>> WELCOME TO THE 2025 NSAA SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIPS BEST OF THE BEST.

I AM YOUR HOST D-WAYNE TAYLOR.

TODAY YOU WILL SEE CHAMPIONS FROM THIS YEAR'S STATE COMPETITION, AND THEY ARE PHENOMENAL, IN THIS PHENOMENAL SPACE.

THE NEW RON HULL STUDIO AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

I'M EXCITED TO HOST BEST OF THE BEST BECAUSE I AM A SPEECH KID IT'S WHERE MY WHOLE CAREER STARTED AND IT PUSHED ME TO WIN WET IN 2012 WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT.

LET'S GET OUR FUN STARTED BY CHATTING WITH NEBRASKA SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TARYN RETZLAFF ABOUT STATE SPEECH AND THE STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR THE SHOW THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AND CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING AN AMAZING STATE COMPETITION THIS YEAR.

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS, HOW MANY EVENTS ARE THERE FOR THIS YEAR'S STATE COMPETITION?

>> WE HAVE 10 EVENTS IN EACH CLASS AND TWO ADDITIONAL EVENTS IN OUR UNIFIED CATEGORIES.

UNIFIED EXHIBITION AND UNIFIED DUET ACTING.

>> HOW MANY STUDENTS COMPETED THIS YEAR?

>> WE HAD JUST UNDER 1200 STUDENTS FROM 212 SCHOOLS.

>> YOU HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO PERFORMS AT BEST OF THE BEST?

>> WE HAVE A POSSIBLE 66 APPLICATIONS WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CLASSES AND EVENTS, INCLUDING UNIFIED.

COACHES SUBMIT APPLICATIONS AND WE DO OUR BEST TO REPRESENT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CLASSES IN THE STATE, ALL SIX DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICTS IN OUR STATE.

YES, A NICE CROSS-SECTION OF MATERIAL.

HUMOROUS OR SERIOUS, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE TONS OF DIFFERENT SPORTS ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND YOUR HELP IN GETTING EXPOSURE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE HONORED FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.

WHAT MAKES THE SPEECH SO SPECIAL FOR NEBRASKA?

>> I THINK IT'S SUCH A UNIQUE ACTIVITY WHERE STUDENTS CAN FIND THE POWER OF THEIR OWN VOICE TO COMMUNICATE AND BE ON A TEAM.

IT HELPS STUDENTS GET FEEDBACK AND REALIZE WHAT THEIR WORK IS CURRENTLY CAN BE EVEN BETTER AS LONG AS THEY KEEP WORKING AND KEEP CRITIQUING AND TRY TO KEEP IMPROVING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

>> ALL LEVELS, THAT'S WHERE WE SEE WHETHER THERE ON THE BEST OF THE BEST OR NOT.

HERE WE SEE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND WERE EXCITED TO TAKE A LOOK SO THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

BEFORE EACH PERFORMANCE WE HELP YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CATEGORIES WITH EXPLANATIONS FROM STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS YEAR.

OUR FIRST CATEGORY IS INFORMATIVE.

>> DURING THIS EVENT YOU HAVE A 10 MINUTE MAXIMUM TIME LIMIT AND YOU FORM AN AUDIENCE ON A TOPIC WHICH CAN BE SOCIETAL ISSUES OR THE SILLIEST THING YOU CAN THINK OF.

>> THIS HOLIDAY BREAK, MY SISTERS AND I SNUGGLED ON THE COUCH FOR OUR FAVORITE TRADITION.

WATCHING THE NOTEBOOK.

MANY OOH'S AND HASH FLOATED THROUGH OUR LIVING ROOM OVER RYAN GOSLING'S FACE AND PHYSIQUE AND OF COURSE INCLUDED MANY TEARS FROM ME.

I WROTE YOU 365 LETTERS.

I WROTE YOU EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR.

IT WASN'T OVER, IT STILL ISN'T OVER.

WHILE MY SISTERS MAY HAVE LAUGHED AT MY HYSTERICS, THEY WERE NOT IMMUNE.

THERE IS A REASON I ALWAYS PACK TISSUES FOR GRADUATION AND MY VIDEOS OF MILITARY HOMECOMINGS ARE BANNED FROM OUR FAMILY GROUP CHAT.

NO MATTER HOW OFTEN WE TRY TO BLAME IT ON ALLERGIES, CRYING IS UNIVERSAL PHENOMENON.

CRYING IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

AS AN EVOLUTIONARY, BIOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY TOOL.

TODAY WE WILL EXPLORE THE SCIENCE BEHIND CRYING, THEN WE WILL DISCOVER THE NECESSITY OF TEARS BEFORE FINALLY DELVING INTO SOCIETAL NORMS SURROUNDING CRYING.

SO WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU CRY?

ACCORDING TO A 2023 ARTICLE WRITTEN BY ALIYA HOYT WITH HOW STUFF WORKS .

WHEN WE CRY A SALTY FLUID FULL OF PROTEIN, MUCUS AND OIL IS RELEASED FROM THE LACRIMAL GLAND IN THE UPPER OUTER REGION OF THE EYE.

THIS FLUID, COMMONLY KNOWN AS TEARS, THEN FLOWS DOWN YOUR FACE.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF TEARS.

BASIL, REFLEX AND EMOTIONAL.

BASAL TEARS ARE A CONSTANT ANTIBACTERIAL CONSTANT LIQUID IN THE EYES THAT KEEP THEM FROM DRYING OUT.

YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE THEM BECAUSE THEY EVAPORATE SO QUICKLY DROPPING THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR EYE AND SIGNALING TO CREATE MORE.

YOUR BODY ACTUALLY REDUCES ABOUT A CUP OF BASAL TEARS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THAT DRAIN THROUGH THE NASAL CAVITY.

THE SECOND TYPE OF TEARS ARE REFLEX TEARS.

ACCORDING TO A 2024 ARTICLE WRITTEN BY DANA SMITH WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES, REFLEX TEARS ARE MEANT TO KEEP AWAY IRRITANTS.

LIKE DUST OR SMOKE.

TO DO THIS THE SENSORY NERVES IN THE CORNEA FIRST COMMUNICATE THE IRRITATION TO THE BRAIN.

IT BEEN SINCE HORMONES TO THE ISLANDS WHICH PRODUCE TEARS TO REMOVE THE ANNOYING SUBSTANCE.

WHILE ALL TYPES OF TEARS ARE STRUCTURALLY SIMULATED REFLEX TEARS ARE MORE LIQUID.

THIS MAY SEEM ANNOYING WHEN YOU'RE CHOPPING ONIONS BUT REFLEX TEARS ALSO PROVIDE THE INFAMOUS, NO, NO, I AM NOT SAD, IT'S JUST ALLERGIES!

EXCUSE THAT WE ARE ALSO FOND OF.

THE THIRD AND FINAL TYPE OF TEARS ARE EMOTIONAL TEARS.

ACCORDING TO A 2023 ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, EMOTIONAL TEARS ARE ENTIRELY UNIQUE TO HUMANS.

AS WE ARE THE ONLY SPECIES TO CRY, DUE TO FEELINGS.

WHEN YOU FEEL EMOTIONS LIKE SADNESS, EMPATHY, ANGER, OR EVEN INTENSE JOY, THEY ARE FIRST DETECTED IN THE CEREBRUM.

THIS TRIGGERS A RELEASE OF HORMONES AND WHOM.

EVERYONE IS WATCHING YOU SOB WHEN BAMBI'S MOTHER DIES.

LET'S FACE IT.

CRYING IS FRUSTRATING.

VULNERABLE AND CAN BE EMBARRASSING.

BUT DESPITE ITS GLOOMY REPUTATION, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THREE PRIMARY REASONS.

THE FIRST IS STRESS RELIEF.

ACCORDING TO A 2024 ARTICLE WRITTEN BY LANA BURGESS IS WITH MEDICAL NEWS TODAY, WHEN WE CRY DUE TO STRESS.

LIKE NOT STARTING OUR SPEECHES A WEEK BEFORE THE FIRST MEET, THOSE TEARS CONTAIN STRESS HORMONES AND TOXINS.

SOME THEORIZE THAT THIS TYPE OF CRYING RELEASES THOSE HORMONES AND YOUR OVERALL STRESS LEVELS DECREASE.

CRYING ADDITIONALLY RELEASES OXYTOCIN AND ENDORPHINS, WHICH ARE FEEL-GOOD CHEMICALS THAT EASE EMOTIONAL PAIN.

THIS IS WHAT GIVES YOU THAT SENSE OF CATHARSIS.

THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES YOU TRULY JUST NEED A GOOD CRY.

THE SECOND REASON IS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

BABIES CRY TO GET THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET.

TO BE FED, CHANGED AND COMFORTED AS ADULTS, CRYING CAN ALLOW US TO MEET OUR EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

WHEN WE ARE VULNERABLE WE ATTRACT AND CAN BOND WITH OTHER HUMANS AND GAIN SUPPORT.

THIS BACKS THE THEORY THAT TEARS ARE ACTUALLY AN EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSE, CREATED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF EMOTIONAL PAIN.

EMOTIONAL TEARS ARE STRUCTURALLY THICKER AND ARE MADE TO RUN DOWN THE FACE MORE SLOWLY.

THIS WAY THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS AND SOME IN MORE COMMUNITY.

THE THIRD AND FINAL REASON FOR TEARS HIS PAIN REDUCTION.

WHEN I WAS BABYSITTING MY NEPHEW AND HE TRIPPED, I DREADED THE INEVITABLE MELTDOWN.

HOWEVER, A 2022 ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE CLEVELAND CLINIC EXPLAINS THAT HE WAS ONTO SOMETHING.

CRYING CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE THE PAIN THAT WE EXPERIENCE.

CRYING DAMPENS OUR FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE AND PERMITS US TO RELAX.SLOWING DOWN ALLOWS THE BODY TO RELEASE ENDORPHINS, WHICH ARE NATURAL PAINKILLERS.

SO, IF CRYING IS CLEARLY NECESSARY, WHY DO SOCIOCULTURAL NORMS ATTEMPT TO LIMIT ITS PRODUCTION?

THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!

THE INFAMOUS QUOTE FROM A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN SUMS UP SOCIETY'S GENERALIZED ATTITUDE TOWARDS TEARS.

A 2024 ARTICLE WRITTEN BY PSYCHOLOGY TODAY EXPLAINS THAT, AS SOON AS WE GROW UP AND BECOME AWARE OF SOCIAL NORMS WE DISCOVER THAT CRYING IS VIEWED AS WEAKNESS.

MEN HAVE BEEN BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE STIGMA FOR DECADES.

PHRASES LIKE BUCK UP AND BE A MAN ARE COMMON RESPONSES TO MALE VULNERABILITY.

IN FACT, IF YOU TYPE THE WORDS, IS IT OKAY FOR, INTO A GOOGLE SEARCH BAR.

IS IT OKAY FOR MEN TO CRY, IS ONE OF THE TOP RESPONSES THAT AUTO POPULATES.

BUT THIS SHUNNING OF CRYING MEN WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

OUR HISTORY IS FULL OF TEARY MALES.

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES NUMEROUS CRYING MEN WITH JEREMIAH FAMOUSLY CALLED THE WEEPING PROPHET.

MANY GREEK HEROES LIKE ACHILLES WERE STILL SEEN AS POWERFUL, DESPITE THEIR TEARS.

THE CURRENT STIGMA AROUND MAIL CRYING ISN'T AS PREVALENT IN OTHER CULTURES.

THE RECENT ABDICATION OF FORMER DANISH QUEEN MARGRETHE THE SECOND TRENDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

NOT DUE TO THE QUEENS TEARS, BUT BECAUSE OF HER MIDDLE-AGED SON WHO CRIED MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SURPRISINGLY, THE PUBLIC DID NOT SHAME HIM FOR HIS PHONE OR ABILITY BUT RATHER PRAISED HIM FOR HIS AUTHENTICITY.

THE CURRENT STIGMA AROUND MAIL CRYING IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CULTURAL VIEW OF MASCULINITY.

A 2017 STUDY CONDUCTED BY HELWEG-LARSEN COMPARED THE VIEWS OF MASCULINITY IN THE U.S. WITH THOSE IN DENMARK.

THEY ASKED A GROUP OF MEN QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANHOOD IS ACHIEVED, MAINTAINED AND LOST.

DANISH MEN WERE FAR MORE LIKELY TO USE FEMININE ATTRIBUTES TO DESCRIBE THE IDEAL MALE.

THEIR MOST INTERESTING FIND WAS THAT AMERICAN MEN CONTRASTED MANHOOD TO WOMANHOOD.

WHILE DANISH MEN CONTRASTED MANHOOD TO BOYHOOD.

THE GENERAL CONCLUSION WAS THE MORE THE CULTURE SHOWN FEMININE QUALITIES IN MEN, THE MORE HARSHLY MAIL CRYING WAS VIEWED.

SO BECAUSE IN DANISH CULTURE FEMININITY AND VULNERABILITY IS MORE ACCEPTED, MAIL CRYING IS MORE COMMONPLACE NEVERTHELESS THE SOCIETAL NORMS SURROUNDING CRYING ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

IN THEORY, WIDELY ACROSS CULTURES.

SO, MAYBE I WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED ABOUT HOW MANY TEARS I SHED OVER THE NOTEBOOK BUT IF WE ARE HONEST, WE ALL HAVE OUR KRYPTONITE.

AT LEAST ONE THING THAT TUGS AT OUR HEART STRINGS.

CRYING IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

AS AN EVOLUTIONARY, BIOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY TOOL.

TODAY WE EXPLORE THE SCIENCE BEHIND CRYING AND THEN WE DISCOVER THE NECESSITY OF TEARS BEFORE FINALLY DELVING INTO THE SOCIETAL NORMS SURROUNDING CRYING.

SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SNUGGLE IN FOR A TEARJERKER EMBRACE THOSE TEARS AND REMEMBER , THE TRUE VALUE OF CRYING.

>> I AM WITH BROKEN BOW'S OWN BRYNN CUSTER AND HER COACH MORGAN HARMS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT PERFORMANCE WAS PHENOMENAL!

FIRST THINGS FIRST, HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH CRYING?

YOU SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS ACROSS THE YEAR AND CRYING IS SO SIMPLE IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY POWERFUL.

WHAT GOT YOU THERE?

>> I STARTED THINKING ABOUT TOPICS OF DISTRICTS LAST YEAR AND I LANDED ON CRYING AROUND DECEMBER AND I LIKED ALL THAT I COULD DO ABOUT IT.

I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT THE STIGMA AT THE END AND I THOUGHT IT COULD BE FUN AND MAKE IT FUNNY.

>> YOU DO FIND WHEN YOU SEE INFORMATIVE SPEECHES THERE WAS A LACK OF FUNNY OR PERSONALITY THAT YOU BROUGHT INTO THAT AND YOU BROUGHT INTO THAT SO BEAUTIFULLY.

MORGAN, AS A COACH DID YOU SEE THAT ALREADY IN HER AND WE'RE PULLING THAT EMOTION IN WITH TWO SIBLINGS?

DID YOU SEE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE?

>> IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ADD A FAMILIAR ELEMENT.

BRYNN HAS PARTICIPATED IN SOME EVENTS HERSELF SO THIS WAS THE SEASON WE SAID REALLY CHANNEL THAT.

BRING IT OUT AND IT MADE AN EXCELLENT HOOK.

>> IT WAS SO GREAT.

AND LET'S TALK VISUAL AIDS BECAUSE THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN.

CAN YOU GIVE US JUST A BIT OF THE SECRET SAUCE IN CREATING VISUAL AIDS THAT REALLY KICK LIKE THAT, FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO BE AS GOOD AS YOU IN THE FUTURE?

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND BRAINSTORMING, I ASK EVERYONE FOR IDEAS BE WILLING TO CHANGE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.

I WAS ABOUT FOUR WEEKS IN AND I CHANGED THE THIRD POSTER BECAUSE SOMEBODY GAVE ME AN IDEA.

YEAH, I WILL TAKE THAT.

>> HOW DID YOU GET THE IDOL TO LOOK SO REALISTIC?

>> I TOOK IT OFF THE CANVAS.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU PIECE EACH PART OF IT TOGETHER BUT IT'S ALL ONE PIECE.

THAT LOOK SO AMAZING.

HOW LONG HAVE Y'ALL BEEN WORKING TOGETHER?

>> ALL FOUR YEARS.

>> YES, I GOT TO TEACH BRYNN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL.

REALLY ROUND ABOUT SEVEN IF WE ARE COUNTING.

>> IT SO AMAZING TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH BRYNN AND MORGAN.

THE DRAMA PERFORMANCES ARE NEXT, AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

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>> WELCOME BACK TO NSAA BEST OF THE BEST.

OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS POETRY.

>> POETRY IS A 5-8 MINUTE EVENT WHERE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BINDER USE AS A PROP AND YOU PICK A TOPIC YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND YOU SPEND THOSE 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THAT PASSION.

>> SIOUX COUNTY JACK HUNTER WAS THE CLASS D TO ORAL POETRY CHAMPION.

HE IS HERE TO PERFORM, THE SORROWS OF WAR.

>> NOTHING LEFT HERE BUT HURT.

NOTHING BUT BULLETS AND PAIN.

IT BEGINS SIMPLY WITH A WHITE KNUCKLED FIST, TIGHT AND GLOSSY WITH SWEAT.

THE RADIO, A SOUNDTRACK THAT ADRENALINE IS PUSHED TO SILENCE.

REPLACING IT WITH A HEARTBEAT AS HIS THUMB TREMBLES OVER THE BUTTON.

THE TRAGEDY OF WAR ENDS NOT WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED BUT CONTINUES IN FRAGILE MINDS WHO DID SURVIVE.

IT IS THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE ON RASP PLAQUES AND MARBLE STONES, IT IS THOSE THE MONSTERS FOR WHOM WAR HAS TRULY GONE.

YOU FIGHT, YOU DIE, YOU NEVER KNOW IF THE WAR IS WON OR LOST OR IF IT IS EVEN ENDED.

MY MOTHER'S VOICE LINGERED SOMEWHAT INSIDE.

IT HELPS RECOVER MY EQUILIBRIUM WHEN I FEEL DIZZY WITH MY ATTENTIVENESS.

AFTER EVERY WAR SOMEBODY HAS TO CLEAN THINGS UP.

THINGS WON'T STRAIGHTEN THEMSELVES UP, AFTER ALL SOMEONE HAS TO GET MIRED IN THE SCUM AND THE ASHES AND THE SOFA SPRINGS AND THE SPLINTERED GLASS .

BLOODY RAGS.

EXPLORING HOW SOME EVENTS IN OUR LIVES CAUSE NOTHING BUT TRAGEDY.

WAR, AN EVENT IS OLDEST TIME LEADING TO NOTHING BUT PAIN AND MISERY.

IN 2000 POUNDS, BY BRIAN TURNER, THEN IN THE BEGINNING BY WIZ CLARK, THE HURT LOCKER BY BRIAN TURNER, THINGS YOU MAY FIND IT IN MY EAR BY IS ODD.

THE TRAGEDY OF WAR THOMAS HAWKINS AND UNTITLED BY.

WILL BE SUBJECTED TO THE SORROWS OF WAR.

A PROGRAM AND THE MAN WHO TRIGGERED THE BUTTON?

HE IS OBLITERATED AT THE EPICENTER.

THIS IS THE SOUND THE HEART MAKES QUICK AND THE PANIC RUSH.

THE SURGE OF BLOOD SEARCHING FOR LIGHT AND COLOR.

THE SOUND THE MORTAR CRIES FILLED WITH THE WORD THE SOUL IS MADE OF.

BELIEVE IT WHEN YOU SEE A 12- YEAR-OLD ROLE A GRENADE INTO THE ROOM, OR WHEN A SNIPER PUNCHES A BULLET DEEP INTO SOMEONE'S SCHOOL.

BELIEVE IT WHEN FOUR MEN STEP OUT OF THE TAXI CAB AND MUZZLE AND SHOUT WITH THE STREETS WITH BRASS AND FIRE.

WHEN THE BOMBS FELL THEY CUT YOUR BODIES CLOSE AND YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG.

THE LANDSCAPE, THEY DIDN'T EVEN FIND A PLACE TO BURY YOU!

OPEN THE HURT LOCKER AND SEE WHAT THEIR IT IS OF KNIVES AND TEETH.

OPEN THE HURT LOCKER AND SEE HOW ROUGH MEN COME HUNTING FOR SOULS.

I AM A SOLDIER WHO WILL DEFEND UNTIL THE VERY END, BUT THAT COMES AT A COST.

KEEP A PICTURE OF ME BESIDE YOUR BED.

JUST BECAUSE I'M GONE DOESN'T MEAN MY LOVE WILL DISAPPEAR.

I KNOW I BROKE MY PROMISE TO BE HERE.

THE ROOMS BUZZING SOUND, THE LORD OF F-16, THE SCREAMS OF BOMBS FALLING ON BODIES LIT MY EAR CANAL OF THEM ALL.

SERGEANT LEDOUX OF THE NATIONAL GUARD SPEAKS BUT CANNOT HEAR THE WORDS COMING OUT AND AS JUST AS WELL HIS EARDRUMS ARE RUPTURED BECAUSE IT LENDS THE WORLD A CERTAIN CALM.

