I'm really not quite sure where to start, and I'm dreadfully determined to keep this short and not drawn out. Which is fortunate, because speech tournaments have a way of draining me of sounding anything near articulate and descriptive.Nationals. It was....a lot different than I was expecting. I thought it would be a life changing, inspiring, hopefully victorious tournament - but it wasn't. It was life changing, yes, but in an entirely different way. I expected to have the Hannah-on-speech-energy-thrill the whole time. But I wasn't.
I'm rather ashamed to admit I was a bit of a jerk for the first half of the tournament. It was Nationals, and this was supposed to be my tournament. I was the speech geek, and I fear I thought I should be in the center of attention.Towards the end of the week, I sort of regained myself, and the rest of the tournament was most enjoyable.
As for actual speeches, they went very well - and I'll pause here to say thank you all so much for praying for me. I could feel it, I really could. The duo didn't break, but I broke to semis with my IO, and ended up placing 10th.
Before he gave out the awards, Mr. Larimer, the president of NCFCA, told us that these awards - in a couple of years - wouldn't matter. No one would care who got 5th and who got 1st. That gigantic trophy? It'll end up in the attic sooner or later.
And you know what? He was right. I expected to get this thrill when I walked across the stage to receive my 10th place medal. I mean, goodness, it's Nationals. The highest level of speech competition there is. Not to mention that this is my first year in speech. But it was no different than any other stage.
But that cheap little medal is so insignificant compared to the friendships I built that week. What I want to hold dear to me of that week is not the fact that I came in 10th in the nation, but the sweet memories with my friends - in between rounds, in halls before rounds, during meals, worship - this is what is important to me.
I had a grand time giving my speeches...making people laugh with the duo and sharing the message in my IO. Speech is SO much fun, and not only have I made amazing friends, but I've learned so much...about communication, people, and God.
My IO is on the depth of God's truth within Chinese characters - and the high point of my speech is the character for righteousness - formed by the character lamb over the character me.
Lamb
Me
Righteousness
One of my dear friends encouraged me with Ps. 71:16 - way back when I first began this speech - and she didn't even know my speech was on righteousness at that time.
I will go in the strength of the LORD, I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
This, is what my speech is about. I am here for one purpose, and one only, and that is to bring glory to my Father, the one who enabled me to go so far in the first place. My speech is His, the message is His, and I share it - so that others may see His light.
