Forensics Roll Back into Action

It’s the time of the year again for members of the Forensics team to come together and begin preparing for their first competition on Jan. 22.

Forensics is a competitive public speaking team who travels around the area to compete against other schools. From the start, students who plan on competing have to choose a category to compete in.

Once students have chosen their piece they can decide how they want to deliver it.  They might act out part of a humorous or serious play, read a poem or short story, perform a piece they wrote, or give an informational, humorous, or persuasive speech on a topic they’re passionate about.

Students compete in categories like: solo acting (humorous and serious), storytelling, poetry reading, demonstration speaking, public address, original oratory, and play acting.

“Forensics is unlike other activities in that it is both individual and team-based. Individual students can win awards for their performances,”adviser David Freitag said, “but the team as a whole is also competing against other teams.”

Many students joined the team to improve their public speaking skills, but there are other benefits Forensics has to offer to its participants.

“Every year I have been a part of Forensics I have met new people, so when you join you will for sure meet new people,” senior Emma Jachowicz said. “Forensics also boosts your confidence when it comes to speaking whether it is in the classroom or in the real world.”

Besides the personal benefits, Forensics members can also benefit after they graduate.

“Aside from this, having done Forensics in high school increases your chances of being admitted to college–more than most extracurriculars do,” Freitag said. “It teaches you communication, teamwork and leadership skills–the skills your future employers value most highly. It will give you the ability to speak with confidence, which will help you any time you need to talk to new people (job interviews, making new friends, etc.).”

Because of the club’s wide range of advantages, it’s common for students to return the following year.

“I’ve done Forensics since freshman year, so two complete years. I joined because I have a fear of public speaking and wanted to get better,” junior Michaela Sarenac said. “My favorite part is meeting all the different and interesting people at competitions.”

Not only do returning members bring back their experience and wisdom, but they also bring their memories with them that make things easier and allows for them to have more fun at competitions and adapt better.

“I have been a part of the Forensics team since sophomore year, and my favorite part of Forensics is the advantages it has given me when it comes to giving speeches or presentations in class,” Jachowicz said.  

There are no requirements to join the club, besides the fact all members should be ready to take risks and challenge themselves.

“I have done multiple competitions and have ‘powered,’ aka made the final round, a good handful of times. My first year was very difficult. I tried something many people in Prose were afraid to do and I did it as a freshmen,” senior Gabriella Riester said. “I wrote an original piece which was risky. It was rare to see people in my category perform an original piece, but I proved it could be done and ended up going to State and earned a silver score.”

Forensics is a club for everyone. Students learn skills they can use outside of school and are also given opportunities to teach others with their work. Because it has so much to offer to everyone, it is  highly recommended.

“Forensics is a lot of fun. You work on something you’re passionate about all season. You become super-close friends with your teammates,” Freitag said.  “You meet people from other schools all around the state. You compete and win awards.”

Ultimately everyone who joins does find something they’ve improved upon by the end of the season.

“In addition, my judge asked for a copy of my story and permission to publish it in a collective book of short stories written by teens. It meant a lot to me that I did so well that season. The following years were a lot easier and became a lot more fun,” Riester said. “We got a new coach and with his help, our team got substantially better. I ended up writing more original pieces and other people in my category followed. I became a familiar face to my competitors and helped contribute to a new trend.”