THOUGH THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE RUNNING, THEIR LEGS A BLUR LIKE HORSES ON THE CAROUSEL, TURNING AND TURNING THE TIRES ON THE HUMVEE FLIPS TO ITS SIDE AND THE GUNNER IS THROWN FROM HIS HATCH , BUT HE HASN'T THE STRENGTH TO MOVE AS SHRAPNEL HAS CUT DEEP INTO HIS RIB CAGE AND HE WILL BLEED TO DEATH IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES.

BUT HE FINDS HIMSELF SURROUNDED BY A STRANGE BEAUTY.

A WOMAN TOUCHING HIS FACE TENDERLY.

THE WAY HIS WIFE MIGHT.

IF I DON'T MAKE IT HOME, PLEASE REMEMBER IT WASN'T BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRY, IT'S MY JOB TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND TO DO THAT I WILL GIVE EVERY OUNCE OF ME.

SPRAY THE PERFUME OF YOUR SMILES ON THE INCISION.

INJECT THE SONG OF LIFE INTO MY VEINS.

GENTLY BEAT THE DRUM SO MY MIND MAY DANCE WITH YOURS.

MY DOCTOR DAY AND NIGHT.

ALL THE CAMERAS, THEY HAVE LEFT FOR ANOTHER WAR.

WE NEED THE BRIDGES BACK, WE WILL NEED THE RAILWAY STATIONS.

SLEAZE WILL GO RAGGED FROM HAVING THEM ROLLED UP.

NEARBY AN OLD WOMAN CRADLES HER GRANDSON, WHISPERING.

ROCKING HIM ON HER KNEES AS THOUGH SEEKING HIM TO SLEEP.

HER HANDS ARE WET WITH HIS BLOOD.

HER BLACK DRESS SOAKED AS HER LEGS FINALLY GIVE OUT AND BUCKLE WITH HIM TO THE GROUND.

YOU MAY ENCOUNTER SONGS IN ARABIC OR TONGUES IN ENGLISH I RECITE TO MYSELF WHEN YOU STITCH THE CUT, DON'T FORGET TO PUT THESE THINGS BACK IN MY EAR PUT THEM BACK IN ORDER AS YOU DO BOOKS ON THE SHELF.

THEY CARRIED YOU ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

THEY WANDERED PAST YOUR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE OLD SCHOOL.

EVERYTHING SAW YOU EXCEPT THE HOUSES.

THEIR WARS WILL HAVE NO END GUILT, DESPAIR AND BITTERNESS, THE HATEFUL CONSTANT FRIENDS IT STEALS FROM THE WATER.

IT'S A SLIGHT.

THE AIR SLEEPS ON THE ROUGH EARTH, YOU MY DARLING, SLEEP ON MOVING SAND.

SOMEONE HAS TO PUSH THE RUBBLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THE CORPSE FILLED WAGONS CAN PASS.

THOSE WHO KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE MUST MAKE WAY FOR THOSE WHO KNOW LITTLE.

AND LESS THAN LITTLE AND FINALLY LITTLE IS NOTHING LEFT HERE BUT THE HURT.

SO I SAY TO THE LEADERS OF THIS WORLD, THIS NIGHTMARE SHOULD BE GONE.

PLEASE REALIZE ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT A WAR IS NEVER TRULY WON.

>> I AM HERE WITH SIOUX COUNTY JACK HUNTER AND DASHIELL ROHAN COACH.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT STATE WIN.

PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE, MAN.

WE GET TO THINKING ABOUT THEMES WHEN YOU USE POETRY AND WAR AND THE THEMES SURROUNDING WAR.

SO SENSITIVE BUT ALSO POWERFULLY IF PERFORMED CORRECTLY AND YOU HIT IT STRAIGHT ON THE HEAD.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE SORROWS IN ORDER TO PERFORM TODAY?

>> I THINK REALLY I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO GOING TO THE SPEECH CAMP.

THOSE COACHES REALLY HELPED PICK A THEME AS WELL AS MY COACH HERE HELPED US PICK THE THEME.

LAST YEAR WE DID HOMELESSNESS AND I LIKE TO JUST DO POWERFUL THEMES THAT REALLY HAVE A MEANING AND IMPACT.

>> SOMETIMES YOU GET SOME OF THOSE SPEECHES, PEOPLE RUN AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT THE HARD THINGS.

AS A COACH, HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR TEAM MEMBERS TO RUN TOWARDS THE HARD THING AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED?

>> WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE KID PICKS THE THING THEY WANT ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO POETRY BECAUSE POETRY IS PERSONAL.

THAT'S WHY I THINK POETRY IS ONE OF THE HARD EVENTS TO COMPETE IN.

NOT ONLY MUST YOU CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS WITH YOURSELF BUT YOU MUST PICK SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS WITH THE JUDGES AND THE AUDIENCE AND OTHER PEOPLE.

A GOOD PERFORMANCE IS A GOOD PERFORMANCE AND IT WILL SHINE OUT.

HE HAS LOTS OF TALENT SO IT HELPED.

IT WAS A STAIR STEP OF HIS CAREER.

WE JUST WORKED OUR WAY UP THROUGH IT AND ENDED UP THE STATE CHAMP SO IT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> YOU ARE A SENIOR?

TELL ME HOW IT GOES TO GO FROM FRESHMAN YEAR TO LAND ON THE STAGE SENIOR YEAR AND WIN IT ALL?

>> IT'S REALLY CRAZY.

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT EVEN HAPPENED, REALLY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING TOGETHER?

>> FOUR YEARS.

HE CAME IN AS A FRESHMAN AND I SAW A LOT OF TALENT.

FROM THAT POINT WENT TO AND AS CTA CONVENTION IN KEARNEY AND GOT SOME HELP BECAUSE MY FORTE FROM COACHING IS PROBABLY MORE LIKE PERSUASIVE SPEAKING PLATFORM TYPE EVENT AND I HAVE A TALENT I HAVE TO GET SOME HELP AND THOSE PEOPLE HELPED AND WE HAVE JUST USE THE COMMUNITY OF NEBRASKA SPEECH TO HELP AND SHOW THAT WE CAN BE THE BEST WE CAN BE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE GEARING CAMP, THE COMMUNITY HERE IS WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

IT SEEMS LIKE AS A TEAM AND PERFORMER YOU REALLY EMBRACE SOME OF THAT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY HELPED THE ENTIRE TEAM?

>> YEAH, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT REALLY THE COMMUNITY, EVERYONE WANTS TO HELP EACH OTHER.

SPEAKING IS NOT ALWAYS THE MOST COMFORTABLE THING SO A LOT OF US CAN RECOGNIZE THAT AND HELP EACH OTHER TO BE THE BEST VERSIONS.

>> I THINK IT HELPS JUST OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS YOU GET EXPERIENCE YOU ALSO LEARN THINGS AND YOU SEE GOOD INTERPRET AND HOW TO WORK WITH IT.

WHATEVER EVENT YOU ARE IN.

I THINK CERTAINLY THERE'S JUST A CERTAIN ABILITY TO LOOK AT THE POEMS THAT YOU WANT AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND IT REALLY DID HELP.

>> THE MESS YOU HAVE, SO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES YOU ARE REFERENCING THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU ARE PERFORMING ALL AT ONCE.

HOW DID YOU LAND ON EACH OF THOSE PIECES WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH OUT THERE ABOUT WAR AND THE EMOTIONS SURROUNDING IT?

>> A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH THE CURRENT CONFLICTS THAT WERE HAPPENING LIKE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND I FOUND SOME, WELL, JOHN BOYD WAS AT THE GEARING SPEECH CAMP AND HE FOUND A LOT OF THOSE REALLY COOL PIECES THAT HAVE A LOT OF DEEP MEANING.

WHEN HE SHOWED ME THOSE I JUST KNEW THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL TO PUT CHARACTER TO IT AND TRY TO DO MY BEST TO SHOW THAT TO PEOPLE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY TRY TO DO YOUR BEST, YOU ABSOLUTELY DID IT WAS PHENOMENAL, IT WAS TOUCHING AND SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD SEE.

I HOPE YOU'RE COMING BACK TO COACH, JUDGE AND STATE IN THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> I GUESS I'M GOING TO COLLEGE IN BLACK HILLS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I TAKE IT DAY BY DAY, I GUESS.

>> I TELL YOU, FROM ALL OF US IN THE NEBRASKA SPEECH COMMUNITY YOUR PERFORMANCE IS AMAZING.

YOUR DEDICATION TO SHARING THE HARD STORIES IS ONE THING WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING.

I REALLY HOPE YOU KEEP COMING BACK.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS ORAL INTERPRETATION OF DRAMA.

>> OID OR ORAL INTERPRETATION OF DRAMA IS AN EVENT WITH INTERPRETATION OF DRAMA.

>> YOU CANNOT TOUCH EACH OTHER, YOU CAN USE BOOKS OR BOXES.

>> IT CAN BE FUNNY, SAD OR ANYTHING.

>> HERE ARE PLAINVIEW'S TY DIETRICH, JACSON KING, CARTER LINGENFELTER, HARRISON THOR AND RECE FRAHM FROM WITH THEIR WINNING CLASS C2 ORAL INTERPRETATION OF DRAMA SPEECH TITLED ESCANABA IN THE MOONLIGHT.

>> HELLO!

>> HELLO!

>> HELLO.

IS THIS THE SAUDI DEER CAMP?

>> YOUR FOUNDER.

>> THE WORLD-FAMOUS SAUDI DEER CAMP.

>> THE ONE AND THE SAME BUT YOU ARE LATE.

>> LATE FOR WHAT?

>> FOR THE GREAT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

>> YOU BETCHA.

>> IT'S GETTING TO BE THAT TIME OF YEAR?

>> DEER HUNTER HOW DO YOU DO I GOT THE DEER HUNTER FOR YOU.

>> I'M SO EXCITED THE FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR I FREEZE MY BUTT THE FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.

>> IT'S MY CHANCE TO DRINK BEER AND GET AWAY FROM THE WHITE.

>> I WAS IN THE SWAMP ON A THREE DAY DRUNK.

>> WERE FREEZING TO DEATH AND IT'S STARTING TO SNOW.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT I SEEN A DEER.

>> OOH A 30 POINT BUCK.

>> THE 30 POINT BUCK?

>> THE 30 POINT BUCK.

>> IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE GREAT LEGENDS OF DEER HUNTING HAVE I GOT A BOOK STORY FOR YOU.

IN FACT I GUARANTEE RIGHT NOW YOU AIN'T GOING TO BELIEVE IT.

YOU GOING TO WALK OUT OF HERE SAYING I DON'T BELIEVE A WORD HE JUST SAID.

I WON'T BLAME YOU IF YOU DO BECAUSE I DIDN'T EITHER AND I WAS THERE.

>> THIS TALE TAKES PLACE IN NOVEMBER IN THE SAUDI DEER CAMP JUST LOCATED NORTH OF THE BRIDGE IN ESCANABA.

>> WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST HUNTING IN THE WORLD.

>> WE HAVE BUCKS HOLY MOLY DO WE EVER.

>> BUT A MAN IS NOT A MAN UNLESS HE'S BACK THE BUCK.

>> ESCANABA IN THE MOONLIGHT BY JEFF DANIELS.

>> YOU MADE IT JUST IN TIME, BOYS, THE BUCKS ARE GETTING RESTLESS.

>> IT WILL BE SURPRISED TO SEE YOU I NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO BACK A BUCK.

>> NO YOU NEVER MISS A CHANCE, YOU JUST MISS THE BUCK.

>> SET UP IS THAT ALBERT SAUDI SWEET SAP WHISKEY.

>> YOU MIGHT BE SO LUCKY.

>> WE MIGHT HAVE A SWORD.

>> WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU RUBEN HASN'T MISSED AN OPENING DAY IN OVER 30 YEARS.

HE LOVED HUNTING AND COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.

>> ALL THE YEARS AT DEER CAMP THERE WAS STILL ONE PROBLEM RUBEN WAS WAITING TO BACK HIS FIRST BUCK.

HE IS AS WE SAY, WITHOUT VINCENT.

>> OH.

>> GIVE ME THAT, THAT'S ENOUGH.

>> IS THIS EVER NORTH IS THIS EVAN A?

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPENING DAY IN D.C. AND MORE THAN ANY DAY OF THE YEAR.

>> WHO DOESN'T?

>> IT'S A CHRISTMAS WITH GUNS.

>> CHRISTMAS WITH GUNS!

OH, I LIKE THAT.

>> I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU.

I'M FEELING REAL LUCKY THIS YEAR.

>> HAS SOME OF THE LUCK OVER THIS WAY.

>> HOLY, WHAT WAS THAT?

>> THAT WAS A LIGHT.

>> THAT WAS A BRIGHT LIGHT.

>> DON'T YOU MESS WITH ME REMNANT.

>> IT WAS A SIDING.

WE HAVE SEEN A SIDING.

LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT THERE'S A FEW MORE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE EXPECTED.

FIRST THING IS THERE UFOS AND THEY EXIST UP HERE.

>> BUBBA McGINNIS WITH THE BRIGHT WHITE DISH COME OUT OF HIS OUTHOUSE AND JUST HOVER RIGHT ABOVE HIM.

>> OOH.

>> BUBBLE WAS FOR SURE THEY WERE ABOUT TO TAKE HIM AWAY.

>> IF YOU KNEW BUBBA YOU UNDERSTOOD WHY THEY PASSED.

>> I AIN'T STICKING AROUND FOR NO SATELLITE NOT AGAIN.

>> BUT JIM WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.

HE SEEMED THE SAME THING A FEW YEARS AGO EXCEPT THE ALIEN SENATE PASS UP ON JIM.

>> STAY AWAY FROM THAT LIGHT.

>> JIM WAS ABDUCTED.

IT'S THE TRUTH >> WALK AWAY FROM THE LIGHT TRICK >> THAT CRAZY ELON MUSK OPENED TO SPACE AND BACK >> THAT WAS CRAZY.

I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A BRIGHT LIGHT.

>> REMEMBER WHEN SHE SHOOK LIKE SHE WAS POSSESS AND BURST INTO FLAMES.

>> JIM URGES CALM DOWN.

IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A FLAT TIRE.

>> FLAT TIRE?

NO SARID.

ME CHEVY BURST INTO FLAMES LIKE THIS.

>> JIM I THINK YOU SET YOUR CHEVY ON FIRE YOURSELF.

>> WHAT THE CHEVY SET ITSELF ON FIRE.

JACOB BOOM BOOM BOOM.

>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO THE JIMMER?

>> SIX.

>> SIX TIMES?

>> 66 TIMES.

>> HOLY MOLY.

>> NOW THAT'S A WORLD RECORD.

>> DID YOU KNOW EVERY TIME A BELL RINGS AND ALIEN GETS HIS WINGS?

>> WHAT I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

>> SOMETHING WEIRD IS GOING ON HERE.

>> THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU.

>> BETTER NOT BE CHANGING MY LUCK BECAUSE I PLAN TO BAGGED THE BIGGEST BUCK AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I SHOT THE BIGGEST BUCK OF ANYBODY SITTING IN THIS ROOM.

>> WE KNOW, 30 POINT OR, 185 POUNDS.

>> ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T SHOOT A COW?

>> WOULD'VE BEEN A STATE RECORD IF I FELT LIKE REPORTING IT.

>> BE SURE TO KEEP A PENCIL HANDY WHEN I COME DOWN FROM THE RIDGE TOMORROW.

IS GOING TO BE A NEW SONY RECORD HOLDER.

>> YOUR HUNTING THE RIDGE TOMORROW?

>> HUNTING THE RIDGE OF WELL >> DO YOU MIND IF I HUNT WITH YOU?

>> THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

I HUNT THE RIDGE TO SO THERE'S NO ROOM.

>> THE RIDGE IS FIVE MILES LONG.

>> I KNOW THAT VERY MUCH SO AND I'M PLANNING ON EVERY INCH OF IT.

YOU KNOW IF I WERE YOU I WOULD HUNT THE SWAMP.

>> THE SWAMP?

>> HE CAN'T HUNT THE SWAMP.

>> WHY CAN'T HE HUNT THE SWAMP?

>> BECAUSE WE HUNT THE SWAMP.

>> THE WHOLE SWAMP?

>> HE CAN'T HUNT THE WHOLE SWAMP.

BUT YOU ARE HUNTING THE WHOLE RIDGE.

>> YEAH BUT I'VE GOT JIMMER.

>> IF I WERE YOU I'D GO OUT AND HUNT BY THE ROAD.

>> OUT BY WHAT ROAD?

>> LETTER AND 35 THAT IS THE STATE HIGHWAY.

>> I DO LOVE THE STATE HIGHWAY.

NOW THAT'S TRUE.

I HAD WENT JUST LAST WEEK.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO HUNT THE HIGHWAY.

I THINK I MIGHT BE MISSING OPPORTUNITY HERE.

IN FACT THEM I GIVE IT A GO THERE MYSELF DEPENDING ON HOW MY LUCK GOES UP ON THE RIDGE.

>> YOU'RE SCARED TO DEATH OF I HUNT ANYWHERE NEW YEAR TOMORROW YOU WON'T EVEN SEE ABOUT.

>> JIMMER CALM DOWN YOU GOING TO GIVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE AGAIN.

>> NOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I WANT YOUR BUCK TO LOOK RIGHT IN THE HAIRY EYEBALL AND TELL ME YOU DON'T THINK I CURSED.

GO AHEAD TELL ME.

>> I DON'T THINK YOU'RE CURSED.

>> DON'T THINK I DON'T HEAR THE TALK WHEN I WALKED DOWN THE STREETS OF ESCANABA.

I HAVE EARS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY HEAD WHISPERING AS I GO BY.

>> THERE GOES THE MOTHER TERESA OF DEER HUNTING.

>> LOOK MOMMY THERE GOES BAMBI'S BEST FRIEND.

>> HERE, TAKE THIS KNIFE.

GO AHEAD AND STAB IT INTO MY BACK WITH YOU.

AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT GIVE IT A GOOD TWIST.

>> WON'T THAT HURT?

>> GIVE ME THE DANG GOOD KNIFE AND GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF.

>> WHAT THE?

>> THAT WAS THE STRANGEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD AND I HAVE BEEN TO SPACE.

>> MAYBE WE OUGHT TO PACK UP.

>> DON'T BE SO LILY LIVERED.

>> CALM DOWN, HERE TRY TO TAKE A SWIG.

>> SHOOT WE I DON'T EVER UNDERSTAND.

>> WHAT'S A TALKING ABOUT?

>> JIMMER IS RIGHT.

A LITTLE HEAVY ON THE SAP, JUST DRINK FROM A BOTTLE OF MAPLE SYRUP.

>> YOU MEAN TO TELL ME WHERE AT DEER CAMP WITHOUT WHISKEY AND THERE'S A UFO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

AND MY CHEVY BURST INTO FLAMES.

>> IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER I WOULD SAY ROBERT HAS CURSED THE WHOLE CAMP.

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?

>> IF WE WOULD'VE HAD AN OUNCE OF SENSE AMONGST US WE WOULD'VE PACKED UP OUR GUNS AND DROVE BACK TO ESCANABA AS FAST AS WE COULD.

THIS CAMP WAS DEFINITELY CURSED.

I MEAN I KNEW I WAS.

EVERY YEAR I COME UP EMPTY.

>> BAMBI'S BEST FRIEND.

>> MOTHER TERESA DEER HUNT.

>> WELL, YOU WILL NEVER SHOOT A BUCK IF YOU KEEP TICKING LIKE THAT.

>> THAT IS MY FRIEND, WOLF MOON DANCE.

BEFORE I COME UP HERE TONIGHT HE TRIED TO CHANGE MY BAD LUCK INTO GOOD LUCK I TRYING A SPECIAL OG B WATCH TRADITION.

>> HERE WATCH THIS.

>> WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S A SPECIAL RECIPE, BLACKBERRIES, HONEY, GIZZARD OF A SQUIRREL, SWEAT.

>> THANK YOU MOON DANCE.

YOU ARE A TRUE FRIEND.

>> ENOUGH.

>> I WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO DRINK THE POTION, I COULDN'T TAKE ANOTHER YEAR OF BEING CALLED THE BUCKLERS UBER BUT I WAS SAVING IT FOR MYSELF UNTIL ALL OF THIS STARTED HAPPENING.

THEN I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE, TO BREAK THE CURSE BUT EVERYONE WASN'T AS THRILLED WITH ME TO TRY.

>> YOU WANT US TO DRINK WHAT?

>> WAIT A MINUTE DON'T TELL US WE HAVE TO STRIP DOWN TO OUR SKIVVIES AND DANCE AROUND THE TABLE LIKE LAST THANKSGIVING?

>> NO OFFENSE TO YOU, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT I GOT TO DO TO GET A PIECE OF TURKEY OVER AT YOUR PLACE AGAIN I WILL SEE YOU AT CHRISTMAS.

>> KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE.

>> THINK GOSH.

>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRINK THIS POTION.

>> I'M NOT DRINKING NOTHING BUT MY WHISKEY.

>> YOU MEAN LIKE A MAGIC POTION?

>> I DON'T NEED ANYTHING TO CHANGE MY LUCK, I'M JUST THIRSTY ENOUGH TO DRINK ANYTHING.

