By Mark Squibb | May 20, 2021
Olivia Taylor, 16, has been busy this month, having earned not one, but two, speaking awards.
The Grade 10 St. Kevin’s High student was awarded the Miss Achievement NL Leadership Program Communications Scholarship earlier in the month, and last week earned gold in the Public Speaking category of the 2021 Skills Canada Virtual Provincial Competition.
For the Communications Scholarship, participants had to submit a recorded two-minute speech about something they were passionate about.
Taylor did her speech about her passion for nature.
That award comes with a $2,000 Dale Carnegie Program and a $500 Cash scholarship.
For the Skills Canada competition, participants, via Zoom, competed in three speaking categories.
The first was a prepared speech. Students were asked to write a speech in response to the question ‘How can you ensure more people from underrepresented groups can participate in skills trades and technology?’
“My speech focused a little bit more on women getting in careers in skilled trades and technology, because I want to see more women in these careers, but it also touched on lots of different ethnicities and different genders,” said Taylor.
Students then had to be prepared to answer a question about their speeches, and then, for the final competition, in an impromptu session, students were given a prompt which they then had to address.
“The prompt was, ‘If you were to make a social media post about Skills Canada, what would you say and why?’” said Taylor. “So, you had two minutes to write about that, and then speak to it for at least a minute to three minutes.”
Students were evaluated not just on their written speeches and vocal delivery, but also their stance, eye contact, and body language.
Some institutes believe that a fear of public speaking (or glossophobia) may be the most common phobia. Most people will admit to becoming a little nervous (or really nervous) if asked to speak in front of others.
Taylor said she’s no different.
“You’re always a little bit nervous in the back of your mind,” said Taylor, who began public speaking some years back in her local 4H Club.
“I’m usually a little bit nervous to speak, but once I start speaking, I just get in a mode, and nothing can stop me,” she laughed. “There’s only so much you can do, just practice, and do your best, and hope for the best.”
Taylor said that doing the speeches through Zoom, rather than in a roomful of people, for the Skills Canada competition was actually more intimidating, because it added a layer of potential technical problems.
“I didn’t know if my internet was going to lag or if I would freeze up or anything, so I was nervous about that aspect as well,” she said.
When she was younger, Taylor won gold for public speaking in the Intermediate category (open to students in grades seven through nine), but winning in the provincial category means she’ll be eligible to compete in the national competition.
“I’m not sure what to expect just yet, because this is my first one,” said Taylor. “So, I think it’ll be a little bit different and more competitive than the provincial one.”
That competition will be held on May 26.
Regardless of the outcome, Taylor said developing skills through programs like Skills Canada, helps prepare youth for their futures.
“It prepares you for so many different things in life,” she said. “Whether I work as a veterinarian or whether I’m working in an office, all these are skills you’ll use in your career and you’ll use in your life. And it’s such a great experience to practice these skills and it’s really beneficial in my opinion.”
