The First Tourney This Season - The Third Year Chronicles #10

(Inspired by for the First Time In Forever, from Disney's Frozen, as well as the upcoming tournament season.)

Registration is open, the schedule's announced

I didn't think they'd tell us this that fast

Who know we'd need 8,000 TP briefs?

For months I've researched for extemp

Why have give an OO with no judge?

There are already people on the waiting list

There'll be actual real debate rounds

Not just practice at club

But wow am I so ready for those breaks

At the first tourney this season

There'll be extemp and duo

At the first tourney this season

I'll be giving my OO

I don't know if I'm just nervous and anxious

Or if I'm actually prepared

But at the first tourney this season

I'll be with my friends

That night imagine me standing up

Waiting for them to call first place

The picture of nerves and excitement

I'm suddenly standing all alone

Everyone else from finals called on stage

I want to freak out, cry, but I keep face

And then I walk and take my trophy

Which is totally amaze

Nothing like the medals from last year

At the first tourney this season

I can read first place ballots

At the first tourney this season

I can take home big trophies

And I know it is totally crazy

To think I'll even place

But at the first tourney this season

At least of I've got a chance

Don't let them in

Don't let them see

Give the platform you always have to give

OO, extemp

Do persuasive

Give one interp and everyone will know

But there's only four weeks left

(There's only four weeks left)

It's agony to prep

(It's agony to prep)

Tell me when there's only one day left

(One day)

At the first tourney this season

I'm getting what I've waited for

A chance to give my brand new speech

A chance to see my friends

And I know it all ends that Sunday

So it has to be that week

Cause at the first tourney this season

The first tourney this season

Nothing's in my way!

For the first time in forever, vote affirmative.

(This post is part of a series called The Third Year Chronicles. Click here for TTYC #9)

I Do Parli - The Third Year Chronicles #7

(Inspired by 'I See the Light' from Disney's Tangled and my participation in parli this year.)

All those days researching one topic

All those years, with one single rez

All that time, printing off TP briefs and doing e-ring

Now I have fifteen minute prep time

Now I have dozens of flow sheets

Prepping here, it's oh so clear

I'm where I'm meant to be

And at last I do parli

There's no cross-examination

At last I do parli

And it's like the rez is new

And it's fast paced with no prep

And my partnerships have shifted

All at once the resolution's different

I'm partnered with you.

All those days dragging my debate box

All those years madly printing briefs

All that time wishing I could knock during my partner's speech

Now we're here, writing down contentions

Now we're here, suddenly I know

Debating here, it's crystal clear

I'm where I'm meant to go

And at last I do parli
There's no cross-examination
At last I do parli
And it's like the rez is new
And it's fast paced with no prep
And my partnerships have shifted
All at once the resolution's different
I'm partnered with you.

(This post is part of a series called The Third Year Chronicles. Click here for TTYC #6.)

I Can Go To NITOC - The Third Year Chronicles #6

(Based off I Can Go The Distance from Disney's Hercules.)

I have often dreamed of a tournament
Where a great big trophy will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer when they hear my speech
And the judges keep saying that I win first place

I will write my speech, I can find a thesis
My great speech topic will make judges shed tears
I know every ballot, will leave me ranked first
I would practice for hours 'til I qualify for Nats

I just wrote my speech, I can give my thesis
Tournaments are long, but somehow I'll be strong
I know every coach will help me do well
I will go to tournaments until I qualify

***

Yes, I have often dreamed of such a tournament. I will indeed write my speech, along with a thesis statement to go with it. I will practice and my coaches will help me. However, not all of my ballots are going to rank me first. I may not go home with giant trophies that are perfect for eating unhealthy servings of ice-cream. I don't know if I will qualify for NITOC. But Nationals shouldn't be the goal. Yes, it's a great and wonderful thing, qualifying for nats. Yes, I would totally like to go to NITOC in all of my events (and I have a crazy amount of events).

But those two coveted green checkmarks aren't what we should be competing for. As we go into this speech and debate year, we need to be reminded of that. We won't win every round and we won't win every tournament and we may not even go to NITOC. Does that mean that all the hard work we poured into our speeches and into our beloved cases and briefs is wasted?

NO!!!

If your reason for competing in speech and debate is trophies and medals and glory, then, as Jordan Taylor would say, you're doing it wrong! The hardware is fine. Win trophies, get checkmarks, go to NITOC. But please, please remember why we love speech and debate so much.

It's the nerves we feels during breaks, wanting desperately for our friends to break. It's the cold lunches we share with our people at tournaments. It's the friendships we develop at tournaments and club meetings and the time in between. It's the reaction your friend has when they get their first 1st Place ballot. It's the clapping and cheering during awards as our friends walk across the stage. It's the adrenaline rushes and excitement before every round and every tournament.

There are so many things I love about speech and debate, but most of all, I love the people. You guys, my people, my friends, my family.

I want to qualify for NITOC. I want to win trophies. But those things aren't my goals this year. This year I want to show love to other people. I'll pray for my fellow competitors, not just right before rounds, but between tournaments, because we all have our struggles, and we all need prayer. I want to encourage other competitors, not tear them down. I want to be known for showing God's love to everyone around--judges, competitors, parents, juniors. I want our club to be known for showing God's love. I want Stoa to be known for showing God's love.

