“Reach Within To Embrace Humanity”

This annual speech contest starts at the Club Level.  The winner of the Club Level proceeds to the Group Level.  The winner of the Group Level will then proceed to one of the 4 Regional Contests.  The 4 Regional winners compete at the District Conference in June.  The winner of this last contest could win $5000, and the runners-up could win $1000 each.

Our contestants are all from Arcadia High School.  One was a senior and the other three were sophmores.  Ralph Orr who was the Rotarian Host and Emcee past the hat and each drew their position of giving their talk.  The length of the speech must be no less 6 minutes and not longer than 8 minutes.  The judges are in the audience.

Each student was to base their talk on the Rotary International theme “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” and each speech was  to reflect the Four-Way Test.  The Four-Way test is as follows:

First……Is it the TRUTH?

Second..Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Third     Will it build GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Fourth    Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Student #1 was the senior.  He basically brought to the forefront as how you would greet people and make the person your whole attention.  Look the person in the eyes and shake their hand.  We as people, he continued do not take time to discover the history of the people around us.  Do not act superior and realize that we are not always the best.  He continued his talk and brought in the four-way test and concluded that this is how you become a good friend.

Our 2nd speaker started his speech by using scripture “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  Humanity, and what is it really?    It can be the action to protect one another.  There is effort in all that you do in a world full of violence.  You must feel good about yourself and to feel empathy for shattered lives.

Speaker #3 was the only girl.  Her talk was to promote that we are not alone.  We are here together.  When you are embracing someone, you are also embracing yourself.  It all begins with you.  We build a foundation for a better world,  Take time for family.  The world can be a happier place.  We can be so much better. We can all benefit from loving one another.

Speaker #4 told about driver in China.  He drove over a child.  No one came to help.  The driver in his attempt to leave, drove over the child again.  The child died one week later in ICU.  There is a struggle for survival.  We must reach within ourselves to embrace life.  Helping in the community is one way to make change in time of chaos.  Help an individual.  “I can make a difference in this world!”.

The above is only an essence of each speech.  They were all well presented and each brought in their speech the Four-Way Test.

The judges left the room to decide who won the speech contest.  It was during this time that we found out the personal side of each student.

Our first speaker, Amit Akula, was the senior and is very active at school in many organizations.  He is Varsity Captain, belongs to the Inter-act club.  He is also an Eagle Scout and has applied to all colleges.  He is interested in business law/medicine.

Our second speaker, Allison Chang, is in speech and debate classes.  She is a biology student, church youth leader.  She plans to go through the UC college system and is interested in studying law.

#3 contestant, Andrew Dang, has high interests in computer sciences, Ipod, hands on electronics.  His choice of college is MIT “or bust”.  But he would consider UCLA or Cal Tech.

#4 speaker, Rohn Ananl, loves Karate, biology, history.  His past time is video games.   He is interested in radiology and John Hopkins is a future choice.

The judges returned and the winner, a hard pick, was Rohn Ananl and he received a cash prize and will go on to the next level.

The teacher for this class is Ashley Novak and she was present during the whole contest.  She graduated from San Diego State and has been a teacher since 1999.

This was a great program and to see the diversity of the students, but all aim to be good caretakers of tomorrow.

Phyllis Corliss