I was a competitive speech kid in high school that had to stop after only a year due to several factors, most of all a cross-country move right before the pandemic my sophomore year. Writing and filming this felt like I was tournament-prepping and giving speeches again. When I was writing it, I legit had to stand up at one point and read part of it out in front of a wall because that felt the most familiar to me (if you did competitive speech/“forensics”, you definitely know).

I don't know what to do. The coach seems more focused on getting us beanies and pizza than practice and meets, and she won't let other people take us to meets. It's getting so frustrating, and I don't know what to do.

Yeah I don't either

So a few days ago I reached 100 followers and I am beyond excited. So what I did with this excitement (instead of working on my POI), I made 100 Forensics Asks! Feel free to ask me for answers and/or reblog for your followers! 1. Favorite Debate event to compete in? 2. Favorite Debate event to watch? 3. Favorite I.E. event to compete in? 4. Favorite I.E. event to watch? 5. Have you been to Fall Champs? 6. Have you been to Spring Champs? 7. Have you been to State? 8. Have you been to Nationals? 9. Best DI piece you've seen? 10. Best Prose piece you've seen? 11. Best POI piece you've seen? 12. Best Poetry piece you've seen? 13. Best Duo piece you've seen? 14. Favorite tournament memory? 15. Least favorite tournament memory? 16. Favorite piece you've ever preformed? 17. Favorite Impromptu/Extemp topic? 18. Favorite resolution that you've debated? 19. What's on your getting ready playlist? 20. What's in your speech bag? 21. Favorite suit? 22. Skirt or pants? 23. Hairstyle on tournament days? 24. Tie or bow tie? 25. Favorite tournament shoes? 26. Favorite coach you've ever had? 27. Favorite comment on a ballot? 28. Least favorite comment on a ballot? 29. Who do you usually stay in your hotel room with? 30. How many tournaments have you been to this year? 31. Night before a tournament routine? 32. Least favorite thing about your favorite event? 33. Favorite thing about your least favorite event? 34. How much do you eat at tournaments? 35. How much do you eat after tournaments? 36. Favorite tournament snack? 37. Favorite type of room to speak in? 38. Best compliment received? 39. Weirdest compliment received? 40. Favorite physical award you've received? 41. How many people are on your team? 42. Can you name everyone on your team? 43. Opinion on pantyhose? 44. If you could watch any round of something you aren't entered in, what would it be? 45. After tournament attire? 46. Do you have any forensics crushes? 47. How early do you usually wake up for a tournament? 48. How many pieces have you done since when you first started? 49. One thing you wish you could do, but can't, in forensics? 50. Favorite tournament weather? 51. Where do you write down your "coaching session" notes? 52. Have you ever gone over time? 53. Favorite line from a speech of yours? 54. Go-to example in Impromptu? 55. Favorite campus for a tournament? 56. Is your debate team more liberal or conservative? 57. How calm are you at tournaments? 58. How calm are you when you're waiting for breaks to be posted? 59. Do you have any objects you wear/carry with you for good luck on tournament days? 60. Favorite part of awards? 61. Least favorite part of awards? 62. How much do you use your phone on tournament days? 63. Has a phone ever gone off in a middle of your round? 64. Farthest you've traveled for a tournament? 65. Shortest you've traveled for a tournament? 66. How many times do you practice a week? 67. Do you like doing research for speechies? 68. Would you rather have a black book or visual aids? 69. Most oddly sexual speech you've ever seen? 70. Longest debate you've witnessed? 71. Weirdest/Funniest resolution? 72. First or second speaker in parli? 73. Aff or Neg? 74. Tournament you're most looking forward to? 75. Friend's piece you're most looking forward to seeing? 76. How many coaches are at your school? 77. Do people around you know the term Forensics (in terms of Speech & Debate)? 78. Best "confused about which forensics" story? 79. Best "so bad it was good" piece you've seen / heard of? 80. Post-tournament routine? 81. Favorite duo paring: guy/guy, guy/girl or girl/girl? 82. Has anyone else done your piece the same year you did it? 83. Best advice for novice speakers? 84. Why should people join Forensics? 85. Do you really shut off your phone before a round starts? 86. How often do you cry during tournaments? 87. Best reaction after seeing you broke? 88. Favorite round of finals? 89. What color are your nails for tournaments? 90. Tournament hair routine? 91. Tournament makeup routine? 92. Favorite tournament day breakfast? 93. Have you ever accidentally cursed during a round? 94. Song that reminds you of a tournament? 95. Favorite van ride games? 96. If your team had a motto, what would it be? 97. Gum or mints on tournament days? 98. How has forensics impacted your life? 99. Why did you join Forensics? 100. Are you glad you did?

i’m really curious because i’ve noticed a lot of people even in forensics that they don’t know what it is

I miss the friends, and the sense of accomplishment you feel after walking out of a round knowing you crushed it. I miss having to glance around that there aren't any judges or coaches around before complaining about everything and everyone. I miss the really nice competitors who genuinely want to wish luck to everyone and not just show off to the judges. I miss the sense of relief when your biggest competition didn't come. I miss the ribbons and the waiting 14 hours to eat so you're not queasy. I even miss the OPs I would pay to never hear again and the endless rounds of poetry where 4 out of 6 are about eating disorders. I miss coming home and crashing 30 minutes later. I miss the competitive spirit between friends in the same category. I miss sitting on the freezing vinyl of a too-small school bus while waiting for the rest of the team to hurry. I miss skipping track practice because state is in March. I miss the rounds the rounds where everyone is double- or triple-entered. I miss the loud table of duos at the small invitationals. I miss the meets where opponents realize they would totally be friends with their rival if they went to the same school. I miss making funny faces at your friends during practice to see if they would crack in front of the coach. I miss secretly thinking our critiques were pointless and the coach was wrong, then ranting to your speech friend over the phone the night before a big meet. I can't wait for speech season to start again.