<p>Hey can you guys read it and tell me what you think. Bacially they told me to eloborate on a certain activity and just be straight to the point.</p>
<p><strong><em>In your application you may have mentioned an extraordinary talent/skill or academic achievement. This may include participation in Junior Olympics, national debate competitions, recognition for musical talent, etc. Please take this opportunity to share with us more detailed information about the level of your achievement, depth of participation, and passion for this particular area.</em></strong></p>
<p>In the spring of 2008, I became San Diegos first state champion in Oratorical Interpretation in speech and debate. In Oratorical Interpretation, one must give his or her rendition of another persons published speech. I competed with a speech entitled The Pound Cake Speech by Bill Cosby. Thousands of students all over California competed in oratorical interpretation but only fifty-six were invited to the state championship tournament. During that weekend in April, I achieved what no other speaker has ever done at Helix High or in the city of San Diego alone. Throughout the 2007- 2008, season I won five consecutive first place trophies in oratorical interpretation. I also won three consecutive first place trophies in duo interpretation and received high honors in dramatic interpretation and in original poetry. With this success, previous to the state tournament, I was named San Diego Speaker of the Year and was awarded the Joe Lagnese Outstanding Speaker for outstanding performance at the state qualifying tournament. I also had a featured section in the San Diego Union- Tribune acknowledging my accomplishments.</p>
<p>After my local and state success, a partner and I were then selected to go to the National Speech Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada for duo interpretation. The event involves a pair of performers acting out a short literary piece. My partner and I performed Fences, by famous African- American playwright August Wilson.Out of fifty states and some international countries, the national championships invited 280 duos to the national tournament. My partner and I made it to the top 50 .As juniors and as first year competitors at the national tournament; we were quite pleased with our success. Due to my national level success, I was awarded Special Distinction speaker, a highly respected award in the forensics community.</p>
<p>Now as a senior, I have taken the role of captain of Helixs speech and debate team. I have continued my success in various events and I plan on going to the state tournament in Oratorical Interpretation again where I will perform Martin Luther Kings speech Beyond Vietnam. At Helix, I have definitely set a milestone in opening doors not only for minorities but for all students in which the odds are against them. By the end of the year, I will have become Helixs all time greatest speaker.
Speech and debate definitely saved my life. I was headed down a path of gang violence and drugs but my coach Mr. Osborn found my talent for rhetoric and he never let me settle for less. So many times I wanted to find the easy way out, back to the street life where all my old friends were. They were partying every night and living the teenage life. Now a lot of those friends of mine are either dead or in prison. Speech and debate definitely saved my life! Throughout my years, I have learned not only the fundamentals of rhetoric but moreover I have learned its value in the world today. In my academics in the classroom, to the extracurricular and social activities in school, I plan to use the power of words that I have learned in speech and debate to succeed in the next level of education.</p>