>> IS IT TASTY?

>> WADE, I HAVE TO DO A LITTLE THING.

>> YEAH, AND INCANTATION TO MAKE THE POTION WORK.

I FRIEND WOLF MOON DANCE TOLD ME TO DO THIS.

>> DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

OPEN UP!

>> IT IS THE DNR.

>> WE ARE SO HAPPY YOU ARE HERE.

>> PLEASE CALL ME RANGER TOM.

I CAME TO WARN YOU OF STRANGE HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA.

>> RANGER TOM WANT TO LEAVE THE NIGHT WE HAD.

>> HE SHOOK INTO FLAMES.

>> AND THE WHISKEY.

>> AND THE VOICES.

>> LOTS OF VOICES.

THE VOICES!

>> THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH RUBEN.

>> I KNOW IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA TO DRINK BLACKBERRY JUICE >> I DON'T THINK SO, STAND OFF TO THE SIDE, I DON'T WANT TO HIT YOU.

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOOT HIM?

>> NO, I'M GOING TO FIRE A ROUND NEXT TO HIS EAR TO SNAP HIM OUT OF THIS.

>> I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

WHERE ARE THE KEYS TO MY TRUCK?

I WILL PULL MY TRUCK UP AND HOOK UP TO THE DIEHARD AND THE OTHER END TO RUBEN.

>> ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

>> WE WILL JUST DO IT ONCE.

>> THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE!

>> HE IS ALL FROZE UP.

TRY PUMPING HIS ARMS OR LEGS.

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR.

I POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO MORE.

RUBEN IS COMING TO.

>> I FEEL LIKE I WAS HIT BY A TRUCK.

>> I SAW THIS BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT.

>> LIGHT, WHERE?

>> IN THAT WINDOW WHERE?

>> I SAW BRIGHT LIGHT UP ON THE RIDGE.

>> ARE YOU SURE IT WASN'T A SPACESHIP?

>> WAS IT A SPACESHIP RANGER TOM?

>> NO, IT WASN'T A SPACESHIP.

IT WAS GOD.

>> GOD?

>> YOU SAW GOD JUST LIKE I DID.

>> I'M NOT SO SURE IT WAS GOD.

>> OF COURSE IT WAS.

YOU SAW THE LIGHT.

CAN YOU NOT DO THAT?

PLEASE?

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF OUR LIVES HERE.

NOW THIS LIGHT, DID IT CALL TO YOU?

>> CALL TO HIM?

IT WAS A DANG LIGHT.

>> IT DIDN'T CALL ME NOTHING.

>> MY HOOVER.

>> I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU, IDIOT .

>> MINE WAS A CHEVY.

>> DID YOU GO TO THE LIGHT?

>> NO, I WENT FOR MY GUN.

>> YOU DON'T SHOOT GOD!

>> I ALMOST SHOT GOD!

I WENT UP IN A SPACESHIP.

>> AS AN OFFICER OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES I HEREBY COMMAND YOU TO TELL ME IN VIVID DETAIL.

CAN YOU DO THAT?

EVERYONE, QUIET!

>> WELL, AFTER THE LIGHT COME I SEEN THIS VISION.

>> OF WHAT?

OF GOD?

>> WELL, IF THAT WAS GOD THEN HE IS A BUCK.

>> WHAT?

>> HE SEEN A BUCK?

>> A BUCK WITH THE NOSE OF A WOODCHUCK.

>> WHAT?

>> YOU PEOPLE, YOU ARE RIDICULOUS!

I'M NOT EVEN FILING A REPORT.

THEY WILL ALL JUST LAUGH AT ME.

AGAIN!

>> HE WAS A NICE GUY.

>> RUBEN, BUCKS DON'T GOT WOODCHUCK NOSES.

>> THIS WENDED AND IT HAD TEETH JUST LIKE A GREAT NORTHERN PIKE.

IT HAD FUR ALL OVER JUST LIKE A GRIZZLY.

SO IT WASN'T AS BIG AS A GRIZZLY THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN BECAUSE IT WAS PART WOODCHUCK.

I DON'T KNOW I'M STILL A LITTLE FOGGY ON THAT BUT I TAKE THAT THE WOOD BUCK WAS TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING.

>> NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

THIS TALENT TELLING IS NOTHING BUT A CROCK BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

THAT'S HOW IT ALL HAPPEN.

RUBENS POTION MUST VE WORK.

>> IN THE SUNLIGHT, MORNING IT SHONE THROUGH THE WINDOW AND IT WAS RUBENS LIGHT AND THEN THE BUCK, AND OH WHAT A BUCK HE WAS.

>> GET OUT THE SOADY LOG AND START WRITING DOWN FOR ALL POSTERIOR POP.

>> THAT BUCK IS AS BIG AS A HOUSE.

>> SHOOT IT.

>> I CAN'T.

>> SHOOT THE DANG BUCK RUBEN.

>> I GOT HIM.

>> THANK GOD!

>> I'M HERE WITH THE PLAINVIEW CREW.

WE HAVE TY AND REESE AND MICHELLE MOSEL HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN.

THE WHOLE IDEA IS HILARIOUS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK YOU HAVE TO DO TOGETHER TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY?

>> YOU REALLY HAVE TO BUILD A LOT OF CHEMISTRY.

WERE PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS TOGETHER SO I SO YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND BUILD CHEMISTRY AND KNOW WHAT THE NEXT PERSON IS GOING TO DO NEXT AND FEEL AROUND IT.

>> I LIKE HOW YOU SAY YOU HAVE TO FEEL AROUND IT BECAUSE OFTEN IN PERFORMANCE WE TRY TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

AS YOU KNOW THERE'S NO ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE TOLERANCE IN THEIR FOR THE SHIFT IN THE DAY.

REESE, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND LET EACH OTHER HAVE WEAKER MOMENTS AND SOMEONE PICKS YOU BACK UP?

>> GOING BACK TO OUR FIRST PERFORMANCE IT WAS NOT ANYTHING NEAR TO WHAT WE HAVE AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

GOING FROM THAT TO THIS WE REALLY JUST STARTED WORKING HARD AND WE REALLY GOT THE HANG OF IT AND NOW WE ARE HERE.

>> MICHELLE CAN I ASK YOU, ARE YOU THE ACTING COACH AS WELL?

THE WAY THAT THE PEOPLE WEREN'T ACTIVE WAS ALSO JUST LIKE THE HAND THING, THAT WAS MASSIVE FOR ME.

WHAT GOT YOU TO THAT LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY?

SPECIFICITY IN THEIR PERFORMANCE?

>> ACTUALLY, THE BOYS ARE AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED GROUP TO COME UP WITH A LOT OF STUFF ON THEIR OWN.

THEY GENERATE A LOT OF IDEAS THAT WE PLAY WITH THINGS.

WE STUDY IT.

WE STUDIED THE SCRIPT.

IF SOMETHING FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT SO IT'S JUST TRIAL AND ERROR.

NOT EVERYTHING WORKS AND YOU LEARN THE MISTAKES.

>> THERE SO MUCH OID WHERE PEOPLE GET THERE AND PERFORM THE SCRIPT AS IS YOU SAID YOU FIND THINGS IN THERE THAT FIT, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM YOUR PIECE THAT YOU SAW AND WE CAN CREATE THIS OUT OF THAT?

>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE WOLF MOON DANCE PART WE HAD A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.

WE FIGURED WE COULD HAVE SOME FUN WITH THAT AND THEN WHEN WE DRINK THE POTION AND I KIND OF SPAZ OUT UP THERE I FREESTYLE THAT AND KEPT GOING AND ADDING ON TO IT AS I WENT.

>> THE SPAZZING OUT, HOW ARE YOU CONTINUING TO DO THAT?

MICHELLE YOU HAVE COACH THEM FOR FOUR YEARS, TALK ABOUT THE GROUPS PROGRESSION FOR FRESHMAN YEAR ALL THE WAY TO SENIOR.

>> IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE I DIDN'T PAY VERY MUCH ATTENTION TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST FRESHMAN AND THEY WERE KIND OF IN THE WINGS AND THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

THEY REALLY DEVELOPED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEY DEVELOPED IN PLAY PRODUCTION AS WELL AND THEY WERE VERY STRONG ACTORS THERE.

I WOULD SAY IT'S A ONCE-IN-A- LIFETIME, ONCE IN A COACH'S LIFETIME GROUP.

THAT IS HOW GOOD THE FIVE OF THEM ARE.

>> IT WAS A PERFORMANCE YOU WATCH AND YOU WERE GLUED THE ENTIRE TIME.

THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE.

WHEN YOU PERFORM WE DON'T ALWAYS GET BIG STAGES, SOMETIMES YOU PERFORM IN WEIRD PLACES.

WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST PLACE THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD TO PERFORM AT OID?

>> OUR ROOMS ARE NORMAL CLASSROOMS BUT AT SPEECH THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PERFORMED IN THE JANITORS CLOSET OR A LOCKER ROOM AND WERE LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN IN ANY OF THOSE.

>> WITH THIS STYLE OF PERFORMANCE AND THE LEVEL YOU PUT INTO IT YOU DESERVE NOTHING BUT THE LARGEST ROOMS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK BREAK.

DUAL INTERPRETATION AND ENTERTAINMENT SPEAKING OUR NEXT.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

We strive to provide farmer-first customer service every day in our grain, agronomy energy & feed divisions.

By investing in our communities, we're supporting our customers, employees, and the future of the ag industry right here in Central Nebraska.

CPI...making local matter.

[music] - Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one cause of death in students involved in activities.

Seven thousand adolescents lose their life annually due to sudden cardiac arrest.

[Denise Marshall] If defibrillation through an AED is administered within the first 3 minutes, survival rates increase to 74 percent.

If an AED is used within the first minute, the survival rate rises to 90 percent.

- For every minute that passes without defibrillation, survival rates decrease by 7 to 10 percent.

Are you and your school prepared?

[female announcer, bright music] Life can move at a pretty fast pace here in Nebraska.

From lights on to lights out, there's no stopping our work ethic.

That's why at Nebraska Public Power District, we take pride in keeping you going.

Pride in knowing that your power grid keeps electricity reliable and ready for that exact moment when you need it.

We take on the challenges 24 / 7 because electricity is the lifeblood of your day.

And powering your day is what motivates us to do our very best.

NPPD.

Powering our state.

Empowering your life.

>> WELCOME BACK TO NSAA SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIP BEST OF THE BEST.

TWO GREAT PERFORMANCES ARE NEXT.

NEXT UP IS DUAL INTERPRETATION.

>> TODAY WE ARE EXPLAINING TO WET.

WET ACTING AS A SPEECH THAT INVOLVES TWO PEOPLE RANGING FROM 12 MINUTES.

MAKE SURE YOU FIND A PARTNER THAT YOU LIKE AS IT IS ALLOWED TO BE PHYSICAL AND WHEN YOU ARE AROUND OTHERS YOU CANNOT.

YOU CAN PICK FROM SCRIPPS INCLUDING SERIOUS OR HUMOROUS.

>> YEAH.

>> RILEY SCHWARTZ AND HARMONY VAN WON'T OF MILLET NORTH ARE THE CLASS A DUAL INTERPRETATION CHAMPION HERE IS THEIR WINNING PERFORMANCE TITLED, THE HATE YOU GIVE.

>> MY NAME IS STAR.

>> STAR.

>> WITH TWO OURS.

DON'T ASK ME WHY, I DON'T KNOW.

>> WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD ME AND MY DAD HAD THE TALK.

>> NO, NOT THAT TYPE OF TALK, Y'ALL ARE MESSY.

HE TAUGHT ME THE 10 POINT PROGRAM.

BASICALLY THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ABOUT BEING BLACK AND I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS UNTIL I LIVED IT.

MY MOM SAID HIGH SCHOOL IS WHERE YOU GET PREGNANT.

>> CAN YOU TELL?

>> SO SHE SENT ME TO A HIGH SCHOOL WHERE EVERYONE IS COLLEGE-BOUND, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS FLIPPING A SWITCH IN MY BRAIN.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING GIRL?

>> I'M DOING GOOD BUT I JUST SAW HIM IN THE HALLWAY TODAY.

BASICALLY WILLIAM STARR DOESN'T GIVE ANYONE A REASON TO CALL HER AND I HATE MYSELF FOR DOING IT.

>> LET ME AT HIM I WILL KICK HIS BUTT.

>> HALEY.

>> I'M SERIOUS STARR YOU HAVE MY WORD.

>> HALEY, STRAIGHT OUT OF COMPTON.

>> AGAIN, LAST NIGHT.

>> YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING?

>> SO YOU GOING TO TWIST WITH THIS?

>> SHE DOESN'T EVEN RANK ON THE ANGRY GIRLFRIEND SCALE ANYMORE.

>> WHAT ABOUT HIS BUTT?

THANK YOU BEYONCE.

>> SCHOOL IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING STARR 2.0.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S ALL IT EVER WANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, I HAVE SOME PRETTY BIG NEWS.

ME AND HARMONY, BEST FRIENDS.

>> WHOA, I'M SURE ME AND YOU ARE BEST FRIENDS.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

REMEMBER I MADE THE MAC & CHEESE WITH SALT AND PEPPER.

>> HE SAID YOU LIKED MY MAC & CHEESE.

>> FRIENDSHIPS ARE A MUTUAL TRUST AND SUPPORT.

>> NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE EQUAL TRUST WE ALSO HAVE MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOES NOT GO THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

IN THIS STORY WE FOLLOW HALEY AND START WITH STRUGGLES OF FRIENDSHIP AFTER HER BEST FRIEND WAS KILLED DUE TO POLICE BRUTALITY.

ACCORDING TO NBC NEWS IS BEEN 267 BLACK PEOPLE KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS.

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

WE NEED TO PUT ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND REALIZE JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T LOOK THE SAME DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD BE TREATED COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY.

SO, TOGETHER WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE.

THE HATE YOU GIVE BY AUDREY WELLS.

>> THUG LIFE WHICH MEANS WHAT SOCIETY GIVES TO US WHEN WE ARE YOUNGER COMES BACK TO BITE THEM WHEN WE GO UP.

>> 17-YEAR-OLD BLACK TEENAGER SHOT BY WHITE POLICE OFFICER SATURDAY NIGHT.

NEW INFORMATION BEING RELEASED REGARDING THE DEATH OF KHALIL HARRIS.

DASH CAM SHOWS THE OFFICER THOUGHT SHE WAS REACHING FOR A WEAPON SHOWS IT WAS NOT A GUN.

BUT A HAIRBRUSH.

>> NOW WHEN IT HAPPENS DON'T ACT MAD.

ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS BUT DON'T ANSWER ANYTHING THAT MIGHT GET YOU QUESTIONED.

>> HELLO.

I AM DETECTIVE GOMEZ.

PLEASE, TAKE A SEAT.

NOW, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, STARR?

>> KHALIL AND I WENT TO A PARTY TOGETHER.

>> WITNESSES STATE THERE WERE GUNSHOTS.

DID KHALIL HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT?

>> KHALIL AND I WERE TOGETHER WHEN THE GUNSHOT.

WE WERE TOGETHER WHEN THE GUNSHOTS WENT OFF AND HE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT HOME SAFELY.

THAT IS WHEN 115 PULLED US OVER FOR NO REASON.

>> WHO?

>> THE OFFICER.

THAT IS HIS BADGE NUMBER.

I REMEMBER IT.

>> YOU KNOW WHY CLAIRE REACHED INTO THE CAR?

>> I THINK.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW!

BECAUSE YOU EVER SEE KHALIL SELLING NARCOTICS?

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> 115 KILLED KHALIL FOR NO REASON AND HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE OF A BIGGER PICTURE YOU NEED.

KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR POCKETS, YOU WILL SEE ME WITH MY HANDS LIKE THIS ON THE DASHBOARD.

STARR, STARR, RIGHT HERE.

>> DANK!

>> STARR, JUST PRETEND THE BALL IS A PIECE OF FRIED CHICKEN.

>> WHAT?

>> IT IS GAME TALK.

>> FRIED CHICKEN IS GAME TALK?

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT ONE BEFORE.

>> STARR, YOU HAD FRIED CHICKEN FOR LUNCH.

IT WAS A JOKE.

>> WHATEVER.

>> NO.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?

I'M YOUR BEST FRIEND, YOU CAN TELL ME IF SOMETHING IS WRONG.

>> HALEY, I KNOW.

>> IT'S OKAY.

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> PROTESTING IS IN.

EVERYONE IS DITCHING.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT TO USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO SKIP CLASS.

WHAT THE , STARR?

>> IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE TO SKIP CLASS.

IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE REALLY GOOD EXCUSE TO SKIP CLASS.

>> WHO ELSE WILL SPEAK UP FOR OUR PEOPLE?

>> OUR PEOPLE?

THE POLICE GET ALL NERVOUS IF YOU MOVE.

WHICH CAN GET REAL DANGEROUS BUT YOU KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE THEY CAN SEE THEM.

>> YOU HAVEN'T SAID MORE THAN FIVE WORDS SINCE I GOT HERE.

>> I'M TALKING RIGHT NOW AREN'T I?

>> WHAT, SO I'M TRIPPING?

STARR, YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME.

>> HALEY, NOTHING IS WRONG.

>> WHATEVER.

HERE, ASSIST WATCH SOME TV.

>> WAIT, CAN YOU GO BACK?

>> OFFICER BROWNING McINTOSH JUNIOR.

MY SON WAS ON THE SERVICE FOR FIVE YEARS.

THEY HAVE PAINTED HIM OUT TO BE SOME SORT OF MONSTER HE IS NOT.

HE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.

HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

MY SON IS NOT A MONSTER.

>> OH MY GOD.

THAT POOR FAMILY.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

>> HALEY, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

>> I MEAN, HIS LIFE MATTERS TO YOU KNOW?

>> HALEY YOU CAN'T STAY HERE IF YOU GOING TO BE TALKING LIKE THIS.

>> ARE YOU SERIOUS?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

NEVER MIND.

>> OH MY GOD.

UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT, STARR, I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE WHO YOU ARE ANYMORE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KICK ME OUT.

I WILL LEAVE ON MY OWN.

>> HALEY, YOU KNOW I HAVE TO SPEAK FOR KHALIL.

WHAT'S UP WITH YOU?

>> NOTHING!

>> OH MY GOSH.

YOU NEED TO GET OVER IT.

>> GET OVER IT?

>> YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THAT YOU ARE ACT RACIST.

>> BECAUSE I'M NOT.

>> IT IS ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER AND YOU CLUTCH YOUR PURSE WHEN YOU'RE IN AN ELEVATOR WITH A BLACK PERSON.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY THE AND WORD OR USE FIRE HOSES ON BLACK PEOPLE TO BE RACIST.

>> YOUR DIFFERENT STARR, YOU'RE NOT LIKE THE REST OF THEM.

>> I'M DIFFERENT, BUT NON-THREATENING BLACK GIRL?

>> YOUR FRIEND KHALIL WAS PROBABLY GOING TO GET KILLED EVENTUALLY.

>> ARE YOU SERIOUS HALEY?

>> THE OFFICER SAW A WEAPON.

>> HE SAW A HAIRBRUSH.

>> THAT LOOKED LIKE A HAIRBRUSH.

>> WHAT IS IN MY HAND RIGHT NOW?

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY IT'S A WEAPON?

>> IN HIS HAND, YES.

>> WHAT ABOUT NOW?

DOES IT LOOK LIKE A WEAPON NOW?

>> DON'T SHOOT!

>> HALEY!

LOOK AT ME AND STOP CRYING.

THAT IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

>> YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT, STARR, YOU HAVE CHANGED.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

>> I JUST MISS MY BEST FRIEND.

>> HALEY, JUST GO.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!

>> KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM.

HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO DIE BEFORE Y'ALL GET IT?

JUSTICE FOR KHALIL.

JUSTICE FOR KHALIL.

>> MY NAME IS STARR.

EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW KHALIL DIED.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW HE DIED, IT'S ABOUT HOW HE LIVED.

KHALIL LIVED.

HIS LIFE MATTERED TO ME BECAUSE HIS LIFE MATTERED.

>> I'M HERE WITH MILLARD NORTH'S OWN RYLIE SCHWARZ AND HARMONY BANWO THEIR COACH SABRINA DENNEY-BULL.

FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON A WONDERFUL STATE RUN.

WHAT?

NATIONAL CHAMPS!

YOU ARE HEADED OFF TO NATIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS SUMMER.

>> YES.

>> IT'S A TOPIC THAT IS SO HEAVY.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE IN 2025 WHEN THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT HEAVY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT?

>> WHEN WE FIRST DECIDED ON THE SCRIPT I PROMOTED IT FOR ME AND RILEY AND I SAID THIS TO BE KIND OF SERIOUS BUT ALSO FUN AND RELATABLE FOR TEENAGERS.

>> RILEY, FOR YOU, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO STEP INTO THE SCRIPT?

THERE WERE SOME MOMENTS WHERE YOU HAD THE PLATE APART THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY FEEL AND BELIEVE.

HOW CAN YOU PULL THAT OUT WHEN YOU KNOW YOURSELF THIS NOT ACTUALLY WHO I AM.

