The journey is the reward....
Nationals is right around the corner, and I remember how unsure and nervous I felt when I was competing or attending for the first time. Competing in both Prepared Public Speaking and Creed Speaking, I’ve gained a lot of experience at that level. As I look back through my journals and reflect on my experiences, I’ve come up with three tips to help everyone—whether you're competing or simply attending and representing Idaho.
The first tip comes from my ag teacher, Mrs. Lebsack, who would always remind me to “remember my why.” Whether I was running for state office, competing at nationals, or organizing a chapter event, her advice stayed the same: always remind yourself why you’re doing it. Why did you enter this contest? Why are you putting on this event? The magic of this tip often reveals itself in the heat of the moment—when you don’t know the answer or feel overwhelmed by last-minute stress. That’s when you need to pause and ask yourself, "Why am I doing this in the first place?"
The second tip might seem simple, but it’s one I often remind myself, my family, friends, and teammates: be present. It sounds easy enough, but nationals, that chapter meeting, or any event will come and go, and all you’ll be left with are the memories. It might feel like just yesterday you were competing at state or districts. So, I challenge everyone to be present. Instead of worrying about homework, the school you’re missing, or what your friends might be doing, take a moment to ground yourself. Make memories where you are, with the people who are there.
Finally, my last tip is something I learned from my mom. I was competing in Creed Speaking in 2020 and was struggling. I was going through the motions, and not having an audience made it harder. The night before state, she printed a collage of my family and friends—my "audience." Seeing that collage of the people I was representing, the ones I wanted to make proud, changed everything for me. Since then, whenever I travel or compete, I carry a small family photo in my jacket as a reminder of all the people who are supporting me, and proud of me just for trying. So, I challenge everyone to print out a picture of the people who mean the most to you—whether it’s your family, friends, advisors, or teammates—and take them with you during convention season and beyond. They’re your support system, and they care about you.
As I said in the beginning, what really matters is the journey and the memories you make along the way. Keep that in mind this convention season.