Trophies are nice, and it feels good to have medals dangling around your neck. But don't let those things, or a NITOC qualifying checkmark become your goal.

Vote affirmative, but, more importantly, show love to others, and remember why we do this crazy thing called forensics.

(This post is part of a series called The Third Year Chronicles. Click here for TTYC #5.)

In Season - The Third Year Chronicles #3

(Based off In Summer from Disney's Frozen.)

Sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine what it'd be like when tournament season does start.

Speech written, LDers writing their values
And I'll be doing what TPers do in season
A case in my hand, a debate box and brand new Post-it notes
Probably getting gorgeous trophies in season

I'll finally watch a speech written to inspire the judges
And find out what happens to extempers in extemp prep

And I can't wait to see what the judges all think of me
Just imagine how great speeches will be in season

Speech and debate are both so intense,
put 'em together and do extemp

Summer's a good time to have camp and frisbee
But put me in season and I'll be a--HAPPY SPEECHER

When my friends are gone I like to hold on to my dream
Relaxing at tournament,
Just waiting for breaks

Oh the lunch will be cold
And my friends will be there too

When I finally do what TPers do in season

IN SEAAAAASOOOON

What TPers do in season

((This post is part of a series called The Third Year Chronicles. Click here for TTYC #2)

The Colors of Interp

(To the tune of Colors of the Wind, from Disney's Pocahantas.)

You think I'm a ignorant speecher
And you've won so many outrounds, I guess it must be so.
But still I cannot see, if the speecher one is me
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know.

You think you own whatever tourney you win
That patterns are just a dead things you can waste
But I know every interp, platform, IE
Has a round, has a pattern, has a name

You think the only speeches that are speeches
Are the speeches with three minute cross-ex
But if you read the script of a persuasive
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew

Have you ever seen a DI where they cry a lot
Or ask an HI giver why they grinned?
Can you speak with all the passion of a platform?
Can you act with all the colors of interp?
Can you act with all the colors of interp?

Come run the hidden hallways of a pattern
Come watch an HI done by your partner
Come cry and weep and wallow during DI's
And for once never warrant your interp

The duos and the apols are my events
The DI's and OO's are my favorites
Though TP and LD are both amazing
IE's rule over the awards ceremony

How long can an expos go?
If you never watch, then you'll never know
And you'll never see a DI where they cry a lot
For whether we interp or we debate
We need to speak with all the passion of a platform
We need to act with all the colors of interp

You can win a round and still, all you'll win is debate 'til
You can act with all the colors of interp.

This one goes out to all those debate-only people.

Let It Flow

(To the tune of 'Let It Go' from Disney's Frozen.)

The negative team brought up great arguments, but we know how to respond
A speech full of solvency args, but they don't stand at all
The round keeps going with no certain end in sight
Here we are at last, in the 2AR

'Don't pass this case, it's not solvent. Their harms aren't significant at all.
Keep the status quo, their plan won't work'
Well, it does work!

Let it flow, let it flow!
Neg can't win this round anymore
Let it flow, let it flow!
Don't keep the status quo
Our plan meets their topicality
Vote affirmative
DA's never bothered me anyway

It's funny how the 2A makes arguments seem small
And the DA's that they've brought up, they aren't unique at all
It's time to pass an aff ballot, to enact our mandates so we can
Break tonight, to the finals round
We win this round!

Let it flow! Let it flow!
Their arguments do not stand
Let it flow! Let it flow!
As this round comes to an end
Pass our plan, and vote for the rez
Vote affirmative

The solvency args really don't apply at all
The topicality press, you can see it falls
They dropped the advantages from the 1AC
Our plan benefits you, don't keep the status quo!

Let it flow! Let it flow!
And we'll break to the finals round
Let it flow! Let it flow!
We've won, I'm sure you've found
Our plan will fix the status quo
Vote affirmative!
The flow never bothered me anyway.

Tournament Tunes

I like music. I like debate. I have literally written five parodies about speech and debate from Disney songs. So I decided to make a tournament playlist, even though I rarely get the chance to listen to music at tournaments. But maybe you do, but you don't know what songs to listen to. This is what this post is for. I have created this playlist just for you (and me) to enjoy.

See You Tomorrow - How To Train Your Dragon score

This song reminds me of the first day of the tournament. It's the day where I feel like I'm running around, going from speech to speech to debate to speech to speech to speech to debate and between all of that hanging out with friends. It's crazy.

Just a Friend - Jamie Grace

If you listen to this song, it's pretty self-explanatory. It's basically every homeschooler on romance and crushes.

A Whole New World (Year) - Aladdin

This applies to two things: the first tournament of the year, and going to tournaments way out of state. They often run tournaments way differently in others states. It's always the same basic format, but sometimes it's kind of crazy, like a whole new tournament.

When Will My Life (Round) Begin - Tangled

Only having speeches in one pattern, pcarli rounds, junior rounds, having a TP partner who signed up for a tournament late and so you aren't doing TP, and long announcements.  Sometimes it takes a long time for my rounds to get started.

