I'm sitting here with my hands hovering over the keyboard, and find that even after five years of speech training, I am struggling to find the right words. Exactly one month ago today, I was on a road in the middle of nowhere (aka 'Wisconsin' :D) coming home from the last speech and debate tournament I will ever experience. How does one put into words all the memories? All the laughter we shared? All the stress, all the late-night debate rounds and, of course, all the Skittles? How can one describe the friendships that were forged in the midst of competition? How can one even begin to relate all the cheers and yes, all the tears? Is it possible to fully convey the emotions one feels when those who may not have advanced in the competition leap to their feet and cheer for their friends who receive awards?
In all honesty, words are often just not enough. I don't think it is possible to express what is in my heart as I look back over my highschool forensics experience. Some may look at 'NCFCA' and think it's just a bunch of letters that are hard to put in the right order. But in this acronym, I see the organization that literally transformed my personality into who I am today. Some may hear 'speech and debate' and immediately say 'Oh I could never do that'. But I hear those words and think of the young men and women who I've met through these competitions, and I cannot imagine my life without them. Some may think 'Who in their right mind would spend all their time studying philosophers that no one's ever heard of?' But I think of all that I've learned - how to research, the ability to think quickly, the necessity of sound logic, and the skills needed to speak to any number of people - and I know that my time has been well spent.
When I was in junior high, graduation seemed like a distant dream. But now I'm here, I don't even know where the time went! I would give so much to rewind the clock a bit. To go back, just for a little while, and return to the craziness that is speech and debate. Yet I know that time marches on, and I must put away that season of life. Somehow, and almost without my knowledge, I have grown into a young woman, and it is time for me to look ahead to the future. It is time to take the skills that have been honed through NCFCA and reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thus it is with a bittersweet feeling that I post the pictures from my final tournament. To be honest, I didn't really like the way my photos turned out. The rooms were either really dark or really bright, so everyone's skin tone looks a little off, or there is an obnoxious light in the background, or the picture is too grainy, or just about every other ingredient that makes a bad picture. But it's not the pictures themselves that mean so much to me. They will never be hung in a gallery among great works of art, and eventually, they will be tucked away on a shelf in the cupboard. Yet the memories will last forever, and that's all that really matters.
So sit back and enjoy this smattering of pictures from our time at Northwestern College in St Paul, MN. The week was everything I could have wanted it to be, and even more, and I will forever look back on this tournament as 'the perfect way to end' :)
The campus was absolutely gorgeous!! The buildings were all really close, so it made walking between them much easier :)
<3
All the LDers would gather to 'theorize' after every debate round :D
Reed and Matt attempted to do an impromptu duo - they made the perfect pair ;P
Our IO champion :)
Above are two persuasive speakers that you absolutely must see if you ever get the chance! Elsa won our regional competition with her speech on 'the benefits of having flowers in your house' (who knew that flowers have proven psychological benefits??) and Matt got 3rd at nationals with his speech on 'the dangers of rock music' (a.m.a.z.i.n.g.)
RENEE!!!!!! :D :D :D
Camera sisters ;)
After all the preliminary rounds were over, we enjoyed a picnic outside - it was the perfect night, and it was a great way to unwind :) I can't believe I'm even posting the above picture, but I couldn't resist...you girls are AWESOME!!! :P
Why do I always have this effect on certain people? (<cough>Karsten<cough>)
The next day was when outrounds started. Region 10 absolutely OWNED at this tournament, so I'm not even going to try to list all those who advanced. Everyone did such an amazing job, and if you want full results, click here.
Laurel and Liat (a debate team from our region) broke to the double quarterfinal round of Team Policy debate (they were debating Ryan and Sam, another very good team), so I went to watch them for awhile. They did an AMAZING job!!!! :D Sorry for the amount of pictures from the round - I got bored with hate crime laws after awhile, so my shutter button got busy ;)
I had to laugh at this button in the elevator :D
(I'm pretty sure that the above was an octafinal round of LD - I didn't know either of the competitors, but decided to sit in to watch)
Shayne is from our region, and he got all the way to SEMIFINALS!!!!!!!!!!! We were all so excited for him, and even though he didn't advance to finals, his semi round (against the LD champ) was verrrrry close.
At the beginning of the year I made two goals: Lord willing, I wanted to debate in a final round and speak in a national final round. I stand on this side of the competition year and say 'God is so good' :) My blessing was doubled as I had the privilege of debating in two final rounds and giving two speeches in the national final round! The Lord truly blessed this year, and again - I couldn't think of a better way to end!
THAT'S MY REGION!!!!! :D (Since all the regions are classified with Roman numerals, and since we are 'Region X' we are the 'X-Men' :P Thus you see the random 'X' signs above :D)
Congratulations, Shayne!! (and btw - that trophy weighs about 10 pounds :P Just sayin'...)
Siblings :)
SO before you jump to conclusions, let me provide backstory on this photo :D Karolina is an avid tennis fan/player, and her favorite player always bites his trophies for some reason which is beyond my comprehension (see below). Thus even though I can't stand tennis, we had to do a 'victory bite' to celebrate :D
(see Karolina - I finally put a tennis player on my blog!!!! Aren't you proud? :P)
WE'VE GRADUATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D
Elsa was quite proud of her new floppy sunhat :D
To my awesome friends, both in and out of region, you are the very best companions I could ever ask for :) I have found so many 'kindred spirits', and I cannot WAIT to see that the Lord will do in each of your lives!! May He richly bless you in all your endeavors - I look forward to coming back as a dreaded alumni judge!! :D
Bex <3 <3
(as far as photo credit goes, so many different people had my camera that week, I really don't know who took what pictures :P So thank you all! :D)
