Belleville West graduate, Jaylon Muchison, was apart of the Debate team for all four years of high school. He would compete in tournaments on the weekends and practice endlessly during the week. All of this hard work helped him earn first place at the 2020 Optimist International World Championship and be named student of the year by the National Speech and Debate Association.

I asked Muchison about his experience :

(Q) Who inspires you?

(A) "My parents are my greatest supporters and inspiration. People who follow and stick behind their dreams push me as well"

(Q) What was your reaction to winning your regional and state rounds in Optimist International's 2020 Oratorical World Championships?

(A) "I was completely taken back. I was confident in my material but once you get to the level of competition where everyone is amazing at what they do, you can't help but feel the butterflies punching."

(Q) What was your reaction being named National Student of the year by the National Speech and Debate Association?

(A) "I could never expect it. It was one of those awards my school looked at as cool but never thought about obtaining. For me to not only be the first from my school but the first student from Illinois as a state to be named National Student of the year is an honor I hold deeply for all the Illinois speech teams and myself."

Being on the speech and debate team for as long as Muchison has, you learn how to work the stage and keep the attention of the audience on you. Muchison has three pieces of advice for other students:

1. Don't be afraid to try something new. ( For Muchison, this was what lead him to his greatest successes in speech and debate)

2. Don't focus too much on what you feel like you "should" be doing or what judges "wanted to see" (It does sound counterintuitive but it does work!). Just do something you love and it will show.

3. Breathe... and give a performance that will change the atmosphere.

Muchison thanks: his mom, dad, and brothers for supporting him. He also thanks his best friend for listening to his speeches when she didn't want to; and all the friends he has met through his years being on speech and debate. ( including coaches, competitors, and spectators ). He wants to give a huge thanks to his teachers and coaches: Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. John Lodle, Mr/Mrs. Leigh and Russel Reidelberger and so many others who have helped him learn everything he needed to know to get to this moment. Last and most importantly he wants to thank God for giving the ability to even be here and soak up all the knowledge he has learned.

Jaylon Muchison will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and majoring in Acting and Communications.

Congratulations Jaylon!!