Brave young voices will fill the Vic Juba Community Theatre on May 15 for Pecha Kucha Night.
Students from Holy Rosary and Lloydminster Comprehensive High School (LCHS) have spent three months preparing for the event and will each deliver fast-paced six-minute speeches on one topic.
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Pecha Kucha is a Japanese phrase that means chit-chat or the sound of conversation.
Victoria Oldershaw, a teacher at Lloyd Comp, said the event helps students grow. She shared what she tells students when heading into the competition.
“This is scary and they can do it. Most adults can’t even do this,” she said. “The skills they’re gaining now are going to make them that much stronger for their future.”
She works with students and teaches English literature and ESL and said the night helps the community see youth in a new way.
“This is a moment where our students get to share their voice, often in a world where they’re not always seen in the most positive light,” she said.
Holy Rosary student Christina Smiley is opening the event with a speech on the five stages of public speaking.
“It’s all always rewarding,” she said. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Smiley said her biggest challenge was procrastinating. Now, however, she says she loves the speech she created.
“I love it so much,” she said. “Just go in and put yourself out there. Even if you’re scared, give it your best, you can do it.”
She hopes to inspire students who are unsure about the process.
“If you’re scared out of your mind, fake it,” she said. “You’re already up there with a microphone and standing before an audience.”
Raneil DeLecruz, a Grade 11 student from LCHS, will speak about facing life’s hardships.
“No matter how difficult or how treacherous life may seem at times, life can also be very beautiful in the end,” he said.
His biggest hurdle was opening up.
“Definitely being able to just open up and be honest with myself,” he said, noting he hopes to connect with others through the shared experience.
“I hope there’s a group out there that can maybe relate,” he said. “Maybe that’ll inspire them to be better.”
Oldershaw encourages young students to participate in future years and hopes the crowd leaves feeling inspired.
“We can take you, and we will train you up. By the end, you feel confident,” she said, adding she hopes students inspire the crowd.
“You’d be amazed at what our youth have to say.”
The event is open to the public and starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door and under 18 is free with proper ID. Everyone is welcome.
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