As I'm writing this, I'm sitting in a hotel room the day before the Ole Miss tournament. It's a Friday night and all my friends are talking about the football game that's starting in a couple of hours. Instead of getting excited and painting my face with blue and white dots in support of my school's football team, I'm practicing my speeches. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, "Why would give up most of your weekends for speech and debate?" Even though this is one of the most time-consuming activities I've ever done, there is something so satisfactory about this nerdy extracurricular activity that a football game could never give me.

For those who have no idea what speech and debate is, according to the National Speech and Debate Association:

"Speech involves a presentation by one, two, or sometimes a group of students that is judged against a similar type of presentation by others in a round of competition. Speech events range from limited preparation events that require extensive knowledge of current events to dramatic and humorous interpretation, which challenge students to find powerful moments in literature and recreate them for an audience.

Debate involves an individual or a team of debaters working to effectively convince a judge that their side of a resolution is, as a general principle, more valid. Students in debate come to thoroughly understand both sides of the resolution, having researched each extensively, and learn to think critically about every argument that could be made on each side."

This organization has provided so much for high school students. Speech and debate not only allows students to spread their ideas on a large platform, but it provides a community that helps students build their confidence and find who they are. This is more than another activity you can put on a college application; this is an organization that changes high school kids' lives. It exposes us to current political events, forces us to think about our speeches and helps our social skills. Some freshmen walk into speech and debate as shy and awkward, but they soon realize they are able to thrive in a welcoming environment that allows you to better yourself.

So why do I love speech and debate?

Two years ago, I was that awkward freshman who didn't realize that I had a powerful voice. I didn't know that I could impact someone's life with a speech. I didn't know that what I had to say mattered. Today, I'm a slightly less awkward junior who understands that I have an impactful voice, beautiful personality and an obsession with the very nerdy speech and debate club. Even though I've put myself in such a competitive ring, I've never been happier with an activity. I love football games as much as the next high school student, but knowing that I'm sharing my stories, impacting someone's life, and being the nerd I am, makes me love speech and debate that much more. I thank my team, my coach and especially my mom for making speech and debate the best activity ever.