Last week, we celebrated six years of youth public speaking with our year-end family and friends meeting for Green Mountain Youth Speakers. Our students shared their skill and growth in public speaking and strengthened the sense of community among our families.
Meeting Highlights
This family meeting was completely led by the students, new and old to the group. As always, they presented a prepared speech that highlighted the year’s focus skills. They also interviewed parents during the meeting and gave small group presentations to demonstrate their impromptu speaking skills.
Parents participated as well with something originally titled ‘Forced Parent Interaction’ on the rough draft of our agenda – ha! This activity (which was actually quite fun) gave them a chance to get to know some of the other parents in the context of our public speaking goals.
The students ended the meeting with farewell speeches to a graduating student and to two who are moving out of state. The three of them have been in the group six, five, and three years respectively. What a privilege it’s been to see them grow as young adults and as speakers!
Looking Back
This was an especially poignant family meeting. It was the first one we’ve held since December, 2019 – hard to believe it’s been that long!
When Covid hit in March of 2020, we moved to Zoom. It was a struggle, but we hung in there for the remaining three meetings of the semester. I particularly remember our separate online meeting for parents, just to chat. Not our regular finish to a semester, but so nice to connect in those early and very isolating days of the pandemic.
In the fall of 2020, we started up Green Mountain Youth Speakers again, this time in the park. At dusk. With shorter days and falling temperatures, the third meeting was held under a parking lot light bundled up in blankets. So it was back to Zoom, but this time with a little more experience under our belts. And the growing recognition that online presentation skills have a lot of value today.
Fast forward to the fall of 2021, when we started meeting again in person. It was so good to be back together in the same room! Plus we welcomed three new speakers who had only met with the group on Zoom. Despite frequent absences due to suspected Covid, actual Covid, or colds, we managed to get through the whole year and maintain continuity with the skills we focused on.
Green Mountain Youth Speakers
Green Mountain Youth Speakers is the joint collaboration of Sharon Koenig and me, started in 2016. It’s an ever-evolving program and, as such, has become a long-term commitment for many of our students. About half of them have been in the group for four or more years.
The longevity of our group members and their continued progress is a constant reminder to us that public speaking isn’t a one-time effort. It’s not a one semester class. It’s an ongoing endeavor. Not because our students are lacking. Because they have so much potential.
We’re continually amazed by their hard work, courage, and creativity. And here’s the amazing thing – with practice and help, they’ll continue to improve. It’s an honor to help guide them on their journey.
P.S. I want to mention that while it’s an honor to help these students, it also is work. As always, my continued thanks to Sharon who generously donates her time and considerable talents to Green Mountain Youth Speakers, all while being a mom, working full-time, and pursuing her Master’s degree.