Four-Way Test Speech Contest Features CFB-ISD Wordsmiths
Posted by Philip Orwig
on Mar 26, 2015
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Four-Way Test Speech participants Darius Heath, Ayesha Hughes, Thomas Steele and Monsoor Khan pose with Club Secretary Steven Patrick.
This year's Four-Way Test Speech Contest was no different from past years, featuring the best and brightest young orators from CFB-ISD. Club members in attendance were treated to impassioned speeches that were both serious and humorous, and featured the Rotary Four Way Test and how it can be applied to just about any topic imaginable.
The first contestant, Ayesha Hughes from R.L. Turner High School, kicked off the series with a few laughs as she made the bold proclamation that she's been a practicing feminist since she was 12 years old. She discussed the misconceptions of feminism as a radical ideology, when in reality it is an equal gender rights movement. Ms. Hughes was particularly adept at adding humor to her speech. Ms. Hughes plans to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Acting next year in New York City.
Darius Heath of Ranchview High School spoke next, and debated the ever-widening generation gap, and the problems therein. Mr. Heath maintained that, while there has always existed tension between different generations, the technology of today has been a primary driver of it. Mr. Heath posited that the different generations not only need, but depend, on each other. Tolerating differences will facilitate more ideas and innovation, and younger folks with exceptional ideas will be accepted and embraced, rather than scrutinized and rejected. Mr. Heath is still looking at schools for his post-secondary education, but wishes to remain close to his family in Texas.
Monsoor Khan of Newman Smith High School was the third contestant to speak, and he spoke quite well on the topic of negative stereotyping. Mr. Khan debunked stereotype after stereotype by citing examples from his personal life, which not only lent credibility to his premise, but also served as a powerful reminder that these stereotypes still exist. "This is problematic," Mr. Khan said, "because certain groups are forced to defend themselves - and their beliefs - to angry and intolerant people. The use of stereotypes promotes the exact opposite of the values embodied by the Rotary Four-Way Test." Mr. Khan is still undecided about his post-secondary plans, but does know that he wishes to major in biochemistry.
Finally, Thomas Steele from Creekview put forth a contest-winning effort in delivering a speech on how most humans have lost their ability to properly grieve and embrace sadness. Steele peppered this otherwise solemn topic with plenty of personal insight -- and no shortage of humor. Mr. Steele posited that because our inner strength is finite, we all need to learn to do better at embracing our emotions, both good and bad, happy and sad. For now, Steel is looking at Emerson College in Boston where he is planning on majoring in film production.