>> IS DEFINITELY DIFFICULT HAVING TO PLAY A PART THAT IS SO FAR FROM WHAT I STAND WITH BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SPEAK OUT ON TOP OF LIKE THIS AND UNDERSTAND THERE IS IGNORANCE IN THE WORLD AND THIS IS A TOPIC THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT THERE.

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE TOPICS FOR YEARS, DECADES.

AS A COACH HOW YOU HELP GUIDE THE STUDENTS TO TALK ABOUT TOPICS IN A WAY THAT'S RELEVANT TO TODAY IN 2025 VERSUS EVEN 10 YEARS AGO.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT OUR ACTIVITY IS GIVES THEM AN AVENUE TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS THAT ARE DECADES OLD ARE STILL CURRENT, YOU ARE RIGHT.

PICKING LITERATURE THAT'S MORE CURRENT AND SET IN THE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW TIMES WITH SOME RELEVANT HUMOR TO THROW IN THERE AND MAKE IT IDENTIFIABLE HELPS WITH THAT.

WERE TALKING ABOUT IN OLD ISSUE BECAUSE IS NOT A SOLVED ISSUE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRUST YOU ALL HAVE TO USE.

THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT EACH OTHER DURING THAT PERFORMANCE AND THAT'S PART OF THE MAGIC.

TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE AND THEY SAY I WANT TO BE ON THAT STAGE ONE DAY.

TALK ABOUT THE PRACTICE THAT GOES INTO DEVELOPING A PERFORMANCE LIKE THAT.

>> DEFINITELY WE PRACTICE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRUST WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS COMING TOGETHER WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND COMING OUT WITH A CENTRAL IDEA.

THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DUO.

KEEPING AN OPEN MIND IN GENERAL .

I THINK IF YOU HAVE THE HARD WORK AND YOU PUT IT TOWARDS YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MOMENTS WHERE THE SINK WAS REALLY ON ANNUAL HAD PULL THOSE OUT.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THOSE MOMENTS?

>> WE FIRST STARTED DOING BLOCKING RILEY GOT LOCKED IN AND DID THE BEST AND TAKE THE CRAZIEST IDEAS AND WE NEED TO CUT IT DOWN TO FIT THE SCRIPT AND IT WAS NOT BEING TOO SERIOUS ABOUT IT THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WERE DOING THE BASKETBALL SCENE.

>> YES, LIKE WHAT!

>> THIS IS FOR THE SCRIPT.

IT'S NOT JUST IF SOMEONE WALKS BY WHAT WILL WE DO.

>> HOW LONG HAVE Y'ALL BEEN A DUO?

IS THIS THE FIRST YEAR?

>> THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR.

>> IS THIS A COACH THING?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

THEY ARE FRIENDS AND WORK WELL TOGETHER AND HAD AN IDEA AND I WAS LIKE YES THEY ARE MATCHED WELL AS PERFORMERS AND I KNOW THAT THEY CAN MANAGE THEIR OWN TIME TOGETHER SO I THINK IT WAS A COLLECTIVE DECISION.

>> THAT WAS A GREAT COLLECT OF DECISION BECAUSE THAT PERFORMANCE WAS PHENOMENAL.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN THE FUTURE COMPETITION COMING UP.

>> THANK YOU.

NEXT, LET'S LEARN ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT SPEAKING.

>> ENTERTAINMENT IS WERE YOU GIVEN EIGHT MINUTE SPEECH ON ANY TOPIC YOU WANT.

MAKE IT SUPER FUNNY USE ACTIONS PROPS, NO COSTUME AND MAKEUP.

YOU CAN USE VISUAL AIDS.

>> HEARS NATHAN ALTHOUSE WITH HIS CLASS BE WINNING ENTERTAINMENT STEVE, LET'S BE HONEST.

>> EVER SINCE I WAS A WEE LITTLE LAD I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A UPS MAN.

I ROLLED THROUGH STOP SIGNS, NEVER WITH THE SPEED LIMIT AND I SURE AS HECK NEVER PAID FOR A PARKING TICKET.

BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, ALL JOBS MUST HAVE A WEAKNESS.

TEACHERS, A STABLE INCOME.

PSYCHOLOGISTS, A STABLE LIFE.

AND JUDGES, MAKING GOOD DECISIONS.

BUT LITTLE ME, THE WACKY WEIRDNESS WAS NO JOB.

INSTEAD IT WENT BY THE WORDS, LET'S BE HONEST.

LET'S BE HONEST, THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

FROM FIRST GLANCE I CAN TELL A LOT OF YOU FIND FOLK NEED TO WORK ON YOUR HONESTY.

YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, THOUGHT THAT NOT BRUSHING YOUR TEETH THIS MORNING WOULD BE OKAY.

OOH.

TO BEGIN WE WILL STEP BACK TO VIEW THE TRUTHFUL TALES OF HONESTY.

WE WILL THEN BE FOR REAL BY TAKING A LOOK AT MY LEGIT LIFE BEING HONEST AND FINALLY I WILL TEACH YOU GUYS WHEN TO BE SINCERE IN CERTAIN SCENARIOS.

I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR GIVING YOU THE SPEECH THAT I WOULD BE LYING.

WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE, HONESTY IS THE QUESTION.

TRUTHFUL TALES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

LONGER THAN YOU.

SURPRISINGLY BUT TO TRULY GRAB A HOLD OF THIS WE NEED THE BIBLE!

OOH, IT ALL BEGINS IN THE BEGINNING.

FOR GOD SPOKE US.

LET'S JUST ADD A LITTLE UNIVERSE HERE.

REMEMBER, THERE'S NO SUCH THINGS AS MISTAKES.

ONLY HAPPY ACCIDENTS AND IT WAS GOOD.

THROUGHOUT THE TIME GOD MADE SOME PRETTY COOL STUFF FORTNITE AND SAY IT WITH ME, IT WAS GOOD.

CASSIE AND SAY IT WITH ME, IT WAS FINGER LICKING GOOD.

AND FINALLY, WHOA, WOMAN.

IT WAS VERY GOOD.

NOW WHILE GOD SAID IT WAS GOOD, IT WAS NOT.

ONE DAY ADAM AND EVE DECIDED TO BETRAY GOD BECAUSE OF SOME SLITHERING SNAKE.

WHY?

WELL WE MAY NEVER KNOW.

I BELIEVE AT SATAN OFFERED THEM A PLAYSTATION FIVE IF THEY DID IT.

BY NOT TELLING GOD THAT EIGHT THE FRUIT THEY LIED, WHICH ISN'T HONESTY BUT HONESTY WANT TO BE A THING IF NOT FOR LYING.

THEREFORE HONESTY WAS CREATED.

WHILE HONESTY HAD BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY TOLD THROUGHOUT HISTORY, PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WOULD CHANGE.

THAT IS WHEN AMERICA CAME, MAYBE .

GEORGE WASHINGTON WASN'T HONEST ABOUT CHOPPING A STINKING CHERRY TREE DOWN.

HE HATED THE WORDS ECO-FRIENDLY JUST AS MUCH AS BRITAIN!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ALSO KNOWN AS HONEST ABE.

HOW DID HE GET THE NAME?

BY BEING HONEST, DOG.

LAST AND CERTAINLY LEAST IS MY BOY BILL SLICK WILLIE BUBBA BILL MG CLINTON.

DO I NEED TO SAY ANYMORE?

NOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN A THROUGH HISTORY OF HONESTY IS TIME I SHOW YOU HOW HONESTY HAS AFFECTED MY EXISTENCE.

THROUGHOUT MY LEGIT LIFE I HAVE LIVED THROUGHOUT A QUOTE.

HONESTY IS NOT CHEAP BUT I CAN AFFORD IT.

THAT'S RIGHT, WHEN PEOPLE ASKED ME WHY I'M SO POOR I JUST TELL THEM I HAVE A LOT OF HONESTY.

IF YOU THINK I MISINTERPRETED IT , WELL, YEAH, I DID.

THE POINT IS I WAS BORN AT A YOUNG AGE.

STUDIED SO YOUNG PUT ME AT A DISADVANTAGE SO I FIGURED LIVING THE LIFE OF HONESTY WOULD MAKE UP FOR IT WHILE OTHER KIDS USE MEAN MONDAY SHOWS MOTIVES TO GET 50 NEXT TO MINUTES OF TV, I USED TRUTHFUL, TRUSTWORTHY TECHNIQUES TO GIVE ALL THE LOVE BACK TO MY PARENTS.

DON'T BELIEVE IT?

WELL, GUESS HOW MANY TIMES SOAP WAS PUT INTO MY MOUTH.

13!

I SWEAR I DIDN'T JUST LIE.

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO DRINK VINEGAR?

67!

THEY MUST BE THINKING OF YOUR AGE.

FINALLY HOW MANY TIMES DID I GET SPANKED?

PRECISELY 0.

I WOULD NEVER LIE ABOUT THAT.

NOW, AFTER MY KID DAYS PASSED I GREW UP.

I KNOW, TRAGEDY.

BEING SO OLD OPENED UP MY EYES TO AN HONEST TRUTH.

A GIRLFRIEND!

TURNS OUT BEING SINCERE CAN GET YOU A SUGAR BOO.

NOW ONE DAY, SHE ASKED ME, DO THESE JEANS MAKE ME LOOK FAT?

OH, THAT IS A QUESTION.

SO WHAT DID I DO?

I COMBINED THE TRUTH WITH A LIE.

I TOLD HER THE MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE IF THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME AND LIZ OH HAD A BABY.

SO IT TURNS OUT BEING TRANSPARENT CAN ALSO LOSE YOU A GIRLFRIEND.

SO WHAT?

MY LEGIT LIFE RECAP THIS TIME I SHOW YOU WHEN TO USE HONESTY INSINCERE SCENARIOS.

THE BEST WAY TO GET BETTER AT SOMETHING IS BY PRACTICING IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY?

PRACTICE MAKES PUFFERY AND NO, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WORD MEANS.

IF YOU GUYS WANT TO BE AS FRANK AS HONEST ABE, AND MIGHT TAKE A TOP HAT AND A LOT OF WORK.

ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU MY BRAND- NEW OPENNESS ODYSSEY OPERATOR.

ALSO KNOWN AS, OOH.

THIS BAD BOY KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN AND WHERE YOU SHOULD BE HONEST IN THREE SINCERE SCENARIOS.

AAH, LET'S DO IT.

SCENARIO ONE, YOUR KID COMES HOME FROM SCHOOL CRYING.

HE SAYS, A KID TOLD ME THAT SANTA CLAUS IS FAKE.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

THAT IS CORRECT, YOU SHOULD BE HONEST AND SAY OH, OF COURSE SANTA CLAUS IS REAL.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN HIM AND YOU ARE A COMMUNIST!

SCENARIO TWO, YOU ARE ON A FIRST DATE WITH A GIRL YOU MET ON AN ONLINE DATING APP.

AT THIS POINT YOU'VE ONLY LIED ABOUT A FEW THINGS, INCLUDING YOUR AGE, YOUR HEIGHT, YOUR CITIZENSHIP, YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

WHEN SHE ASKED YOU WHY YOU LIED, WHAT DO YOU DO?

BINGO!

YOU LIE AGAIN.

HONESTY IS NOT THE ANSWER HERE.

YOU JUST NONCHALANTLY SAY, I MAY NOT HAVE GUNS AND YOU MAY NOT BE THE ONE, BUT ON, YOU HAVE GOT SOME CRAZY BUNS.

SCENARIO THREE, YOUR GREAT GRANDMA JUST MADE A CRUNCHY CARROT JELL-O THAT LOOKS A LITTLE LESS LIKE FOOD AND MORE LIKE THE CAUSE OF COVID-19.

NOW, SHOULD YOU BE HONEST ABOUT HER SUB PAR BAKING OR SHOULD YOU JUST LIE AND EAT THAT TERMINAL DISEASE?

THAT IS CORRECT, YOU SHOULD BE NEST.

THERE'S A REASON WHY YOUR GREAT GRANDPA DIED 10 YEARS AGO.

PLUS, RFK WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU SPEAKING ON BAD EATING HABITS.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU ALL.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHEN AND WHERE YOU SHOULD BE SINCERE AND CERTAIN SCENARIOS.

WITH THAT SAID, I THINK OUR TEACHING HERE MIGHT FINALLY BE DONE.

LET'S BE HONEST.

WAS THE SPEECH GOOD?

THE SCORES A LIE AND YOU HEARD EXACTLY WHAT I SAID ABOUT FALSIFYING THE TRUTH.

THINK WISELY.

HE IS WATCHING.

REGARDLESS, WE WENT THROUGH THE HISTORY OF HONESTY.

LOOKING THROUGH MULTIPLE TRUTHFUL TALES.

WITHIN RECAP MY LEGIT LIFE FILLED WITH ABSOLUTE HONESTY AND PRAISE.

FINALLY, WE TOOK A TEACHING LESSON ON WHEN YOU SHOULD BE SINCERE AND CERTAIN SCENARIOS.

FROM NOW ON, PEOPLE WILL KNOW YOU AND LOVE YOU DEARLY FOR THE HONESTY YOU PROVIDE TO OTHERS.

WHEN SOMEONE LIES BY ACCIDENT, POINT THEM OUT!

MAKE THEM FEEL BAD.

IT WILL SHOW THEM JUST HOW MUCH YOU CARE AND IT WILL INSPIRE THEM.

AS P. DIDDY ONCE SAID, GET MONEY, BE HONEST, AND TREAT A WOMAN LIKE A QUEEN.

>> I'M HERE WITH MINDEN'S OWN NATHAN ALTHOUSE AND COACH JEFFREY HORNER.

CONGRATULATIONS NATHAN.

A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN HAS GOT TO FEEL GOOD AS I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE AN ENTERTAINMENT LOVER AND YOU BEEN DOING IT ALL FOUR YEARS OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER >> YES, I LOVE DOING ENTERTAINMENT.

IT ALL STARTED FRESHMAN YEAR, THE SKY RECRUITED ME.

FROM THERE IT'S JUST BEEN ALL FULL GO ENTERTAINMENT.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME ENTERTAINMENT HAS BEEN MY LOVE.

>> JEFFREY, HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS A TEAM MEMBER?

SOMETIMES YOU SEE A STUDENT AND SAY THAT THE TEAM MEMBER.

>> NATHAN EXLEY HAS TWO OLDER SISTERS WHO ARE BOTH SPEECH KIDS TOO.

I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS A TODDLER.

KNOWING THE WAY HE COMMUNICATES AND HIS SMARTS AND WORK ETHICS WE WANTED HIM ON THE TEAM.

>> WHEN YOU DO ENTERTAINMENT YOU NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT A TOPIC THAT PEOPLE GENERALLY NEED TO HEAR ABOUT OR THEY MIGHT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, BUT YOU'RE ALSO ENTERTAINING PEOPLE.

YOUR STYLE OF ENTERTAINMENT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

THE WRITING AND WHERE YOU DO THE PHYSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND YOU HAVE THE HUMOR AND MAKE PEOPLE THINK INTERNALLY, WHERE'D YOU GET ALL THE HUMOR FROM?

IS THIS JUST SOMETHING YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD OR HAVE YOU HAD A PRACTICE AT A?

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY TOUGH ACTUALLY.

SPEECH MOST PEOPLE SEE IT AS IT IS, AS I PRESENTED BUT WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCREEN IS JUST CRAZY.

IT ALL STARTS BACK IN DECEMBER WHERE I ACTUALLY HAVE TO RIGHT THE SCRIPT MYSELF.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MAINLY LOVE IT EVEN MORE.

THIS IS MY WORK THAT I HAVE CREATED MYSELF AND WHAT HAPPENS IS USUALLY DURING WINTER BREAK I WOULD JUST TAKE A FEW DAYS TO SIT DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, I HAVE TO GET THIS DONE.

WHATEVER COMES TO MIND, REALLY, IT'S A LOT OF CREATIVITY IN YOUR MIND.

IT'S REALLY FUN, ALONG WITH MAKING THE VISUAL AIDS.

LOTS OF HOURS EVERY NIGHT AFTER SCHOOL PUTTING WORK TO THAT.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE 000 VEHICLE.

THAT WAS GREAT.

>> LAST YEAR MY ENTERTAINMENT SPEECH WAS OVER BECOMING A UPS MAN.

THIS YEAR I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST PUT IT TO WASTE.

HOW CAN I USE THIS TO MY ADVANTAGE IN A SPEECH ABOUT HONESTY?

SO I ENDED UP MAKING IT INTO AN HONESTY MACHINE.

WHEREAS YOU SEE I PULL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OUT OF IT AND IT'S BEEN JUST A PART OF MY SPEECH FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND I'VE LOVED IT SO MUCH.

>> THERE ARE COMPETITORS WHO MIGHT BE AFRAID TO USE A VISUAL AID THEY HAVE USED BEFORE BECAUSE THE JUDGES MIGHT SEE IT AGAIN.

FOR THOSE COMPETITORS LOOKING AND LEARNING FROM YOU TELL THEM ABOUT THAT BELIEVE THAT, HEY YOU CAN REUSE SOME OF THESE VISUAL AIDS.

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

THE BIGGEST THING IS AS LONG AS IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE REPEATING USING IN THE SAME EXACT WAY YOU CAN ALWAYS USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

ESPECIALLY IN A SPEECH THAT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

OF COURSE IN THIS TYPE OF SPEECH, HONESTY, A COMPLETELY SEPARATE CATEGORY FROM UPS MAN.

USING IT IN A WAY, IN THIS CASE IT'S NOT JUST A VEHICLE, IT'S A MACHINE.

GETTING TO USE THAT LITTLE OPEN THING RIGHT THERE IS SO MUCH FUN.

AND TO ALL OTHERS I ENCOURAGE, THAT IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF USING YOUR CREATIVITY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

IS NOT JUST A VEHICLE.

IT CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT IT TO BE >> I'M GOING TO RIGHT THAT DOWN, THAT'S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE.

JEFF, YOU'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE A TODDLER.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SEEING HIM PROGRESS AS A HUMAN BEING FROM THE TIME WINNING A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

I GUESS THAT'S THE CONDENSED VERSION.

>> HE IS JUST A HARD WORKER, VERY TALENTED, DETERMINED AND JUST A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND.

COACHING HIM HAS BEEN A DREAM.

HE'S BEEN A FUN KID ALL ALONG.

>> YOU CAN REALLY TELL THAT RELATIONSHIP IS SOLID AND THE PERFORMANCE WAS AMAZING.

PEGGY SO MUCH NATHAN AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE BACK WITH UNIFIED SPEECH AND EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING PERFORMANCES AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

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>> WELCOME BACK TWO 2025 NSAA STATE SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIPS BEST OF THE BEST.

NSAA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TERRENCE IS HERE WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE NEWER CATEGORIES, UNIFIED SPEECH.

>> UNIFIED SPEECH, THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR OF UNIFIED SPEECH IN EXISTENCE IN NEBRASKA.

NEBRASKA IS THE FIRST STATE ASSOCIATION TO OFFER UNIFIED ACTIVITIES AT THE STATE LEVEL AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO CATEGORIES.

WE HAVE UNIFIED SPEECH EXHIBITION AND UNIFIED SPEECH DUET ACTING.

>> THESE ARE PHENOMENAL WAYS TO GET OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HERE IS CARTER DITTMER OF CLASS A BENNINGTON.

HIS PERFORMANCE IS TITLED THE TITANIC.

>> IF I PAUSE I'M DOING IT FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT.

THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

THESE PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE TITANIC SAID ON THE IT SINK.

THE TITANIC WAS AN INCREDIBLE FAMOUS SHIP THAT DRAMATICALLY THINK ON ITS NEW VOYAGE TO NEW YORK.

UNFORTUNATELY IT DID NOT GET THERE.

TODAY I WILL INFORM YOU AS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT TITANIC SURVIVORS FELT ON THE FATEFUL NIGHT IN THE OCEAN.

FIRST WE WILL STEER THE SHIP WILL TO THE HISTORY, NEXT WE WILL PUT ON OUR SUNDAY BEST TO DESCRIBE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE ON THE SHIP, AND THE SIGNAL TO DESCRIBE THE EVENING WHEN THE SHIP MET ITS GRAVE.

TO START, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SHIP.

THE TITANIC WAS OVER 800 FEET LONG AND OVER 90 FEET WIDE.

IT WEIGHED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS.

IF IT SUNK THAT NIGHT IT COULD HAVE SURVIVED TO BE 120 YEARS OLD.

FIRST LAUNCHED ON APRIL 10th, 1912 A FEW DAYS LATER WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED UNFORTUNATELY.

THE TITANIC CASTS $7.5 MILLION TO BUILD, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN 190 MILLION IN TODAY'S MONEY.

THE IRON RIVETS AND STEEL PLATES, ALMOST 35 FEET OF THE SHIP WAS UNDERNEATH WATER.

IT WEIGHED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS.

ON ITS TOP DECK IT HAD FOR LONG SMOKESTACKS THAT STOOD 62 FEET TALL AND HAD A DIAMETER OF OVER 20 FEET.

IMAGINE THAT.

ACCORDING TO FIVE MINUTES HISTORY ONLY THREE OF THE CHINE SMOKESTACKS.