What Is This Feeling? - Wicked

What I sing when people run weird arguments in TP rounds and I feel like killing them. Loathing is an accurate description of the way I feel.

Leave It In The Valley - Mandisa

Calling my friend after said people run weird arguments in TP and she calls me and tells me not to flip out and then I feel better. Friendship is magic like that.

Let It Go - Frozen (Parody coming soon!)

Third day song. I'm not usually doing much on this day, so I run around singing Frozen. Also, letting go of all the rounds that went badly the last few days and being able to just hang out with friends and never go back, and maybe if the awards ceremony ends fast enough I'll be able to stand in the light of day.

Bloom - Moriah Peters and Overcomer - Mandisa

Remembering that even if the ballots don't meet up with my expectations, I was still born to bloom and that I can overcome it.

Gravity - John Mayer

Post tournament blues. Sitting in the hotel waiting to leave, sitting in your car, sitting at home with tournament hang over. This song really reflects my mood when it's all over and I just want to sit while gravity works against me.

Vote Affirmative - Hadley Grace

This song doesn't exist, but I felt like being clever when asking you to vote affirmative. So yeah... do that. And listen to these songs because they are all pretty great.

TP's an Open Door

(To the tune of "Love is and Open Door" from Disney's Frozen. Created with the help of Maria and Julia.)

All my life has been a series of speech and debate
And then suddenly I debate with you

I was thinkin' the same thing, cause like
I've been waiting my whole life to win first place
And maybe it's the tourney talking, or the tournament food

But with you, But with you
I'll win first place
I see your case
And it's nothing like I've ever known before

TP's an open door
TP's an open door
TP's an open door With you, with you, with you, with you
TP's an open door.

I mean it's crazy-
-What?
We finish each other's-
T-Presses!
That's what I was gonna run!

I've never seen theory that looks so much like mine
Jinx! Jinx again!

Our extemp synchronization, can't have but one explanation
You
And I
Were
Just meant to be!

Say goodbye (say goodbye) To LD of the past
We don't have to value any more!

TP's an open door
TP's an open door
Policy's so much more With you, with you, with you, with you
TP's an open door.

Can I say something crazy? Will you partner with me?
Can I say something even crazier? Yes!

Can I say something crazy? Will you vote affirmative?

When Will My Round Begin

(To the tune of "When Will My Life Begin" from Disney's Tangled)

7:00am, the usual touney line-up

Start on my speech and practice and polish up

Duo, extemp, impromptu, mars hill, apol

Speech again and by then it's like, 7:15?

So I'll watch a speech, or maybe two or three

I'll add a few new cards into my 2AC

I'll play guitar and time and eat and basically

Just wonder when will my round begin?

Then after lunch it's parli and juniors round two

A break for tab room and Apples to Apples too

Practicing, chatting, texting and announcements

Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a nap, write a script

And I'll re-write my speech, if I have time to spare

I'll fix my 1AC, I'm sure there's room somewhere

And then I'll time and time and time and time extemp

Stuck in the same room I've always been

And I'll keep wondering, and wondering, and wondering, and wondering

When will my round begin?

And tomorrow night, awards will appear

Just like they do on the third day each year

What is it like, up where they glow?

Now that I've practiced, tab room might let me go.

Vote affirmative... as soon as my round starts, that is.

Disney Debaters

You know, if you think about it, a lot of the Disney princesses were homeschooled. Rapunzel, Anna, Elsa, Jasmine, Aurora. Which explains why Anna was all like, 'there'll be actual, real live people. It'll be totally strange.' Because homeschoolers have seen very few actual real live people. They spend most of the time dreaming of the outside world and asking people to vote affirmative. So while I go pretend that the outside world isn't scary, vote affirmative.

Pocahontas says goodbye to her out of state friends.

Mulan wonders why there are two men wrestling on her medal.

Ariel is congratulated for breaking to finals.

Rapunzel anxiously waits outside her finals room.

Debate romance! Remember the side hug.

Anna is in denial about breaking to finals

A Whole New Year

(To the tune of 'A Whole New World' from Disney's Aladdin.)

I can show you my speech
Duo, impromptu, mars hill
A dazzling expos,
With fancy boards and lots of flashing lights

I can teach you debate
Take you disad by disad
Topicality, stock issues
A magic Aff-case ride

A whole new year
A new fantastic resolu
No TNW's, or Guantanamo
Or pulling out of Japan

A whole new year
A brand new speech event that's cool
But when I'm watching you, debate that res
I know that I am voting for you
(Now I'm voting for you)

An unbelievable speech
Indescribable HI's
DI's, Duos, Persuasives
Apol, extemp and parli

A whole new year
(Don't you dare drop OI)
A thousand speeches I can love
(Keep your case, it get's better)

I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't back to novice year

A whole new year
(Every round a surprise)
With great new topics to explore
(Every speech it gets better)

I'll give a new speech there
No time to spare
Let me share this great duo with you

A whole new year
That's where we'll be
A thrilling res
A wondrous speech
For you and me

See? Now they're wearing suits. :D

(Vote affirmative, because it's a new year.)