Throughout my educational career, I was never on a "team." I was never involved with sports or anything like that. I took my first year at college to take the opportunity to try something new. It wasabsolutely worth it. I learned a lot about myself and developed skills just being on this team. And I guess my teammates were pretty cool too.

1. When your interp book is your baby

Your interp book becomes your best friend. It'll be there for the entire season. It's like your baby; you gotta take care of it.

2. Seeing people talking to walls is normal

You gotta do what you have to do to practice your speech. Walls become your audience too.

3. Pretending your teammate's speech jokes are still funny

When you've heard their jokes in their speech so many times, but you still laugh because you want to support them.

4. When you write about a topic and learn a lot about it

Whether it's for speech class or for competition and you're writing about something you're interested in, you get excited about writing and it's awesome. The writing and research becomes so interesting and you learning something really cool.

5. When you buy a new speech outfit and feel confident

My coaches say that if you look good and feel confident, then you'll do well and execute that confidence.

6. When you know you just killed that performance and walking out of a round like

Giving the performance of a lifetime feels amazing.

7. When you're double entered in a round, and that unexplained feeling of joy when you have to say, "May I be excused?"

*epic mic drop*

8. When you wake up at 6 a.m. to drive to school, but it's totally worth it.

It doesn't matter if it's practicing all day with your team or waking up for a tournament, it's all worth it at the end of the day. Even if you have to wear heels and speech clothes all day.

9. Clapping in unison at rewards

Everyone comes together at the awards ceremony. It's so fun to see all your teammates win as well as the other friends you've made at the tournament with another team.

10. Getting tired of your speech, but crying the last time your perform it

Working on the same speech for an entire season can be a drag. But, the last performance is a reminder because of how far you've come with your piece and as a performer

11. When you get really into character for your piece

It's a mental process.

12. Memorizing your speech on the bus before a tournament

When procrastination really hit you, when you realized that you haven't fully memorized, but know it'll be worth it in the end.

13. The almost-endless wait for the final rounds postings

It can be a drag, really.

14. But that feeling when you see your name

It's such a good feeling when you see your name and you do your little happy dance.

15. And when you get that award

16. At the end of the day, celebrating a successful tournament with your team

At the end of the day, whether you break into finals or not, the important part is you and your team did your ultimate best.