THE WAS CURRENTLY ONLY A FAKE AND WAS USED AS A FIRST-CLASS SMOKING ROOM.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY THOMAS HARLAND OF THE WOLF COMPANY.

IT WAS DESIGNED MORE FOR COMFORT THAN SPEED.

DIFFERENT FROM MOST RECLINERS AT THAT TIME.

HORNET AND WOLF STARTED TO BUILD THE TITANIC AND CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1909.

NOW I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE ON THE TITANIC.

A FIRST-CLASS TICKET COST OVER $4000.

A SECOND CLASS TICKET COST OVER 1000 AND THE THIRD CLASS TICKET COST ABOUT THE SAME.

THERE WERE OVER 2000 PEOPLE ON THE TITANIC AND OUT OF THOSE AROUND 700 SURVIVED THE RACK.

THERE WERE 900 PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE SHIP, THERE WERE THE COOKS, THE CREW MEMBERS AND SERVERS.

THE CAPTAIN'S NAME WAS EDWARD J SMITH, WAS VERY POPULAR WITH WEALTHY PASSENGERS.

THE TITANIC AT THAT TIME WAS CONSIDERED TO BE INDESTRUCTIBLE FOR THE LOWER CLASS.

PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIFE SAVINGS INTO TICKETS FOR THE TITANIC THEY DID NOT GET TO EXPERIENCE THE THINGS THAT THE OTHER CLASS EXPERIENCE FOR THE UPPER CLASS LIFE WAS LUXURIOUS.

DAD SERVERS AND NICE BEDS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BE FIRST-CLASS FIVE-STAR MEALS.

LIFE WAS GOOD.

ON THE SHIP THERE WERE TWO RADAR OPERATORS WHOSE JOBS WERE TO LAY MESSAGES TO THE CAPTAIN AND BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN PASSENGERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THEIR NAMES WERE JACK POTTS AND HARLAN BRIDE.

IF THE TITANIC HAD NOT SUNK THAT NIGHT IT COULD HAVE SURVIVED TO BE OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

BECAUSE OF THAT TITANIC TO PAY IS IMPORTANT AND OUT TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WARNINGS AROUND US.

WE ALSO CAN TAKE AWAY THE LIFE LESSON TO NOT BE COCKY.

FINALLY, I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE WHAT THE FATEFUL NIGHT ON THE TITANIC MAY HAVE BEEN LIKE.

THE DOOMED PASSENGERS PROBABLY FELT LIKE THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO END.

THEY WERE PANICKING WHEN THE SHIP TORE INTO AND ONE HALF OF THE SHIP WENT DOWN SLOWLY AND THE OTHER HALF CRASHED INTO THE OCEAN.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY DID NOT MAKE IT.

THE ICEBERG PUT A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP WHICH CAUSED THE SHIP TO SINK.

THE ICEBERG WAS 50 FEET HIGH AND 400 FEET LONG.

ONLY 16% OF THE ICEBERG WAS ABOVE THE WATER, THE REST WAS BELOW.

THIS PROBABLY EXPLAINS WHY THE SHIP CAPTAIN COULD NOT HAVE SEEN THE ICEBERG FROM A DISTANCE.

ACCORDING TO TITANIC CONNECTIONS.COM, SOME OF THE BODIES WERE FLOATING IN THE WATER BECAUSE THEY WERE DEAD.

THE RMS CARPE DIEM HELPED WITH THE RETRIEVAL OF TITANIC PASSENGERS.

AFTER THEY WERE DONE RETRIEVING THE BODIES THE VICTIMS WERE BURIED IN FAMILY PLOTS BUT 150 OF THOSE THAT PERISHED WERE BURIED IN HALIFAX WHERE THE GRAPES ARE KEPT AND ATTENDED TO THIS DAY.

IN CONCLUSION.

TODAY I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE TITANIC.

TODAY I STEER THE SHIP WILL TO THE HISTORY OF THE SHIP.

NEXT WE PUT ON OUR SUNDAY BEST TO DESCRIBE WHAT LIFE ON THE SHIP -- NEXT WE WILL PUT ON OUR SUNDAY BEST AND DESCRIBE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE ON THE SHIP BEFORE FINALLY SENDING THE EMERGENCY SIGNAL TO DESCRIBE THE EVENING WHEN THE SHIP MET ITS WATERY GRAVE.

THE SHIP WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF OUR HISTORY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY REMEMBER THE PEOPLE'S LIFESTYLE WAS LOST ON THE SHIP BUT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE GREAT STRENGTHS.

WE MUST BE AWARE OF OUR SURROUNDINGS.

>> I'M HERE WITH CARTER DITTMER AND COACH JAMES GINAL.

FIRST OFF CARTER, CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT PERFORMANCE WAS GREAT.

HONESTLY I DID NOT KNOW THAT PEOPLE SURVIVED THE TITANIC.

700 YOU SAID?

>> YEAH.

>> AND A FEW MORE PEOPLE FLOUNDER AROUND AND THEY GET TAKEN CARE OF TODAY.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITANIC?

WHY THAT TOPIC?

>> BECAUSE, LIKE, THAT WAS JUST LIKE ONE OF THE HISTORY.

NOW BECAUSE OF THE TITANIC, SORRY ABOUT THAT, THE TITANIC NOW WE HAVE BETTER SUPPORT BECAUSE ACTUALLY I TOLD MY DAD IF THE TITANIC DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH WE WOULD ASK WE HAVE ALL THESE PRECAUTIONS.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING I LEARNED IN THE SPEECH.

THAT WAS SOMETHING POWERFUL IN THE ACTIVITY.

DURING THE RESEARCH WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE TITANIC?

>> THAT THERE WAS A FAKE SMOKESTACK.

>> WHAT?

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS FAKE.

>> IT WAS A FIRST-CLASS SMOKING ROOM ACTUALLY.

AT THAT TIME THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SMOKING WAS BAD FOR YOUR LUNGS.

>> IT WAS A FAKE SMOKESTACK.

>> ONLY FOR THE FIRST-CLASS SMOKING ROOM.

ONLY FIRST-CLASS.

EVEN I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> JAMES, AS A COACH HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ONLY A HISTORICAL TOPIC THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT ALSO IT'S KIND OF FUN TO REALLY DIG IN AND LEARN ABOUT THE STUFF WHAT WAS THE RESEARCH PROCESS LIKE WORKING FOR CARTER?

>> CARTER TOOK THE REINS ON ALL OF IT.

I GAVE HIM FREEDOM TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT I GUIDE HIM IN THE DIRECTION HE WANTS TO GO AND HE TAKES IT FROM THERE.

THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT THESE KIDS.

NOT ONLY CARTER BUT THE REST OF MY SPEECH TEAM AS WELL.

THESE KIDS ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ART OF SPEECH.

YOU GIVE THEM A LITTLE SPARK AND IT STARTS A FIRE AND THAT'S WHAT CARTER DID WITH THE TITANIC I'M INTERESTED IN THE TITANIC, LET'S START WITH SOME RESEARCH AND GO FROM THERE.

HE BUILT IT ALL HIMSELF.

>> MR. G HAS BEEN HELPING ME, LAST YEAR HE HELPED ME WITH THE ALAMO.

AND THEN THIS YEAR HE'S HELP ME WITH THE TITANIC AND I THINK YOU FOR HELPING ME FOR EVERYTHING THESE PAST FEW YEARS.

>> MY PLEASURE CARTER.

>> THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A COACH AND A STUDENT IS ONE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.

I DON'T WANT TO FORESHADOW BUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE FOR NEXT YEAR AND HOW IMPACTFUL THAT WILL BE.

YOU MIND SHARING A LITTLE ABOUT THAT?

>> I WILL JUST SAY BASICALLY LIKE WHAT IS A.M.?

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

SO WE WILL HAVE PICTURES ON IT BECAUSE LILY, I'M NOT A RARE THING BUT LITERALLY I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 13 DAYS WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND I AM 17.

SO HAVE TO LIVE MY LIFE TO THE FULLEST BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOUR LIFE WILL END LIKE THAT.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU ARE SHARING THAT STORY.

THERE IS SO MUCH IMPACT.

>> MY STORY, LITERALLY I HAVE PICTURES ABOUT IT.

I HAVE PICTURES OF ME, BASICALLY LIKE I HAVE PICTURES OF MY BRAIN.

>> WOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT PERFORMANCE AS WELL.

AND YOU'RE ONLY A SOPHOMORE.

YOU HAVE SO MUCH AHEAD OF YOU.

>> I AM 17.

>> I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU BRING TO THE STAGE IN THE FUTURE.

TAKE YOU FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OFFER.

>> AND JAMES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE.

OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING.

>> EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING.

IF YOU'RE GIVEN A DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN RELATED TOPIC IN WHICH YOU DO RESEARCH TO ANSWER AND SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENTS TO THAT QUESTION.

USUALLY IN 5-7 MINUTES.

>> LET'S WATCH RED CLOUD'S MARIAH McDOLE PERFORM HER CLASS THE ONE WINNING SABRINA'S PRESENTATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INDONESIA.

>> JOSEF STALIN, ADOLF HITLER AND MAO ZADONG.

THESE ARE SOME NAMES OF SOME OF THE MOST INFAMOUS DICTATORS ON THE PLANET.

WHILE IN TODAY'S INCREASINGLY DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, DICTATORS ARE MUCH LESS COMMON, SOME STILL EXIST.

ONE SUCH EXAMPLE IS A MAN BY THE NAME OF SUHARTO.

ACCORDING TO HIS BRITANNICA PAGE HE WAS THE LEADER OF INDONESIA FROM THE YEARS 1967 UNTIL 1998 AND HIS DOWNFALL CAME ABOUT DUE TO CORRUPTION WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY AS WELL AS ECONOMIC COLLAPSE THROUGHOUT INDONESIA.

GIVEN INDONESIA'S TRANSITIONAL LANDSCAPE POLITICALLY AND THE NEW PRESIDENT, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT THEY ARE ENTERING A NEW ERA THAT IS QUITE REMINISCENT FROM THE ONE THEY FACED WHILE SUHARTO WAS THE DICTATOR?

I BELIEVE YES.

INDONESIA IS REVERTING BACK TO A SIMILAR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE THAT THEY EXPERIENCED WHILE SUHARTO WAS THERE DICTATOR.

TO BEGIN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SUHARTO AND NEXT WE TALK ABOUT THE MILITARY AND THE EFFECTS IN THE 90's AND TODAY.

FINALLY WE'LL TALK ABOUT INDONESIA'S ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE BEFORE THEIR COLLAPSE IN THE 1990'S.

TO START WITH THERE'S MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PROBAWO SUBIANTO.

ACCORDING TO SUHARTO HE HAD A EXTENSIVE MILITARY RUN AND WAS LATER THE INDONESIAN MILITARY GENERAL.

THIS IS SOMETHING HE SHARES WITH PROBAWO SUBIANTO .

ACCORDING TO A CNN ARTICLE.

DEVELOP WAS IN THE MILITARY FOR SOME TIME BEFORE BECOMING AN ARMY GENERAL THEMSELVES.

THE TO SHARE MORE SIMILAR TO HARRY'S BEEN JUST THAT.

CNN ARTICLE ALSO GOES ON TO STATE THAT SUHARTO HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR HAVING A SHORT TEMPER AND WAS EVEN BANNED FROM THE UNITED STATES DUE TO ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

THIS IS SOMETHING HE SHARES IN COMMON WITH SUHARTO.

ACCORDING TO THE JAKARTA POST, AN ARTICLE UPLOAD IF EVERY 12 OF 2018, BOTH MEN WERE ABLE TO FLEE THE COUNTRY BEFORE BEING HELD ON TRIAL FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE IS THAT PROBAWO SUBIANTO WAS AT ONE POINT MARRIED INTO THE FAMILY OF SUHARTO.

SHOWING THE TWO COULD'VE HAD A CONNECTION BEFORE HAND.

AS THE SAYING GOES IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.

SIMILARLY IT TAKES ONE TO ACT LIKE ONE AS WELL.

IT SEEMS THAT PROBAWO SUBIANTO IS TAKING NOTES FROM SUHARTO'S RAIN AND IMPLEMENTING THEM INTO HIS OWN LIFE AND REIGN AS THE LEADER OF INDONESIA.

AFTER TALKING ABOUT SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO MEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE MILITARY AND THE ROLE IT PLAYED IN THE 90's AND TODAY IN INDONESIA.

THE MILITARY IS A LARGE PART OF ANY COUNTRY.

GIVEN THAT BOTH PROBAWO SUBIANTO AND SUHARTO ARE PROMINENT MILITARY FIGURES IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY BOTH FOCUS ON THE MILITARY WHILE IN POWER.

ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE POSTED ON THE STREET JOURNAL WEBSITE ON FEBRUARY 12th OF 2025, IT STATES THAT WHILE SUHARTO WAS IN POWER THE INDONESIAN MILITARY MURDERED ALMOST 1 MILLION INDONESIAN CIVILIANS IN THE SPAN OF LESS THAN A YEAR.

THIS WAS DONE SO THAT SUHARTO COULD MAINTAIN POWER AND CORRUPTION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THUS, IN 2004 A LOT WAS CREATED RESTRICTING THE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT MILITARY PERSONNEL COULD HAVE IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND CIVILIAN ROLES.

WHILE THIS GUARANTEED PROTECTION FOR CIVILIANS FOR SOME TIME THINGS MAY BE DIFFERENT MOVING FORWARD.

ABC NEWS ARTICLE POSTED ON MARCH 15th OF 2025 STATES RECENTLY THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO CREATE AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT THIS 2004 LAW PLACE ON MILITARY PERSONNEL.

THIS MEANS THERE WILL BE INCREASE MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND CIVILIAN AFFAIRS.

THIS IS CAUSED MANY PEOPLE IN INDONESIA TO FEAR FOR THEIR OWN DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM MOVING FORWARD SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE RIGHT TO BE AFRAID OF AS THIS GAINS MORE POWER FROM THE MILITARY AND CAN LEAD TO INCREASED CORRUPTION BY PROBAWO SUBIANTO.

SIMILAR TO HOW SUHARTO ABUSED THE MILITARY FOR HIS OWN GAIN.

AFTER TALKING ABOUT HOW THE MILITARY AFFECT THE DICTATORSHIP BACK IN THE 1990'S, WE WILL NOW TALK ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OF INDONESIA'S REMINISCENT OF HOW IT WAS UNDER SUHARTO.

SUHARTO WAS THE LEADER OF INDONESIA FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS BEFORE BEING FORCED OUT OF THE POSITION DUE TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

IN THE LAST SIX MONTH SINCE PROBAWO SUBIANTO HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA, ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE ALREADY PILING UP.

ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE ON THE BETTER NEWS WEBSITE POSTED ON MARCH 20th OF 2025 IT STATES THAT DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN PROBAWO SUBIANTO PROMISED TO CREATE AN INITIATIVE THAT WOULD PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS INDONESIA.

THIS CREATED A LOT OF APPEAL FOR HIM AND LED TO MANY PEOPLE FAVORING HIM AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOR INDONESIA.

THIS MAY BENEFIT THE STUDENTS OF INDONESIA, THIS WOULD COST AT LEAST $30 BILLION COLLECTIVELY UNTIL THE END OF PROBAWO SUBIANTO 2029 TERM.

THIS IS SOMETHING INDONESIA CANNOT AFFORD AND WOULD PUSH THEM ABOVE THEIR DEBT LIMIT.

ADDITIONALLY.

SINCE PROBAWO SUBIANTO IS PLACING INCREASED IMPORTANCE ON MILITARY SPENDING, HE CLAIMS HE WANTS TO INCREASE SPENDING FROM .9% OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCTS UP TO 2.5% OF INDONESIAN GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCTS.

THIS RELATES TO A SPENDING OF ALMOST $27 BILLION ANNUALLY.

SOMETHING INDONESIA CANNOT AFFORD.

INDONESIA IS ALREADY STRUGGLING AS THE BLOOMBERG ARTICLE POSTED ON MARCH 26th OF 2025 STATES THAT THE RUPIAH IS AT THE LOWEST VALUE IT HAS BEEN AT SINCE THE ECONOMIC LOSS THAT DROVE SUHARTO OUT OF POWER.

INDONESIA'S OTHER RESOURCES ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP THAT THIS EXCESSIVE SPENDING COULD BRING.

A FORBES ARTICLE POSTED MARCH 27th OF 2025 STATES THAT THE BANK OF INDONESIA WILL BE BUYING STATE BONDS IN AN EFFORT TO CONTROL DEBT MONETIZATION.

DEBT MONETIZATION IS A STRATEGY USED BY MANY COUNTRIES SUFFERING ECONOMICALLY AT THE LAST DITCH EFFORT TO TRY AND SAVE THEIR ECONOMIES.

OFTEN TIMES ISN'T EFFECTIVE AT ALL.

THIS SHOWS THAT INDONESIA IS ALREADY ON THE BRINK OF ECONOMIC COLLAPSE.

JUST AS THEY WERE AT THE END OF SUHARTO'S RULE.

POLITICAL FREEDOM, THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVES AND PRESIDENTS IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR GROWING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT INDONESIA DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME FREEDOMS UNDER ITS DICTATORSHIPS.

WE LOOK AT THE SIMILARITIES WITH PROBAWO SUBIANTO AND SUHARTO.

NEXT WE UNDERSTOOD THE MILITARY AND ITS ROLE IN INDONESIA BOTH IN THE 90s AND TODAY.

FINALLY , WE LOOKED AT INDONESIA'S CURRENT ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE THAT BROUGHT THE DOWNFALL OF SUHARTO AND HIS DICTATORSHIP.

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FREEDOM IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT INDONESIA DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME FREEDOMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE IN THE FUTURE MORE SHOULD BE DONE BY CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORING ALLIES TO HELP MAINTAIN DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM INSTEAD OF DICTATORSHIPS IN INDONESIA.

>> I'M WITH RED CLOUD'S MARIAH McDOLE AND SAMANTHA McDOLE DOLE.

I NOTICED THE LAST NAMES ARE THE SAME.

IS THIS MOM, DAUGHTER, COUSINS, SISTERS?

>> SHE IS MARRIED TO MY SECOND COUSIN.

>> WHOA, SO THE FAMILIES ARE DEEP OUT THERE IN RED CLOUD.

HOW DOES IT FEEL WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS A FAMILY MEMBER?

>> SHE WAS ALSO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER SO IT'S REALLY NICE.

IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PRESSURE AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE EVEN SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.

IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION.

>> YOUR SPEECH WAS PHENOMENAL.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT WON THE STATE TITLE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

THAT WAS PHENOMENAL ESPECIALLY FOR AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE YOU'RE FEELING ON TOP OF YOU WHEN YOU PREPARE, HOW DO YOU DO WITH PRESSURE AS A PERFORMER?

>> HONESTLY, IT'S NERVE-RACKING UP UNTIL YOU DROP.

YOU HAVE AN HOUR TO PREP, RESEARCH, RIGHT AND REHEARSE THE SPEECH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT THERE AND FREAK OUT.

YOU HAVE TO JUST GO FOR IT.

IMMEDIATELY I TRY AND THESE ARE MY TOPICS, THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO, RIGHT IT DOWN.

>> SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT GETTING INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT PLACES AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE SOURCES ARE VERIFIED.

THE LAND OF GOOGLE YOU CAN ALMOST FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANYWHERE, AS A COACH HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THAT CREDIBILITY WHEN YOUR STUDENTS ARE RESEARCHING THEIR SOURCES?

>> WITH MARIAH HERE, SHE DOES A LOT OF HER OWN RESEARCH DURING IT SO WE JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT CREDIBLE SOURCES ARE AND WHERE SHE CAN FIND THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE SOURCES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION.

>> AND WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THESE SOURCES IN YOUR PREPARING THE SPEECH, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR NARRATIVE?

TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE COLD HARD FACTS.

WHAT YOUR PRIMARY GOAL WHEN RESEARCHING?

>> MY GOAL IS TO SEEM AS UNBIASED AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T WANT PERSONAL OPINION TO SKEW HARD FACTS AND SOLID EVIDENCE SO I TRY AND SIMILARLY USE SOURCES ASSOCIATED PRESS.

STUFF THAT IS MORE NEUTRAL AND NOT AFFILIATED WITH EITHER PARTY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS MAKING SURE INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THE BEST RESOURCES I CAN.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE ARE USING.

CHATGPT HAS COME INTO THE FOLD FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO DO RESEARCH.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE YOU ARE SEEING THE INFORMATION.

TALK ABOUT GOING TO REUTERS, GO TO BBC, FIND THINGS THAT ARE NEUTRAL THAT PEOPLE CAN VERIFY THEMSELVES.

OFTEN WE FORGET ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

AS A PERFORMER CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE THE SOURCES?

>> IF YOUR SOURCES AREN'T CREDIBLE OR YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER INFORMATION IS COMING FROM IT CAN BE VERY EASY TO GET INFORMATION THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOU CAN HAVE IT THAT IS IF A JUDGE KNOWS ABOUT YOUR TOPIC AND THEY KNOW THAT IS NOT RIGHT, DON'T SAY THAT, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

IT IS VERY HUMBLING GETTING A BALLOT BACK THAT SAYS ACTUALLY YOUR INFORMATION IS WRONG.

