience. Stafford’s only competition was fellow Raider Arie Fry, also no stranger to the craft of public speaking. But, at the end of the day, it was Stafford’s anti-bullying speech that won the hearts of the judges.
KEEPING COOL
Poole and Stafford took a similar approach with the crowd. They chose to make their speeches more like conversations rather than follow the “picture-the-audience-in-their-underwear” cliche.
“I could never do that,” Stafford says. “That would be weird. I don’t think it would help.”
Both chose to focus only on the judges. They were willing to share their secrets, from which anyone could benefit.
“I don’t think about (speaking to the whole audience),” Stafford says. “They’re people, I’m a person. I memorize my speech before, so it’s more like having a conversation than giving a speech.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
EXCERPTS FROM EMMA POOLE
One of my other favorites was the elderly man — living with Alzheimer’s at a nursing home. He was in a recliner, with a blanket pulled up to his neck, and like many of the residents, could not move or talk. I played every kind of song that day, from ragtime to classical, jazz to old, soft hymns. Without moving or making any noise, he began to cry. The nurse said that it had been a month since the man had responded to anything.
Recently, I had the opportunity to play several songs for the Veteran’s Day assembly at my school. What an honor to play a whole lineup right before our assistant principal belted out ‘The Star-Spangled Banner!’ I could see the smiling faces of the friends, relatives and veterans, as they sang along with their favorite patriotic songs, and see the feeling on their faces as they looked with pride at the beautiful slideshow pictures of their people.
Harriet Tubman was right when she said, “You have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.” I am eleven years old, music is my passion, and I plan to take a lot of people with me to wonderful, musical places!
EXCERPTS FROM BLAKE STAFFORD
Bullying is no stranger to the not so popular, not so beautiful or handsome, the overweight, and the nerdy. Everyone can’t be a jock or a cheerleader, but everyone has value and worth.
How did we get to where we are now? Parents have no time to invest in their children. Work, social media, parties, texting and talking on the phone take up most of their day. There’s little time left over for the children. In essence kids are left to raise themselves. It’s no wonder children and teens behave badly. They’re starving for attention! Television, computers and Xboxes have replaced good parenting and have become our baby sitters. Shows and games portray violence and killing as glamorous. So who’s to blame, the child or the parent?
Why am I so passionate about bullying? I too was bullied and would never wish it on anyone. By watching out for others, defending them, and reporting all bullying that I am aware of, and by encouraging my fellow students, friends and family to do the same; I can change the world around me. If everyone will do their part, it will create a ripple effect and change the world for the victims of bullying.