Forensics looks forward to positive season
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January 19, 2010 • Taylor Brown
Filed under Feature, People and Clubs
Ready, set, speak! The forensics program at FAHS has exploded in popularity this year, going from two members last year to around 20 this year.
Although the team has met with success in the past, Coach Jane Steiner hopes this change will positively affect the team not only this season, but in years to come as well.
“Success and fun feed off each other, and this year I have 18 new students who’ve never done this before. For a long time, we could only compete in the small team category. We aren’t ‘there’ yet (a full team is 25), but I bet next year we will be,” Steiner said.
While this sudden boost in numbers may seem surprising, there is a plausible explanation. Juniors Becky McHenry and Arjun Dhillon, the team’s two returning members, made a point this year to get the word out about forensics.
“Arjun and I went in and talked to about 80 percent of the English classes because we found that a lot of students didn’t know what forensics was. Once they did, a lot of people realized that it would be a good extracurricular for them to get involved in,” McHenry said.
As a result of their efforts, more people decided to check out the early meetings than in the past. Many of those who did decide to join invited friends to join too, building the team up even more.
“With increased participant numbers, we could quite possibly become a truly competitive program. A greater number of participants also serves to a facilitate a culture in which Forensics is appreciated and respected at FAHS itself, a fact which is likely to result in further successes for the program in the future,” Dhillon said.
Forensics gives students the chance to showcase their public-speaking and performing abilities in a variety of different ways. With categories ranging from prose interpretation to extemporaneous speech, forensics offers something for anyone who is theatrically inclined or enjoys public speaking.
“I love performing. It’s fun to compare yourself to other people’s skill levels in competition, and when you get the scoring sheet back and find out that you were number 1 in your room, it’s a satisfying feeling,” McHenry said.
In addition to the many new members, Laura Rodgers, a graduate of FAHS, is joining the program as an assistant coach due so that every member could have the chance for individual coaching. Rodgers, who competed on the team for all four of her high school years, is looking forward to being a part of the program in a new way.
“It is a little early to know what I like about coaching forensics but I do like working with young people because they have a lot of energy. I like meeting the students and finding out what they are passionate about. One thing I hope I will like about coaching is that because forensics is an extracurricular activity, I hope the students on the team will be motivated to practice and improve,” Coach Laura Rodgers said.
Not only is forensics an extracurricular to get involved in, but those involved believe it can also have a long-lasting positive impact on students’ lives.
“There is a real connection between forensics and being accepted into Ivy League schools. Forensics builds confidence and poise. It’s a good alternative for people who may not be athletically or musically inclined, or who just want to try something different,” Steiner said.
With more members, a new coach, and the season just beginning, students on the team can have a positive outlook for the coming months.
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Taylor Brown is such a good writer.
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