>> AND THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PERFORMERS WHOSE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO THIS IS YOUR SENIOR YEAR.

YOU HOPPED INTO THIS YOUR SENIOR YEAR.

WHAT WAS THAT TRANSFORMATION GOING FROM THESE EVENTS?

>> IT WAS VERY HARD IN THE SENSE THAT THE FIRST TIME I EVER PRACTICED EXTENT WHICH IS VERY HARD TO DO.

>> I, SO MANY FILLER WORDS.

SO MANY EH .

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESEARCH FAST OR SKIM AN ARTICLE FOR GOOD INFORMATION.

I WAS OVERTIME BECAUSE I KEPT STALLING AND FREAKING OUT.

IT IS JUST, A LOT OF IT IS LEARNING TO MAINTAIN YOUR COMPOSURE.

NO MATTER HOW UNCONFIDENT YOU CAN BE ABOUT A SPEECH OR INFORMATION.

IF YOU CAN PLAY IT OFF AS THIS IS FACTUAL.

NOT THAT YOU SHOULDN'T USE FACTUAL INFORMATION.

IF YOU CAN GIVE OFF A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AND KIND OF ACT LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, EVEN IF YOU DON'T BECAUSE OF HAD TOPICS WHERE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BUT WERE GOING TO HOPE IT WORKS.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T 100% KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS STILL THE PART OF PROSE WHERE YOU ARE JUST MAINTAINING A CONFIDENT COMPOSURE EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT REALLY CONFIDENT.

>> THE PART OF THE ACTIVITY WE TAKE INTO THE FUTURE.

THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS AND TALK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE LIKE OKAY.

I'LL ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN THAT ADVOCACY.

YOU REALLY SHOWED IT TO US THERE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.

A WONDERFUL STAGE RUN.

AFTER ANOTHER QUICK BREAK WE WILL BE BACK WITH SERIOUS PROS AND PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION PERFORMANCES.

STAY TUNED.

[Taryn Retzlaff] Judges help students to find their voice and become lifelong supporters of the arts.

Without these individuals, NSAA activities would not be possible.

[McKenzie Smith] I cannot participate in the activities that I love without these officials and judges.

So please, let the players play.

Let the coaches coach.

Let the officials officiate.

And let the judges judge.

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>> WE ARE BACK WITH THE NEXT CATEGORY, SERIOUS PROSE.

HERE IS A QUICK OVERVIEW.

>> IT IS 8-10 MINUTE SPEECH WITH PORTRAYING ONES SERIOUS EVENTS IN THEIR LIFE.

IT CAN BE TRAUMATIC.

IT CAN BE HAPPY.

IT CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT.

YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM AN ALREADY MADE SCRIPT OR YOU CAN COMBINE SEVERAL SCRIPTS TOGETHER.

I LOVE SERIOUS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TRAUMATIC EVENTS IN THE WORLD OR LIFE AND I THINK SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO AWARENESS MORE.

>> MORGAN THIEMAN IS THE CLASS C2 CHAMPION IN SERIOUS PROSE.

HERE IS HER WINNING PERFORMANCE TITLED, BABY MAMA.

>> THE FIRST TIME I SAW MY BABY'S HEARTBEAT I WAS AT THE ANATOMY SCAN.

YOU KNOW THE ULTRASOUND TECH MISSION?

SHE PUTS ALL THAT GUNK ON YOUR STOMACH.

WHOA, THAT IS COLD.

SHE POINTS UP AT THE BIG SCREEN TV AS SHE POINTS AT DIFFERENT BODY PARTS.

OH, THAT IS A FEMUR.

YEAH, A FEMUR.

MY USUAL GUY KNOW BETH KNEW I WAS GIVING MY BABY UP FOR BETH BUT THIS ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN DID IT.

I'M SURE OTHER MOTHERS WHO ARE KEEPING THEIR CHILD ARE BIT MORE VOCAL THAN I WAS BUT I JUST KIND OF SAT THERE.

IN SILENCE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

ALL MY GOSH, A FEMUR?

LIKE WHAT?

SO I JUST SAT THERE.

OH MY GOSH, A FEMUR?

BUT THEN I HEARD A HEARTBEAT.

YOU KNOW HEARTBEAT WHEN YOU HEAR ONE AND I HEARD A HEART.

MY VERY FIRST ULTRASOUND.

IT WAS A LITTLE FLICKERING THING BUT IT WAS THERE.

MY BABY HAD A HEART AND YEAH, I WAS GIVING MY BABY UP FOR ADOPTION BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY.

ALWAYS.

IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT 45% OF PREGNANCIES IN THE YEAR 2024 WERE ON PLAN.

PLAYWRIGHT MARIAH McCARTHY FOUND HER SELF FACE WITH THE REALITY OF STATISTICS AND FOR REASONS THAT WERE ENTIRELY HER OWN TO GIVE UP TO GIVE UP HER BABY FOR ADOPTION TO FOSTER HER CHILD.

WITH THIS DECISION COMES PREGNANCY.

WITH PREGNANCY COMES THE FEELINGS OF SELF-DOUBT, SELF- LOATHING AND LOSING COMPLETE CONTROL.

JUST BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR HER DOESN'T MEAN IT WAS AN EASY ONE.

BABY MAMA BY MARIAH McCARTHY.

SO I WALKED IN THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO CONFIRM I WAS IN FACT PREGNANT AND I MET DEB.

DEB ALWAYS LOOKS AT YOU LIKE, OH, OH ARE YOU OKAY?

AND HONESTLY, I LOVED IT.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I THINK SHE REALLY LIKED ME BACK.

REALLY STARTED TO FEEL LIKE THE FEELING WAS MUTUAL SO THE DECISION TO FINALLY START LOOKING FOR PARENTS TO FOSTER MY CHILD AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF APPOINTMENTS WITH DEB WASN'T REALLY GOING AS MUCH PLANNED AS WE JUST SORT OF RAN OUT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT THEN ONE DAY SHE HANDS ME THE BOOK.

THE BOOK IS LITERALLY A BOOK OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO ADOPT YOUR CHILD.

HAS EVERYTHING IN IT.

IT HAS THE NAMES, WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING, THEIR PARENTING STYLE, THE PARENTS PARENTING STYLE, THEIR ZODIAC SIGN.

YEAH, THAT COULD COME IN HANDY.

I WAS LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT COUPLE BECAUSE AS A WOMAN IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING.

OF COURSE I'M OPEN TO HAD A ROSE TO BUT THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME ADVANTAGES.

THE RIGHT MIX OF HEARTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

THEN SHE HANDS ME THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

AS A MIXED COUPLE, TWO GUYS, ONE IS IN SCIENCE AND THE OTHER IS IN THEATER AND I'M LIKE YES I WANT TO MEET THESE PEOPLE, SO WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND I'M SURE THEY WERE PROBABLY FAR MORE NERVOUS THAN I WAS BUT I WAS SWEATING BULLETS.

I WAS SWEATING PROFUSELY REALLY.

AND IN WALKED GREG AND IN WALKED DANIEL.

GREG SAT TO THE RIGHT OF ME AND DANIEL SAID TO THE LEFT AND I WAS LIKE, LOOK, I AM IN A MAN SANDWICH.

AND THEY LAUGHED AT MY STUPID, STUPID, OH SO STUPID JOKE AND I LOVED THEM.

I LOVED THEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THEN GREG WAS LIKE WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR CHILD?

I WAS LIKE, OH, GREAT QUESTION.

OBVIOUSLY A GREAT QUESTION.

GREAT QUESTION.

I GUESS I JUST WANT THE PLACE WHERE HE CAN TRULY BE HIMSELF AND HE ALWAYS FEELS LOVED NO MATTER WHAT.

NO MATTER WHO HE WANTS TO LOVE OR WHAT HE WANTS TO DO OR WHERE HE ENDS UP.

I'M SORRY AND I LOOK UP AND GREG IS CHOKED UP AND DANIEL IS CHOKED UP, I AM A LITTLE CHOKED UP TO.

THEY WERE PERFECT ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

THAT WAS REALLY THE POINT OF NO RETURN, YOU KNOW?

THEY WERE ENOUGH.

ENOUGH TO GET ME PAST THE NIGHT THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ME.

YOU KNOW?

AS A WOMAN I REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING KNOCKED UP BUT WHEN IT ISN'T CONSENSUAL, WHEN THEY JUMP YOU AS YOU LEAVING YOUR LATE SHIFT AT THE RESTAURANT.

I WAS JUST THINKING OF EATING RAMEN WHEN I GOT HOME AND SAID I FOUND MYSELF GETTING PINNED DOWN AND SLAPPED AND HID.

OH GOD!

I ONLY WANTED TO GO HOME!

BUT HERE I AM.

SO THREE MONTHS LATER I WAS APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF THE U.N. AND THE BABY KEPT PUSHING ON MY CERVIX SO I WENT INTO LABOR.

FOR SIX HOURS AND I KNOW I WENT INTO LABOR FOR SIX HOURS BECAUSE THERE WAS A LAW AND ORDER MARATHON ON THE TV AND I KEPT PUSHING AND PUSHING AND I WOULD HEAR THE SOUND OF A NEW EPISODE STARTING.

I KEPT PUSHING AND PUSHING UNTIL I HAD A BABY.

OH MY GOD, I HAD A BABY!

AND THE NURSE HANDS ME THIS WHITE CLOTH.

OH MY GOD.

I HAD A BABY.

YOU KNOW THE STORIES ARE TRUE.

THE MOMENT YOU SEE YOUR CHILD YOU'RE JUST INSTANTLY SCREWED.

BUT THEN THREE DAYS LATER THINGS GOT REAL BECAUSE THREE DAYS LATER I HAD TO LEAVE WITHOUT MY SON.

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT I SAID FOR THIS WHOLE LONG SPEECH BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THIS WHOLE LONG SPEECH BUT I JUST REMEMBER SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.

DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS.

AND I TOOK HIM OVER TO THE WINDOW AND I WAS LIKE, LOOK, IT'S A SCARY WORLD OUT THERE.

BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU.

ALWAYS.

AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.

AND THEN DEB WALKED IN AND I SAID DEB I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP MY CHILD.

WHAT?

NO, DEB.

PLEASE, NO.

DEB, DEB!

DEB!

SHE JUST LEFT!

SHE JUST LEFT.

YOU KNOW THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I'VE BEEN DOING SOME SOUL-SEARCHING.

I HAVE BEEN LIKE INDIANA JONES OF SOUL- SEARCHING.

LIKE WHAT IF I MOVE BACK IN WITH MY PARENTS OR I GET THE SUM OF MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE BUT THE MATH NEVER QUITE WORKED OUT, RIGHT?

THE TRUTH IS I CAN RAISE MY CHILD IF I WANTED TO BUT THE CHOICE BETWEEN ONE PARENT AND THREE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE THREE.

RIGHT?

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE THREE.

I COULD SIT HERE AND CONVINCE MYSELF THAT I WENT TO BED A GOOD MOTHER BUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT MOTHER SO I WON'T BECAUSE I CHOSE THREE.

>> I AM WITH McCOOL JUNCTION'S MORGAN THIEMAN AND MOM AND COACH CHERRI THIEMANN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WHAT A PHENOMENAL AND POWERFUL PERFORMANCE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TOPICS THAT YOU CHOOSE, THIS ONE IS SO RELEVANT ALMOST FOREVER BUT WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT THIS YEAR?

>> I READ THE SCRIPT AND IMMEDIATELY I FELT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN CHARACTER AND HER SITUATION.

I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A STORY YOU DON'T HEAR A LOT IN THE SPEECH AND IT WAS REALLY STRONG AND STRUCK ME IN MY HEART.

>> AS A COACH YOU SEE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERFORMANCES WILL GIVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE TO SAY WE WILL TACKLE THIS DIFFICULT SUBJECT?

>> MORGAN HAS ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO DIG DEEP AND SHOW ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EMOTIONS.

THIS PARTICULAR CHARACTER SHE IS VERY WITTY, SHE IS VERY FUNNY BUT SHE ALSO FEELS HER PAIN VERY DEEPLY.

I KNEW MORGAN COULD PORTRAY THE DEPTH OF THIS CHARACTER.

>> I CALL IT GIVING A FULL MEAL.

ALL OF THE EMOTIONS INSIDE OF THAT PERFORMANCE WHICH WAS JUST GREAT.

>> MAKE YOU LAUGH BEFORE YOU CRY.

>> YES, I WAS ON THE VERGE OF TEARS!

OH MY GOODNESS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW DEEP YOU HAD TO GO TO GET TO SOME OF THOSE SPACES FOR THE PERFORMANCE.

THE FOLKS AT HOME MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THOSE DARK PARTS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TAP INTO SOMETHING YOURSELF IN ORDER TO GET THERE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING THERE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE ON THE STAGE ONE DAY.

>> TAKES A LOT OF FOCUS AND IT TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY HARD SUBJECT AND SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T GET INTO HOW HARD THE SUBJECT IS YOU CAN NEVER FULLY EXPRESS IT.

I HAD TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE STORY IS REALLY HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HEAR AND IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO HEAR AS WELL.

>> THE PANTOMIME THAT YOU DID.

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, PANTOMIME ARE THE SMALL ACTIONS THAT ACTORS WILL DO WHILE THEY'RE ON STAGE.

THE PANTOMIME OF BEING PREGNANT.

DID SOMEONE TEACH YOU?

IT SEEMED REALLY REALISTIC.

THE WEIGHT WAS THERE AND EVERYTHING.

>> ME AND MY COACHES WORKSHOP THE.

I JUST KIND OF FIGURE THAT OUT AND SAID ONE DAY IS THIS GOOD?

>> AND MOM YOU APPROVE, THIS LOOKS GOOD.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WE DO A LOT OF THE EARLY WORK TOGETHER AND A LOT OF THE PANTOMIMING AND THE LOCKING IS WITH MY ASSISTANT COACHES.

A LOT OF THAT WE HAVE TO THINK FOR THEM.

>> FOR YEARS IN, THIS IS YOUR SENIOR YEAR, YOU GOT TO EXPENSE GROWTH OVER FOUR YEARS.

CAN YOU TALK BRIEFLY SHARING THE GROWTH OF HER AS A STUDENT AND A PERFORMER?

>> SURE, HER FRESHMAN YEAR WE NEEDED A POETRY AND SHE WANTED TO BE HUMOROUS AND FUNNY BUT WE SAID YOU ARE NOT, YOU WILL DO POETRY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOUR TEAM NEEDS.

THAT IS WHAT COACHES CHILDREN OFTEN HAVE TO DO.

BUT SHE WENT WITH IT AND IT WAS AMAZING.

SHE ENDED UP BEING THE STATE CHAMPION HER SOPHOMORE YEAR AND STATE RUNNER-UP HER JUNIOR YEAR.

THIS YEAR SHE WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT SO WE JUMPED INTO SERIOUS PROS.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL FOUR YEARS IN BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH MOM?

>> IT'S BEEN A RIDE.

SHE GETS TO DEAL WITH MY UPS AND DOWNS.

I'M SURE THE OTHER WAY AROUND AS WELL.

I MEAN, WE STICK TOGETHER AND WE LEARNED A LOT.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD FOUR YEARS.

I WOULD HAVE PICKED ANYBODY ELSE.

>> BEING HERE IN NEBRASKA SEE A LOT OF THOSE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS.

FOR THOSE JUST GETTING READY TO ENTER INTO A FAMILY DYNAMIC WITH A COACHING DYNAMIC AS WELL.

OTHER ANY TIPS YOU CAN GIVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH A FAMILY MEMBER AS A COACH?

>> FOR ME IT'S JUST TREASURE THOSE MOMENTS.

YOU DON'T GET TO SEE OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS VERY OFTEN.

THEY'RE VERY BUSY PEOPLE AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE JOY OF GETTING TO COACH HER OWN CHILD THAT'S ALL THE EXTRA BONUS HOURS THAT YOU GET.

OVER FOUR YEARS PLAY PRODUCTION AND SPEECH.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT TIMES WITH MORGAN.

WOULDN'T TRADE THEM FOR ANYTHING.

EVEN WHEN WERE KIND OF YELLING.

>> OKAY.

IT GETS SPICY.

>> I FEEL BAD BECAUSE I'M REALLY PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES TO MY ACTING SO I WOULD KIND OF ARGUE BUT I THINK IN THE LONG RUN WE HELPED COACH EACH OTHER.

>> SOMETIMES THOSE OF THE WAYS HAS TO BE IN ORDER TO GET THE RESULTS JUST LIKE THESE AND YOU ABSOLUTELY DESERVE IT.

WHAT A POWERFUL PERFORMANCE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING ON THAT STATE RUN.

YOU ABSOLUTELY DESERVE THAT NUMBER ONE SPOT THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR NEXT CATEGORY.

PROGRAM, ORAL INTERPRETATION.

>> POISED AS FOR PROGRAM OF ORAL INTERPRETATION AND IS AN EVENT WHERE POSE, POETRY AND DRAMA TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE POINT OR ARGUMENT.

>> HERE IS BRAYDON HOESING OF CLASS D1 WAUSAU WITH HIS WINNING PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION SPEECH, THE FEAR OF WHAT'S AFTER.

>> DAY OH.

DAY OH.

DAYLIGHT, AND ME WANT TO GO HOME .

DAY!

ME SAY DAY ME SAY DAY ME SAY DAY OH.

DAYLIGHT, OKAY BUT WHAT IF DAYLIGHT DIDN'T ACTUALLY COME?

THE COSMIC HORROR AUTHOR H.P.

LOVECRAFT ONCE STATED THAT, THE OLDEST AND STRONGEST EMOTION OF MANKIND IS FEAR AND THE OLDEST AND STRONGEST KIND OF FEAR IS FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

WHETHER IT'S BEING AFRAID YOU WILL BE CALLED ONTO THE CARPET AT WORK OR SCHOOL, SCARED OF MONSTER IS ABOUT TO MATERIALIZE IN THE LATEST EPISODE OF STRANGER THINGS OR BEING FROZEN IN FEAR.

WONDERING WHAT MY, WHAT YOUR FUTURE HOLDS.

SOMETIMES THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN IS ALMOST AS TERRIFYING AS THE INEVITABILITY ITSELF IN MY PROGRAM THE FEAR OF WHAT'S AFTER, WHERE GOING TO DELVE INTO HER PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED TO AVOID WHAT WE FEAR MOST.

FOR THE PIECES THE BANANA BOAT BY HARRY BELAFONTE.

I'M AFRAID TO DIE BY KATHLEEN AUTH EPP, THE UNKNOWN BY WORKING DALE RUSSELL.

I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK BY DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE AND DEATH DRAMATIC PRELUDE BY NICOLE STODDARD.

WE WILL REALIZE IN OURSELVES WHAT THERAPIST TORI A LEHTO STATED SO PERFECTLY.

THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN KEEPS US ROOTED IN THE MISERY OF OUR CURRENT SITUATION, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE KNOW.

NOW COME WITH ME AS WE DELVE HEADFIRST INTO OUR FEAR OF WHAT'S AFTER.

DAYLIGHT COME AND ME WANT GO HOME.

EXCUSE ME FRIEND!

I FEAR THE AND.

IS IT NEAR OR FAR DRAWN OUT?

I DO NOT KNOW.

THE AND YOU ASK?

WHY IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE TASK.

IT IS THE END OF AN ERA AND THE START TO A NEW BEGINNING.

BE IT GOOD, BAD OR SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.

A FINAL BURST OF ENERGY.

THIS IS HOW COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED TO ME THE PROCESS WHEN, UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM OR THE LOVE ONE DYING, DEATH WAS INDEED IMMINENT.

ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO WHAT EACH PERSON SAID AS THEY RECOUNT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WITNESS THIS FINAL FLOURISH OF LIFE, I COULD NEVER REALLY CONCEIVE OF IT.

EVEN READING THE PAMPHLET, WHICH READ LIKE A WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING TO DIE MANUAL.

LEFT BY A WELL MEANING HOSPICE NURSE COULDN'T PROPERLY PREPARE ME FOR MY OWN GRANDFATHER'S FINAL ACTS.

WHAT WAS FOREIGN THEN IS NOW VERY, VERY PAINFULLY FAMILIAR.

YOU SEE, MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS HAD AN ECCENTRIC PERSONALITY.

WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE TO HEAR HIM SING YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE JUST ONE MORE TIME.

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, MY ONLY SUNSHINE, ONE FEAR TO RULE THEM ALL.

ONE FEAR TO FIND THEM.

ONE FEAR TO BRING THEM IN AND IN THE BLACK BOX BIND THEM.

THE PARITY OF TOLKIEN'S TEXTS REPRESENTS AN IDEAL PLACE TO EVALUATE THE PROPOSITION THAT THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN MAY BE A, OR IS POSSIBLY THE FUNDAMENTAL FEAR.

UNDERLYING ALL ANXIETY AND EROTICISM WRITTEN BY NICHOLAS CARLTON STATES, THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN WILL BE DEFINED HEREIN AS AN INDIVIDUAL'S PROPENSITY TO EXPERIENCE FEAR-BASED BY PERCEIVED LACK OF INFORMATION AT ANY LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

MEANING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

WHICH IS FREAKING TERRIFYING!

I AM HUMAN AFTER ALL.

NO MATTER HOW IT MAY SEEM, I AM HUMAN.

