Student Highlight
This month, we highlight Addy Carney, a Cumberland senior. Addy has had great success in Forensics competitions and below is a bit of her experience in her words.
"My journey with Original Oratory began freshman year when I joined Speech and Debate. Speech and Debate consists of several categories: Impromptu, Humorous and Serious Interpretation, Extemporaneous, and, of course, Original Oratory, to name a few. Each of these categories comes with its own specific guidelines and requirements. Original Oratory, often shortened to OO, is when a student researches, writes, and performs a speech on any topic of his/her choosing within a time span of ten minutes. Writing these speeches and sharing them with others gave me the unique opportunity of sharing my thoughts and voicing my concerns about the world. My first year, I wrote a speech on the unethicality of book banning. I received first at regionals, first at super-regionals, and third at the state championship in my category and class. A love for OO spurred within me, and I was more than excited to return the following season, where I wrote a speech on the mental health crisis in schools across the nation. This speech earned me the first place title at states that year, an incredible feat that I was ecstatic to have accomplished. Last year, after presenting my speech on how the foster care system could be improved, I won another state title. Our team as a whole also received runner-up for our class! OO has traveled with me throughout my entire high school career and has helped me become a better advocate, student, and person. This year, as a senior, I look forward to being the team captain of my Speech team and helping others who also have a love for public speaking."
We look forward to see what Addy writes about her senior year and if she can have a three-peat state title! Either way, we are so proud of her.
