On Thursday 27/03/25 we competed in the Year 8 MISA Public Speaking Competition, we travelled to Macarthur Anglican College with Miss Azzopardi, this was an enriching and unique experience for us. Over the course of the day we learnt how to develop our communication and public speaking skills in a controlled environment. Learning from our peers, assisted us in honing our public speaking abilities helping us to further develop important skills that we can apply in our lives.

The topics of the day were, The Power of Storytelling and How it Shapes Our World, The Future of Work, Cancel Culture, and finally What Makes A True Leader. All the mentioned topics were represented very well throughout all the schools that competed. 

Caitlin:

My speech was about the Power of Storytelling and How it Shapes Our World. The main points were: The positive aspects of storytelling which include movies and how meaning can transcend generations. As well as the negatives, such as social media and the impact it can have on our self esteem and sense of self. The positive feedback provided in relation to the presentation of my speech was that I had good voice projection, was clear in my delivery and included good content and structure.

Ethan:

My speech was on What Makes A True Leader: Lessons From History. I spoke about many inspirational and influential leaders who made a significant impact on the world and how we see it today. Some leaders include Martin Luther King Jr, Winston Churchill and even the late Queen Elizabeth II. These people all had an impact in how we can act and how we treat others today. The judges had little to no negative feedback but the positive feedback was evident, some points included that I was easily heard, easily understood, and had good content/ structure.  

In conclusion, this day was a fun and enjoyable time. We shared many lasting memories as a school and hope that one day we have the chance to do this again. This opportunity also led to the making of many new friends and impactful people who made a change in the way that we write and present our speeches. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in placing in this competition, but this was a fantastic achievement that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. We will remember this moment for years to come and use the feedback and inspiration we have gained to not only grow as individuals but also look for opportunities to contribute to the College community. 

By Ethan Lynch and Caitlin Dowdell