With the speech debate nationals edging closer, students at Nixa High School have been preparing in various ways. Seven Nixa students have qualified for the national competition. Nationals are in Chicago, IL., from Jun.15-19, including one freshman in the novice division. 

     Freshman Zoiya Okumu is in her first year of speech and debate and has experienced some nervousness.

   “Competing as a freshman was initially intimidating because I didn’t know how high school tournaments were run,” Okumu said. “Eventually, I got into the rhythm of things and knew the expectations.”

   Okumu said she made it into nationals for declamation, a public speaking event where students memorize a preexisting speech and add their twist. 

   “The speech I’m reciting for nationals is called ‘The Danger of a Single Story’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,” Okumu said. 

   Having a mentor while competing can be important. Sophomore Josefina Brown, who is competing this year in two events for nationals, said she attributes her success to her sister.

   “She’s the one who got me into speech and debate,” Brown said. “She told me freshman year that I should give it a try, and I did, and it was a great time for us just to bond over something that we both loved.”

   Brown said she enjoys speech and debate because of the way she is able to express herself.

  “I enjoy just being there with my friends and having this time to express myself in a way that I don’t normally,” Brown said.

   Not every student in speech and debate can attend the national competition, instead, they have to be individually selected. Okumu said that consistent practice and dedication helped her improve her performance and make it to the national competition as a freshman, being one of the two who did.   

   “I think the determining factor that allowed me to make it to Nationals was my performance throughout the year,” Okumu said. “I dedicated a lot of time to working on my speeches, and it really helped me improve.”

   Brown made it to nationals for duo interpretation with Lucia Howe. She said that although difficult, the work has been rewarding.

    “It’s a lot of work, and so I wasn’t expecting to be willing to put in that much time,” Brown said. “But you really do start to love it and want to put as much effort as you can.”