It’s 7:30 in the morning. Students swarm Arcadia High, trying to let go of that feeling of sleep, coffee cups in hand. Others are feeding off the adrenaline rush that comes with Speech and Debate. Arcadia High School is hosting what will either be the first or second tournament of the year for AHS speechies and debaters, and none of it could be possible without Ms. Ashley Novak. Package Deal, the second tournament available to most AHS Speech and Debate students, is run at AHS, mostly by Ms. Novak. She sends her students off with a perfect packet of tips and tricks to do well at the tournament, but reminds them that the most important thing is to have fun! Ms. Novak takes this either raw talent or craving for public speaking to the heart, shaping students’ public speaking skills.

Public speaking is an incredibly challenging task. Many people can craft lovely speeches, but with a lack of passion and an absence of engagement the audience might lose interest. Speech and Debate might seem like a free period to many,  no one really taking it seriously. Ms. Novak makes students want to learn and want to debate/speak, pushing us to do the best at tournaments. Students would have never been able to succeed even the slightest bit in Speech and Debate if it wasn’t for Ms. Novak. Her entire demeanor is incredibly welcoming!

F103 is generally a homey area! Community circle Mondays are the best recap for life in general. Prodded by Ms. Novak, everyone feels as if they have a safe space to vent about their life. Period six has experienced some of the best laughs and the best community-bonding events, and I’m sure Ms. Novak makes all of her periods feel the same. Not every student has confidence. Public speaking is definitely difficult, and it’s hard for students to walk up there and give speeches or debate. Ms. Novak builds confidence in the best way! Something that many students have grown to love is just her openness to practicing. There are so many types of speech such as Original Prose and Poetry (OPP) or Impromptu, and so many types of debate such as Lincoln-Douglas (LD) and Congress, so it’s hard to prep for everything. The Speech and Debate team has a helpful asset — a teacher who is flexible with practice.

Every student needs to perform an in-class speech, and the weeks leading up to competition are filled with prep. As students are scrambling to put finishing touches onto their speeches, or squeezing in final practices of limited prep events, it’s hard to see the calm of the storm. Without Ms. Novak, the team’s backbone, the Speech and Debate team would be doomed. Debates are coming up, how can evidence be acquired? Speeches need to be polished, but who to share with? Ms. Novak’s room is always open, both metaphorically and literally. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Ms. Novak!

Oishika Chattopadhyay, 9, Pow Wow, Staff Writer