Let's Talk About Goodbyes

 How do I even begin? Over the weekend I wrapped up the end of a decade of competitive Speech and Debate. The 51st annual National Forensics Association tournament concluded at Bradley University, and my time as a competitor along with it. I started competing in forensics as a little middle schooler with a million dreams and a love for the spotlight. However, I have now completed a decade of love, sweat, tears, warmups, early mornings, suits, long bus rides, bad hotel breakfasts, Jimmy John's Slims, matte lipstick, pantyhose, heels, heavy purses, talking to walls, and everything in between. 

Reflections

While this is goodbye, I also believe speech and debate will always be a part of my life in one way or another. Obviously, the skills I have learned are always with me, but more than that - the friends I made along the way are invaluable. Over the past decade, I have grown so much as a person, a performer, a writer, and a speaker. I wouldn't be nearly as confident in my communication abilities if it weren't for speech. Competing opened doors for me to travel all across the country, and even the world. I am so incredibly sad that my time as a competitor is over, but I am just so grateful for everything it gave me. 

Looking Ahead

Going forward, I am most excited about judging tournaments and coaching for my old high school and maybe even my BUST teammates if they want another set of eyes on an event. I look forward to figuring out my advocacy in a new light and taking the skills I've built from this activity and transferring them to the corporate space. I look forward to still trying to get every person I ever meet to join speech. I look forward to seeing what surprising ways I will be reminded of the memories I've made. 

I don't have a whole lot to say because I am so overwhelmed with emotions, but for now, I will just say this: the word of the day is grateful. I hope every person gets the opportunity to find their passion like I was able to with forensics. I hope you find something that makes you excited about waking up (even if it's at 4:00 AM on a random Saturday morning). I hope you remember that everything is fleeting, but that just makes the time you have in it, even more special. I hope you also find something that makes saying goodbye so hard. (see photo below for my ugly crying at the end of NFA). 

When I compose myself a little more and gather my thoughts further we'll have to...

Talk Soon!