I'M AFRAID.

JUST AS ALL HUMANS GO, I FEAR THE UNKNOWN.

CHANGES SUCH A FRIGHTFUL THING AND IT'S ALREADY BEGUN.

NO MATTER MY MOVEMENTS THEY RUSH ME FORWARD.

I AM NOT READY.

EVEN NOW I YEARN FOR THE PAST.

DO YOU FEAR DEATH?

IS IT THE FEAR OF DEATH OR SIMPLY NOT BEING HERE?

MAYBE YOU FEAR THE AFTERLIFE YOU WORRY ABOUT.

DEATH HASN'T CONSUMED YOU.

OF LIFE?

DEATH IS NATURAL.

NOTHING NATURAL CAN BE DETRIMENTAL.

DEATH IS REST AND REST IS STRENGTH IN DISGUISE FOR FURTHER ADVENTURE.

CHARM LLOYD ONCE STATED THE CURRENT STATE OF HUMAN EDUCATION TO OVERCOME DEATH ITSELF MAY BE A POSSIBILITY, BUT TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF DEATH IS NOT ONLY PRACTICABILITY BUT INEVITABILITY.

DEATH IS NORMALLY THE SIGN THAT THE SOUL, UNDER THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS EXHAUSTED THE POSSIBILITY OF PROGRESS IN ITS CURRENT BODY.

ON A SUNDAY MY GRANDPA, CANCER RIDDEN, WOKE WITH A COUGH AND THAT WAS IT.

HIS FINAL CURTAIN.

SHE HOSPICE HAD PROVIDED GRANDPA WITH THE WILTSHIRE SO HE COULD GET OUTSIDE, WATCHES GRANDCHILDREN AND DOGS PLAY TAKING THE NEW WORLD BUT HE ONLY SEEMED TO USE IT WHEN I WAS AROUND.

SO WHEN WE ARRIVED ON THE LAST DAYS I ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED TO TAKE A STROLL AND HE SO GRACIOUSLY OBLIGED.

IT WAS SIMPLY JOYFUL.

EXHILARATING FOR ALL OF US AND YET, SO SORROWFUL.

THE WIND WAS BLOWING.

THE SUN WAS SHINING AND GRANDPA WAS SMILING.

EYES CLOSED, TAKING IT ALL IN AS IF IT WERE A DREAM.

WHEN WE ARRIVED BACK AT HOSPICE LATER THAT DAY, HE RESTED.

CONTENT ENOUGH.

YOU MAKE ME HAPPY, WHEN SKIES ARE GRAY.

DEATH, TO DIE, TO EXPIRE, TO PASS ON, TO PUSH UP DAISIES, THE BUSH OPPOSES, TO BECOME EXTINCT.

TO SEE DEMISED DEPARTED AND THE FUNK.

DEAD AS EMITS THE LAST BREATH.

PAYING A DEBT TO NATURE.

GOD'S WAY OF SAYING, SLOW DOWN.

WARM BUFFET, KICK THE BUCKET, BUY A FARM, CASH IN YOUR CHIPS AND IF WE VERY YOUR UP I WILL HAVE A PLACE TO PARK MY BIKE.

YOU AND ME HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING TO SEE FROM BANGKOK TO CALGARY, AND THE SOLES OF YOUR SHOES ARE ALL WORN DOWN, THE TIME FOR SLEEP IS NOW.

IT'S NOTHING TO CRY ABOUT, BECAUSE WE WILL HOLD EACH OTHER SOON.

IN THE BLACKEST OF ROOMS.

LATER THAT EVENING, FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION WITH ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT SOMETHING.

MY GRANDPA SPRUNG FROM THE CHAIR AND WENT TO THE KITCHEN TO PRESENT ME WITH THE PLATE GIVEN TO HIM BY A FRIEND.

HE THEN SAT DOWN, REITERATING HIS PEACE WITH LIFE AND GOD AND I BEGAN SNAPPING SHOTS.

GRANDPA, WITH ME, WITH MY MOM, WITH THE DOG OF OUR HANDS.

YOU SEE, GRANDPA WAS THE RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE FAMILY AND THE FACT I WAS THE ONE NOT TAKING THE PHOTO MADE THAT MOMENT SO MUCH MORE OMINOUS.

AS IF HIS OWN PERSONAL HOURGLASS WAS ALMOST OUT OF SAND.

WHILE THE EVENTS OF THAT EVENING MARKED MY GRANDFATHER'S FINAL ACTS, MOVEMENTS AND GESTURES.

IT WAS THAT NIGHT THAT HE DELIVERED HIS FINAL MONOLOGUE.

I COULDN'T ESCAPE BEARING WITNESS.

IT WAS AT ONCE THE MOST MORTIFYING, BUT YET HUMBLING EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

MY HEART BREAKING ANSWERS VOICE FINALLY LEFT HIM.

AND BY 8:00 P.M., HIS BREATH HAD TO.

THAT WAS IT.

HIS FINAL CURTAIN.

YOU WILL NEVER KNOW DEAR, HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.

PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY SUNSHINE AWAY.

IN FEAR OF DEATH, WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN VAIN.

NOT KNOWING WHAT LIES BEYOND DEATH DOOR.

NOT KNOWING IF WE WILL RISE AGAIN OR VANISH LIKE A SPARK FOREVER MORE.

DEATH SMILES AT ALL OF US D ALL A MAN CAN DO IS SMILE BACK.

AND IF HEAVEN AND DECIDE THAT THEY BOTH ARE SATISFIED, ILLUMINATE THE NO ON THEIR VACANCY SIGNS.

IF THERE IS NO ONE BESIDE YOU WHEN YOUR SOUL EMBARKS, THEN I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK.

THEN I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK.

>> I HAVE WAUSAU'S OWN BRAYDON HOESING AND SHEILA HOESING WITH ME.

IS THIS A MOM AND SON DUO?

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

>> YES.

>> OH MY GOSH, CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL POINT PERFORMANCE.

WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING YOU WANT A FULL MEAL AND YOU GAVE ME THE LAUGHS, THE TEARS, I CRIED A LITTLE BIT TAKING ABOUT MY GRANDPA AND WHAT COMES AFTER.

HOW DID YOU ALL DECIDE ON A TOPIC THAT IS SO, EVERYONE EXPERIENCES IT BUT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY DELICATE HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THIS?

>> CHOOSING TOPICS WE GO THROUGH INTERPERSONAL MOMENTS AND ISSUES WE HAVE.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS IS THAT I'M NOT DOING ENOUGH CURRENTLY.

WHAT'S COMING NEXT IS COMING NEXT SO WE DECIDED TO SET IT IN THREE PORTIONS, SHORT-TERM, NEAR FUTURE AND EVENTUALLY LONG- TERM LOOKING AT THE AFTERLIFE AND THOSE ISSUES.

WE DECIDED TO BUILD OUR SPEECH AROUND THAT.

IT WENT PRETTY WELL.

>> THE WAY THAT IT BUILDS, YOU COULD FEEL IT BUILD AND I FELT MY EMOTIONS BUILD.

MOM, DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING?

>> HE ALWAYS SAYS I'M KIND OF A HARD PERSON TO GET TO LAUGH OR CRY BECAUSE YOU WATCH IT 1 MILLION TIMES BUT WITH THIS IT HITS YOU IN A WAY THAT EVERY TIME, DANG IT, HE GOT ME AGAIN.

IT WORKS BECAUSE IT HITS THE HEART EVERY TIME YOU SEE IT.

>> WHEN YOU DO POINT YOU HAVE TO .

THINGS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE FOR BOTH OF YOU BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A COACH AND STUDENT THIS IS MOM AND SON SO THE COLLABORATION HAD TO BE INCREDIBLE.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE DIFFERENT SOURCES THAT YOU PICKED?

>> WE HAD TO START IT OFF.

WE HATE DOING PURE SERIOUS AND WE CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

SO WE START WITH SOMETHING REALLY OFF THE TOP WITH HARRY BELAFONTE BANANA BUS, OR BOAT.

>> BANANA BOAT, YES.

>> JUST FINDING A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE BIGGEST RANGE OF AN AUDIENCE IS WHAT WE START AT.

WHAT CAN WE DO THAT EVERYONE HAS A CONNECTION WITH?

EVERYONE HAS SOMEBODY THEY LOST SOMEBODY THEY WORRY ABOUT LOSING THE GRANDPARENTS THAT WAY WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND LIKE HE SAID IN HIS PEACE, FEAR OF WHAT'S COMING NOT KNOWING WHAT'S COMING.

EVERYBODY HAS IT SO IT'S A GREAT THING TO CONNECT WITH SO MANY MORE PEOPLE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT POI IN GENERAL BECAUSE YOU SAID YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR YOU WON POI.

THAT WAS THE FIRST STATE CHAMP POI .

>> IN CLASS D. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

IF WE HAD A STUDIO AUDIENCE!

YOU'VE GROWN OVER THE YEARS TO LOVE IT BUT YOU ALSO WHAT'S THIS PROGRESS AS AN EVENT ITSELF.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU SEE POI BEING PERFORMED HERE IN NEBRASKA?

>> THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS A JUMBLE OF NOBODY HAD ANY CLUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

HE SEEMS TO BE EVOLVING INTO A MISSION MUMBLE OF DIFFERENT EVENTS AND WITHOUT THE CONFINES OF THE INTERPRETATION OF VENTS YOU HAVE FULL FREEDOM TO WHOEVER YOU WANT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS.

>> WHICH IS ALSO SCARY BECAUSE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS AND IT WILL BE OVERWHELMING AND THE SPEECH COMMUNITY IN NEBRASKA IS SUCH A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN GO TO.

COACHES AND FRIENDS THAT WILL HELP GUIDE YOU ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NEW TO IT.

>> IS SO MANY DIFFERENT RESOURCES.

YOU TAUGHT ME STUFF WHILE IN WATCHING THE PERFORMANCE.

AS A COACH YOU HAVE COACH FOR ALL THREE YEARS RIGHT?

YOU ARE A JUNIOR SO YOU COACH ALL THREE YEARS?

>> I ACTUALLY COACH PLAY PRODUCTION WE HAD COACHES IN SCHOOL AND TO HELP BEHIND THE SCENES.

HIS COACHES FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS MOVED AND SO IT WAS LIKE, YOU ARE UP.

20 YEARS I HAD BEHIND-THE-SCENES AND THEY FINALLY GOT ME.

>> WHAT IS IT FEEL LIKE TO GO FROM BEING PRIMARILY MOM TO HAVING TO FLIP ON THE COACH HAT?

>> I THINK, I LOVE THE KIDS AND I HAVE KNOWN THEM SINCE THEY WERE BORN.

IT'S A DIFFERENT MENTALITY BECAUSE NOW IT'S IS ALMOST, I DON'T WANT TO LET THEM DOWN.

IT WAS AFTER WATCH THEM AND ENJOY AND THIS YEAR IT WAS MORE A DON'T WANT TO LET THEM DOWN.

IT WAS A LITTLE MORE STRESSFUL BUT I SAID I THINK THEY ENJOYED IT LESS BECAUSE NOW I WAS FOCUSING ON A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

MOM, MOM, MOM.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE YOU TWO HELD EACH OTHER UP IN THAT WAY.

I WANT TO HELP YOU SUCCEED AND NOW WERE HELPING EACH OTHER SUCCEED.

GOODNESS YOU DID.

I WAS A PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE.

TAKE YOU SO MUCH AND IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU.

TWO CATEGORIES REMAIN.

WATCH WINNING PERSUASIVE SPEAKING AND HUMOROUS PROSE PERFORMANCES AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

across the Midwest, but there is still a waiting list for students to receive a mentor.

All it takes is one trusting, caring adult to make a DIFFERENCE in a child's life.

To join the team and be a mentor, visit Teammates .org today.

♪ Upbeat music Why is it important to fill out your FAFSA?

- First off, -its how you apply for Federal, - State - and most college-based financial aid.

<mechanical noise> - It's easier to fill out than you think.

- Start college on the right track.

- You don't have to pay for college on your own.

- EducationQuest is here to help.

-For more >> WE ARE BACK FOR A LAST TWO 2025 NSAA STATE SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIPS BEST OF THE BEST PERFORMANCES.

PERSUASIVE IS FIRST.

>> PERSUASIVE IS A PLATFORM EVENT WITH A 10 MINUTE MAX AND THERE IS NO VISUAL AIDS.

YOU CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN 150 QUOTED WORDS.

IT IS AN EVENT WE TRY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE WITH YOUR THESIS BASED ON FACTS.

>> EMILY OTOUPAL OF YORK WAS THE CLASS B PERSUASIVE CHAMPION.

HER WINNING SPEECH IS TITLED THE EROSION OF CONNECTION.

>> STARTING MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE OVERWHELMING FOR ANYONE.

FOR ME, IT WAS MORE THAN JUST ADJUSTING TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT.

WAS WATCHING MY FRIENDSHIPS SLOWLY DRIFT APART.

I SPENT MOST EVENINGS AT HOME, SCROLLING THROUGH TIKTOK OR BINGE WATCHING NETFLIX TRYING TO FILL THE VOID.

DESPITE THE MYRIAD OF CONNECTIONS AROUND ME I FELT COMPLETELY ISOLATED.

BUT IT TURNS OUT I AM NOT ALONE.

A SURVEY PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE TITLED, THE STATE OF AMERICAN FRIENDSHIPS IN 2021.

FOUND THAT MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE PUBLIC SAY THEY HAVE NOT MADE A NEW FRIEND IN THE LAST ONE THROUGH FOUR YEARS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FRIENDSHIPS.

THE CONNECTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAT ON THE PORCH WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR SHOOTING THE BREEZE?

DO YOU EVEN KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS NAME?

WE ARE A PROUDLY INDEPENDENT NATION BUT IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL , ISOLATION WILL STRAIN OUR PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND WE CAN THE CONNECTIONS THAT HOLD OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WE MUST REPHRASE OUR RELATION RESULTS AND STOP SELF ISOLATING.

TODAY WE WILL EXAMINE THE PITFALLS OF PROLONGED ISOLATION.

WHAT AFFECTS THE ISOLATION ISSUE AND THE BENEFIT OF BUILDING BALANCED RELATIONSHIPS.

THE FRENCH POET JOSEPH THROUGH ELEGANTLY CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF THE STRUGGLE WHEN HE SAID, SOLITUDE VILIFIES.

ISOLATION KILLS.

AT TIMES IT FELT LIKE I WAS TUCKED AWAY, TRAPPED IN MY OWN LITTLE BULB.

SAFE BUT SEALED OFF FROM THE GENUINE WARMTH OF OTHERS.

NOT SAYING YOU NEED TO BE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS ALL OF THE TIME, BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LOVE A LITTLE ME TIME?

BUT OUR ISOLATION TENDENCIES ARE CREATING LASTING PROBLEMS.

ONE SUCH PROBLEM CAUSED BY ISOLATION IS THE RISE OF HEALTH ISSUES IN OUR SOCIETY.

THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL PREVENTION AND REPORT TITLED HEALTH EFFECTS OF ADOLESCENT BRAIN STRUCTURE IN 2023, FOUND THAT ISOLATION SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE RISK OF PREMATURE DEATH FROM ALL CAUSES.

A RISK THAT RIVALS THOSE OF SMOKING, OBESITY AND PHYSICAL INACTIVITY.

HUMANS ARE MEANT TO BE SOCIAL CREATURES.

WE THRIVE IN RELATIONSHIPS AND PROSPER WITH CONNECTIONS.

IN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGING STUDY BY SHEILA BOMBA TITLED SELF ISOLATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN 2023 SHE FOUND THAT UP TO 75% OF SENIORS IN LONG- TERM CARE FACILITIES EXPERIENCE SELF ISOLATION WHICH CAN LEAD TO A 30% FASTER PHYSICAL DECLINE RATE AND 40% HIGHER MORTALITY RISK.

ALL INTENDED TO SUPPORT HEALTH REMOVING INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY OFTEN HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.

ADDITIONALLY ISOLATION HAS WEAKENED OUR SOCIAL SKILLS.

AS PEOPLE LEAN MORE ON TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION, THE NUANCES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION LIKE READING BODY LINKAGE AND UNDERSTANDING TONE ARE OFTEN LOST.

FOR EXAMPLE, A SURVEY TITLED DECLINING SOCIAL SKILLS FROM DJ IN THAT NEW YORK POST IN 2024, FOUND THAT 25% OF REMOTE WORKERS HELP THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS HAD DECLINED WHILE WORKING FROM HOME.

THIS CAN LEAD TO DIFFICULTIES IN FORMING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS.

ISOLATION DOESN'T JUST HARM INDIVIDUALS.

HAS A MEASURABLE IMPACT ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND WORK LACE DYNAMICS.

A STUDY BY DR. PATEL TITLED THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF A BEST FRIEND AT WORK, PUBLISHED BY GALLUP IN 2020.

FROM EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEST FRIEND AT WORK TO BE ENGAGED IN THEIR JOBS.

COMPARED TO EMPLOYEES LACKING THOSE CONNECTIONS.

LONELINESS IS A SUBJECTIVE FEELING.

AND IT OFTEN HAS OBJECTIVE EFFECTS.

STATED BY DR. TYLER FAN REALLY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY PROFESSOR AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

LOOKING BACK I REALIZE I CREATED INVISIBLE WALLS AROUND ME.

WE ALL HAVE THINGS WE DON'T LIKE TO SHARE.

LIKE MY SECRET OBSESSION WITH 60s AND 70s MUSIC.

BUT THESE SOCIALLY ISOLATING WALLS ARE SUFFOCATING AND IT'S AFFECTING OUR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.

2024 STUDY BY DR. PATRICK CORGAN FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH TITLED, LOCKDOWN EFFECTS OF ADOLESCENT BRAIN STRUCTURE.

HE FOUND THAT THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY ACCELERATED BRAIN MATURATION IN ADOLESCENTS.

INTERESTINGLY, FEMALES SHOWED ABOUT 4.2 YEARS OF BRAIN AGING WHILE MALES ONLY EXPERIENCED 1.4 YEARS.

THIS ACCELERATED BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT'S LINKED TO A HIGHER RISK OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS.

OUR ISOLATION ALSO AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE DECLINE IN POPULARITY OF THEIR PLACES.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS LIKE CAFES, LIBRARIES AND PARKS IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASED LONELINESS.

THE SHIFT HAS RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN TIME SPENT WITH FRIENDS.

FOR INSTANCE ACCORDING TO KIERAN PRESS REYNOLDS FROM A 2020 BUSINESS ARTICLE TITLE PEOPLE SAY WE CAN FILL DIFFERENT NOW.

AMERICANS WEEKLY SOCIALIZING DROP FROM ABOUT SIX AND HALF HOURS TO ONLY FOUR HOURS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT NUMBER IS CONTINUING TO DECLINE.

FINALLY A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT OF ISOLATION IN OUR SOCIETY IS A CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.

SHIFT IS SUPPORTED BY SUPPORT, RESEARCH BY DR. WILL JAMES TITLED, WORLD HAPPINESS IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

THE WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT IN 2023 THAT FOUND COUNTRIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE ALSO REPORT GREATER FEELINGS OF ISOLATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE TREND OF LIVING ALONE HAS BEEN STEADILY RISING ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU IN 24 SINGLE PERSON'S HOUSEHOLD NOW MAKE UP NEARLY 28% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE UNITED STATES.

INDEPENDENCE CAN BE EMPOWERING BUT IT OFTEN LEADS TO ISOLATION AND WEAKER SOCIAL NETWORKS.

IN THE WORDS OF MOTHER TERESA, THE MOST TERRIBLE POVERTY IS LONELINESS AND THE FEELING OF BEING UNLOVED.

TO SOLVE THIS CONNECTION CONUNDRUM MUST PUT FORTH AN EFFORT TO MAKE MORE FRIENDS.

OKAY, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT THAT EASY BUT OUR INTRINSIC POLL ITSELF ISOLATE IN TIMES OF WEAKNESS CAN BE COMBATED BY INTENTIONAL ACTS OF CONNECTION.

TAKE A SPEECH ME FOR EXAMPLE.

IT'S POSSIBLE I CAN COMPLETELY ISOLATE MYSELF FROM MY SURROUNDINGS.

YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND BUT IF I MAKE THE EFFORT TO MAKE A CONNECTION, EVEN A SIMPLE GREETING OR WHERE ARE YOU FROM COULD COMPLETELY TRANSFORM MY MIND-SET AND BEHAVIOR.

BEYOND OUR SOCIAL LIVES WE NEED TO RETHINK OUR USE OF TECHNOLOGY.

PLATFORMS LIKE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PROVIDE CONVENIENCE, THEY CANNOT REPLACE MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS.

2022 RESEARCH REPORT TITLE SOCIAL ISOLATION FOUND THAT 69% OF SOCIAL MEDIA USERS FELT EVEN MORE LONELY AFTER ONLY TWO HOURS USING THESE PLATFORMS.

TO COUNTERACT THIS MUST ESTABLISH HEALTHIER HABITS AND MORE INTENTIONAL USES FOR TECHNOLOGY.

FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF BURYING MY NOSE IN MY PHONE AT THE COFFEE SHOP I TRIED TO HAVE A PLEASANT CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE AROUND ME.

YEAH, I AM THAT PERSON NOW BUT BY USING TECHNOLOGY AS A BRIDGE, RATHER THAN A BARRIER WE CAN ENHANCE OUR CONNECTIONS INSTEAD OF DIMINISHING THEM.

FINALLY WE MUST FOCUS ON FACE- TO-FACE INTERACTIONS.

DR. JOHN EKLUND STUDIED TECHNOLOGY IN THE BRAIN IN THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY IN 2024.

CONFIRMING THAT FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS BOOST OXYTOCIN LEVELS, THE BODY BY 10-40 PERCENT DEPENDING ON THE ACTIVITY WHICH HELPS INCREASE TRUST AND EMPATHY BY OVER 80%.

THESE FACE-TO-FACE MOMENTS BUILD THE KIND OF AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS THAT TECHNOLOGY CANNOT REPLICATE.

WE NEED TO REDEFINE OUR COMMITMENT TO RELATIONSHIPS AND PUT AN END TO THE PATTERNS OF SELF ISOLATION.

BY EXAMINING THE PITFALLS OF PROLONGED ISOLATION.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT AFFECTS THE ISOLATION ISSUE AND THE BENEFITS OF BUILDING BALANCED RELATIONSHIPS WE CAN REFRAME OUR RELATIONAL RESULTS IN FOSTER A MORE CONNECTED, EMPATHETIC AND RESILIENT SOCIETY.

NOW THAT I'M ALMOST FINISHED WITH HIGH SCHOOL I MADE THE DELIBERATE CHOICE TO AVOID SELF ISOLATION.

AT THE END OF THE DAY CONNECTION ISN'T SOMETHING YOU JUST WANT, IT IS SOMETHING YOU NEED.

SO LET'S PUT DOWN OUR PHONES, LOOK UP AND LEAN IN TO THE POWER OF BEING PRESENT.

TOGETHER WE CAN TRANSFORM A SOCIETY OF STRANGERS INTO A COMMUNITY OF ALLIES.

ONE MEANINGFUL INTERACTION AT A TIME.

>> I'M HERE WITH YORK'S OWN EMILY OTOUPAL AND COACH ELIAS DALLMAN.

CONGRATULATIONS EMILY.

THAT PERFORMANCE WAS PHENOMENAL.

IN SPEECH LANGUAGE WE CALL IT TIGHT.

REALLY ENJOYED HOW TIGHT THE PERFORMANCE WAS.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH EVERYTHING YOU WERE SAYING AND I WAS ABLE TO REFERENCE WHAT YOU SAID PREVIOUSLY.

WHEN IT COMES TO PREPARING FOR A PERFORMANCE WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL?

>> FOR ME I JUST NEED TO GET INTO THE MIND-SET AND REALLY LOCK IN ON MY TOPIC AND THE FEELING IS I WANT TO PORTRAY TO THE AUDIENCE.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE GETS ACROSS TO THE PEOPLE.

>> HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS THE TOPIC?

WAS IT SOMETHING YOU WERE MULLING ON?

>> WHEN WERE LOOKING FOR TOPICS WE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S RELATABLE TO EVERYONE AND IT'S RELATABLE TO MYSELF AS WELL.

WE ALSO WANTED A TOPIC THAT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU NECESSARILY GET ABOUT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS .

BECAUSE I'M NOT JUST SITTING IN CLASS THINKING, I AM SO LONELY.

BUT REALLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT YOU ARE LIKE OH, THAT IS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM.

>> I CONNECTED SO MUCH WITH A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING EVEN IN SMALL MOMENTS.

OF THE COACHES SEE MANY STUDENTS GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.

HOW DID YOU BOTH COLLABORATE AND FLUSH THIS OUT SO IT WASN'T JUST FROM ONE PER SPEC?

I FEEL LIKE YOU HIT SO MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ALL IN THAT SPEECH.

>> WHEN EMILY CAME TO ME AND SAID WERE GOING TO DO PERSUASIVE THIS YEAR, WE REALLY PUT OUR BRAINS TOGETHER TO THINK OF A TOPIC THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID.

SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT WALKING INTO THE LUNCH ROOM AT SCHOOL AND IT WAS QUIET.

EVERYBODY'S ON THEIR PHONES.

IS NOT AS MUCH TALKING OR CONNECTION.

WE KNEW WE HAD SOMETHING THERE REALLY EVOLVED AS THE SEASON WENT ON.

>> YOU SAID YOU DOING PERSUASIVE THIS YEAR, IS THIS YOUR FIRST YEAR?

>> YES.

>> WHAT?

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> I ALSO DO INFORMATIVE AND OID.

>> YOU SAID I WILL GIVE IT A SHOT AND THE SHOT LANDED IN FIRST PLACE.

WHEN IT COMES TO A SHOT LIKE LONELINESS OR CONNECTION, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS TOPIC BEING IMPACTFUL IN THE FUTURE?

>> SIMPLY LIKE YOU SAID, I WALK INTO THE CAFETERIA AND EVERYONE IS ON THEIR PHONES.

HUMANS, LIKE I SEE MY SPEECH, HUMANS ARE MEANT TO BE SOCIAL CREATURES.

WE ARE MEANT TO TALK, MINGLE, BE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE US AVOIDING THIS IS REALLY HARMING US IN THE END.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE SPEECH IS WHEN WE SPEAK TO DIFFERENT GENERATIONS AS WELL.

EVEN AN OLDER GENERATION.

THE FACT THAT WE NEED FAMILY, FRIENDS, WE NEED NEIGHBORS, WE NEED THAT CONNECTION.

>> I LOVE THAT YOU SAY I AM THAT PERSON AT THE COFFEE SHOP NOW.

WE ALL GO HERE THEY COME BUT NOW THAT I'VE HEARD YOUR PERFORMANCE AND LISTEN.

MAYBE I'LL TAKE THE TIME TO PUT MY PHONE DOWN AND ACTUALLY CHAT WITH THE CHATTY PERSON AT THE COFFEE SHOP.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT STATE WIN.

THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OUR FINAL CATEGORY COMING UP IS HUMOROUS PROSE.

>> HUMOROUS IS A 10 MINUTE MAX PEACE WHERE YOU EITHER PICK A PLAY, A SCRIPT ALREADY WRITTEN OR YOU CAN RIGHT ONE YOURSELF.

CUT IT DOWN IF IT'S TOO LONG.

IT CAN BE A MONOLOGUE OR YOU CAN PORTRAY YOUR CHARACTERS.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE YOUR HIGHS AND LOWS, FAST AND SLOW'S AND REALLY BETRAY THOSE CHARACTERS TO YOUR AUDIENCE TO TRY TO GET THEM TO LAUGH.

>> HERE IS MAX APEL WITH HIS CLASS A WINNING HUMOROUS PROSE PERFORMANCE, WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT, YOU AND I.

>> YOU WILL EVER ESCAPE FROM MY BONY CLUTCHES ULTRA MAN.

OOH .

YOU MAY DESTROY ME DEATH SCHOOL BUT YOU WILL NEVER DESTROY WHAT I STAND FOR!

WHY SO COMBATIVE?

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT YOU AND I.

>> WHAT IS SO FUNNY?

>> NOTHING, IT'S KIND OF A STRETCH.

I KNOW WE BOTH WEAR CAPES AND ALL BUT I STAND FOR GOOD AND YOU STAND FOR EVIL.

SUPERHERO SUPER VILLAIN.

THAT'S ABOUT AS DIFFERENT AS IT GETS.

>> OH, RIGHT.

AND THEN HE GOT AWAY.

OH, I TELL YOU JACKIE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE FRIENDS AFTER 40.

ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE EMPIRE CITY.

>> DEATH SCHOOL, SWEETHEART, DON'T BE SO DRAMATIC.

I MAKE FRIENDS ALL THE TIME.

>> I TOLD YOU IT IS DIFFERENT FOR GUYS.

IT'S OKAY, MAYBE YOU COULD TRY JOINING THE GROUP FOR VILLAINS LIKE THE TERRIBLE 10 OR THE NRA?

>> MAYBE YOU ARE -- >> OF COURSE I AM RIGHT SWEETHEART.

I AM YOUR WIFE.

LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A FRIEND YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF OUT THERE, TRY NEW THINGS, LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

>> I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT READY FOR THAT YET.

>> YOU ARE SO VANILLA.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT IF I WANT TO MAKE A FRIEND I NEED TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND LEAVE MY COMFORT ZONE.

I CAN SEE IT NOW.

SOMEDAY I WILL HAVE A FRIEND AND NOT JUST ANY FRIEND, THE GREATEST FRIEND OF ALL.

>> PLEASE DON'T LAUGH LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN.

LOOK, IT IS GIRLS NIGHT AND WHERE HAVING MOJITO'S.

DON'T WAIT UP.

>> AMERICAN MEN ARE LONELY WITH ONE IN FIVE REPORTED TO HAVE NO FRIENDS AT ALL BUT IS THIS EVEN A SURPRISE?

MEN ARE ENCOURAGED FROM TOUCHING EACH OTHER UNLESS IT'S A GAME OF SMACK ON THE BUTT AFTER A TOUCHDOWN.

NO, CLEARLY WE NEED TO JUMP THE FOREPLAY AND JUMP STRAIGHT TO THE ROMANCE BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A GROUP OF FRIENDS WITH NO FRIENDS YOU HAVE A LEGION OF SUPER VILLAINS.

WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT, YOU AND I, BY SIMON RICH.

>> HI, MY NAME IS DOUG, IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME AT A MALE FRIENDSHIP SPEED DATING SITE?

I KNOW WHAT YOUR NAME IS.

WE ARE WEARING NAME TAGS.

THIS IS STUPID.

WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE EVENT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD BE SO LAME, STUPID AND INCREDIBLY AFT UP.

DOUG, WHAT IS THAT YOU'RE HOLDING IN YOUR HAND?

>> SORRY, IT'S JUST MY BAG OF FIDGETS.

I GET VERY, VERY NERVOUS.

SO, DO YOU LIKE THE SHOW RICK AND MORTY?

YOU SHOULD REALLY WATCH RICK AND MORTY.

I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE IT.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

YOU KNOW NOTHING OF ME OR MY WAYS.

I DON'T KNOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD REALLY, REALLY LIKE IT.

>> MAYBE YOU ARE RIGHT.

A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE SAID IT TODAY THAT I WOULD LIKE THE TV SHOW RICK AND MORTY.

MAYBE I WILL CHECK IT OUT!

OH, OH, OH, THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE A STAIN.

DOUG, WHY AREN'T YOU LAUGHING WITH ME?

SORRY, I'M JUST HAVING A BAD DAY.

EVERYBODY AT THIS EVENT KEEPS SKIPPING ME.

ME TOO.

DOES THAT HAPPEN TO YOU OFTEN?

REJECTION?

ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW DOUG, MAYBE WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT YOU AND I.

HEY, BABY WE COULD GO GET SOME LUNCH AFTER THIS.

>> YES, I THINK I THOUGHT A BUFFALO WILD WINGS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

THAT IS DISGUSTING.

OH MY GOSH IS THAT, ULTRA MAN?

OH, NEVER FEAR CITIZENS, DADDY IS HERE.

AWAY WITH YOU DEATH SCHOOL.

STOP TERRORIZING THIS POOR, OVERWEIGHT WOMAN.

HEY, I AM A BOY AND THIS IS A MALE FRIENDSHIP SPEED DATING EVENT, FOR BOYS.

OKAY, DEATH SCHOOL IS THAT TRUE?

ARE YOU AT THIS THING AS A PARTICIPANT?

WELL NOT EXACTLY I'M NOT HERE TO PARTICIPATE PER SE.

I'M HERE FOR, NO, IT WAS ALL A PART OF MY EVIL SCHEME.

I'M HERE TO STEAL FROM AND MURDER LONELY MEN.

[ LAUGHS ] OH, NO!

THAT'S MESSED UP EVEN R YOU.

NEVER FEAR , I WILL SAVE YOU.

ULTRA MAN AWAY.

WAIT!

AM I A BAD GUY?

DEATH SCHOOL SWEETHEART.

MY LORD, EXCUSE ME.

JUST WANTED TO COME IN AND CHECK ON YOU.

HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU IN A WHILE.

>> I'M FINE, JACKIE.

>> ARE UNVEILING THE WORLD'S DIAMOND RING TONIGHT.

I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD CRASH THROUGH THE DOOR AND SAY SOMETHING LIKE, RING RING, IT'S ME.

YOU KNOW?

RING RING LIKE A PLAY OFF THE WORD RING.

RING.

JACKIE, BE HONEST.

DO YOU THINK THAT I AM A BAD GUY?

SWEETHEART, OF COURSE YOU ARE.

YOU ARE THE WORST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET.

NOW YOU COME HERE.

LOOKING THIS MIRROR AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I AM EVIL.

I AM EVIL.

I AM A MANIACAL POOL.

I AM A GHOUL.

AND I WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO GET WHAT I WANT.

I TOLD YOU I'M NOT READY FOR THAT YET.

SWEETHEART WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 20 YEARS AND YOU NEVER ONCE TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR ORIGINS STORY.

JACKIE, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

I FELL INTO A VAT OF TOXIC WASTE AND IT TRANSFORMING INTO A SKELETON.

NO, I MEAN YOUR REAL ORIGIN STORY.

MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MIDDLE SCHOOL.

YOU, MOJITO.

MIDDLE SCHOOL.

OH, MIDDLE SCHOOL.

OH NO, THE JOKES, THE PRICE, THE LAUGHTER.

EIGHTH GRADE GOT SO BAD THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE I AM ?

BUT BY THE TIME I REACHED ADULTHOOD IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER TO CLOSE MYSELF OFF TO THE WORLD AND IF THAT DIDN'T WORK NOT EVERYONE OUT WITH BRIGHTLY COLORED GAS.. HUH?

BEING A MONSTER HASN'T MADE ME LONELY.

BEING LONELY HAS MADE ME A MONSTER.

THESE KITTIES, SWEETHEART YOU HAVE TO REPEAT THE WHOLE THING.

I WAS WATCHING VIDEOS OF CATS ON MY PHONE.

DON'T WORRY JACKIE, DESCRIBE YOUR CAMERA, WE HAVE WORKED TO DO.

OH, ON ME!

ATTENTION PEOPLE OF EMPIRE CITY, DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL FOR I HAVE COMMANDEERED THE AIRWAYS.

RECENTLY I'VE JOINED A MALE FRIENDSHIP SPEED DATING SITE AND ON THAT SITE I MET SOMEONE.

HIS NAME IS DOUG AND I KNOW WE'RE WATCHING BECAUSE WERE THREE MINUTES INTO THE NEW EPISODE OF RICK AND MORTY.

DOUG, I TOOK YOUR ADVICE AND I WATCHED THE SHOW AND YOU ARE RIGHT, I LOVE IT.

IF YOU'RE NOT STILL MAD AT ME I'M HOSTING A WATCH PARTY AT MY APARTMENT LATER TONIGHT AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO BE THERE.

JACKIE HOLD THE CAMERA STEADY.

I'M SO SORRY SWEETHEART, I AM DRUNK AS A SKUNK RIGHT NOW.

I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY RIGHT NOW IS, I'M REALLY SORRY FOR HOW I HAVE TREATED YOU.

AND DOUG?

I DON'T WANT TO BE A BAD GUY ANYMORE.

JACKIE, CUT THE CAMERA.

OH MY LORD, I NEVER HIT RECORD.

WE HAVE TO REDO THE WHOLE THING.

SO IS IT OKAY TO PUT THE ENTIRE LINE IN?

OH YES, WE WANT THESE MOJITO'S TO BE JUICY.

LOOK AT THIS, YOU ARE SEEING FRIENDS, I AM SEEING FRIENDS, YOU KNOW WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT YOU AND I SURE, SWEETHEART.

WE STILL MADE A RESERVATION SO I HAVE TO GET GOING.

HE IS HERE.

OH, HELLO.

I WASN'T REALLY SURE IF YOU WOULD SHOW UP.

WELL I'M REALLY GLAD THAT I DID.

AND HEY, I BROUGHT BUFFALO WILD WINGS.

>> I'M HERE WITH LINCOLN EAST, MAX APEL AND COACH NICK HERINK.

FIRST OFF CONGRATULATIONS MAX ON THE STATE TOURNAMENT THAT WAS PHENOMENAL.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, MAX NOT ONLY WON HUMOROUS AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT BUT ALSO DRAMATIC AND PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION, WHICH IS JUST A FEAT IN AND OF ITSELF TAKE A BIG CONGRATULATIONS FOR A PHENOMENAL SEASON FOR BOTH OF YOU.

WITH TALK ABOUT THIS PIECE THAT YOU HAD PICKED THAT WAS HILARIOUS.

HOW DID YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH THAT PIECE AS A CHOICE?

>> FOR SURE.

MR. HERINK PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO FINDING THAT AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

HE KIND OF STUMBLED ACROSS IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND I BELIEVE IT WAS FROM AN ARTICLE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> IT WAS FROM THE NEW YORKER.

>> HERRING FOUND IT AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY AND HAVE A SOCIETAL IMPACT AS WELL SO WE KIND OF GOT TO CUTTING.

>> IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

WHAT I NOTICED AS YOU DID A LOT IN BETWEEN THE LINES.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS OFTEN IN PERFORMANCE.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT PERFORMING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN?

>> I KIND OF JUST LOVE TO FILL THE SPACE ANYTIME THERE IS DEAD SPACE IN THE MIDDLE I LIKE TO PUT A SOUND EFFECT OR SOMETHING FUN IN THERE AND I LIKE TO GIVE EACH CHARACTER PERSONALITY AND GIVE THEM THEIR OWN JOURNEY KIND OF WITHIN THE SCRIPT SO THAT EACH PERSON CAN KIND OF BE LIKE REPRESENTED IN JUST A QUIRKY FUN WAY AND THEY CAN EACH OTHER ON STORY WITHIN THE ACTUAL PIECE.

>> NICK, YOU'VE COACHED HIM FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESSION YOU HAVE SEEN.

MAX, YOU SEEM TO HAVE A ROAD THAT YOU ARE ON AND YOU KNOW HOW TO WALK IT BUT HAVING A COACH NEXT YOU HELPS SO MUCH.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WALKING THIS PATH?

>> MAX STARTED OUT AS A FRESHMAN AND HE WAS A LITTLE GREEN TO BE HONEST WHEN HE STARTED BUT HE'S ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKERS I'VE EVER SEEN.

I REMEMBER THE BEGINNING COACHING SESSION WHEN HE WAS A NINTH GRADER.

ALL THE FEEDBACK HE WAS GIVEN.

IMMEDIATELY HE WOULD GO HOME AND WORK ON IT.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND A FRESHMAN HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST INTERPRETERS ON THE TEAM.

HE PUTS IN JUST SO MANY HOURS.

HE LOVES THIS ACTIVITY WITH HIS WHOLE HEART AND LOVE THE TEAM WITH HIS WHOLE HEART.

IT WAS JUST COOL TO SEE HIM GO FROM THAT LITTLE NINTH GRADER TO THIS KID READY TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE.

>> WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO COLLEGE?

>> I WILL BE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

I AM EXCITED.

>> MAX, WINNING THIS MANY TIMES CAN SOMETIMES GET INTO PEOPLE'S HEADS.

AS YOUNG PERFORMERS THAT TAKES US TRIP OVER OURSELVES.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE TO GROUND YOURSELF AS YOU CONTINUE TO PERFORM?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH MY TEAM IT AND THAT'S HELPED GROUND ME AS WELL.

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH MORE FROM THEM AND THE COACHES AS WELL I COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE BECAUSE THEY REALLY CHALLENGE ME TO WORK HARDER SO THAT HELPS KEEP ME GROUNDED AND I LIKE TO WORK WITH MY FELLOW COMPETITORS TO HELP WITH THEIR EVENT SO WE DO PURE COACHING AND I GET TO HELP OFFER IDEAS AS WELL FOR MY PEERS.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

AS A COACH WAS COACHING A COMPETITOR AND WINNING, SOMETIMES YOU GET INTO YOUR OWN HEAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STAY GROUNDED AS A COACH AND LET THEM DO THEIR THING?

>> I THINK THE THING IS, LIKE I SAID MAX OF THE TEAM.

YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE ACTIVITY.

SO I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I'VE SEEN KIDS, AND KIDS GO.

SO JUST ENJOYING THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE WITH A STELLAR GROUP.

MAX IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BIG LEADERS ON THE TEAM BUT HAVING A CLASS LIKE WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS AWESOME.

JUST ENJOYING IT WHILE YOU HAVE IT.

>> ENJOY THE PROCESS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT MAX, YOUR PHENOMENAL ACTOR.

RINGING US INTO THE WORLD AND ALLOWING US TO EXPERIENCE ALL OF IT.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU SPENT ON HER STAGES IN NEBRASKA AND ACROSS THE U.S. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WOW, 11 GREAT PERFORMANCES FROM EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS.

IF YOU MISS ANY OF THEM OR YOU WANT TO WATCH AGAIN, GO TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.ORG OR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

FOR THE NSAA AND OUR ENTIRE NEBRASKA PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION CREW I AM D-WAYNE TAYLOR.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING NSAA STATE SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIPS BEST OF THE BEST .