Behind the Scenes: Woodrow Wilson Speaking Competition

Katherine Qiu '27 in Features | February 14, 2025

After numerous grueling rounds of Lawrenceville’s annual public speaking contest, the five finalists took to the Kirby Arts Center stage this Thursday, February 13 during School Meeting to deliver their long-awaited speeches before the whole school.

Having participated in the contest myself for two years, though without any luck in advancing further, I understand the frustration that comes with drafting and revising a speech and having the crippling fear of messing up in English class. The perseverance of our final contestants is certainly admirable, to say the least. For the final speech, the finalists were asked to answer the prompt: What is something interesting, important, cool, or underrated that you think most people don’t know about? Let us travel backstage and hear our speakers’ exclusive experiences and thoughts!

Michael Meng ’26, one of this year’s finalists, recalled that “because [he] wrote about a topic [he] was interested in and genuinely felt was important,” he spent little time on his speech. Meng hopes to communicate that people “are all unique individuals,” a statement that resonates with him closely. In fact, according to Meng, one of the main challenges in writing this speech was debating whether or not to “include personal anecdotes,” considering the sensitivity of some of his stories. Ultimately, Meng decided to include them because they helped “convey the message in a more impactful way”.

Rory Laubach ’27, another finalist, found that preparing for the speech was both “rewarding and demanding.” Though she initially found it hard to “believe in [her]self,” progressing through each round allowed her to “gain confidence in her speaking skills and the message” she wished to share. Laubach hopes that her speech inspires people to reflect upon their actions, stating that “while awareness and gratitude seem like small practices, they can truly make a difference in our lives.” Laubach’s message shone through in her thoughtfulness towards fellow finalist Skylar Williams ’27.

Williams recounted how Laubach “coached [her] through anxious feelings,” helping Williams overcome her personal “challenge of overthinking.” Though Williams had her fair share of “ups and downs” preparing for the speech, she cherished the “bonding experience” with Laubach, both of whom are proud members of the Stephens House.

Hearing about the experiences of this year’s finalists, I am reminded of last year’s public speaking contest. Likewise, last year’s winner Martina Yanovich ’26 offered many insights into her own experiences in the contest.

Reminiscing about delivering her final speech in front of the entire school, Yanovich noted the importance of confidence in helping her navigate her nerves. Through the speech contest, she learned to always “stay grounded” and that at the end of the day, she should only be “trying to impress herself.” Yanovich also pointed out the role that audiences play, stating that though audience reactions were one of her biggest worries, “most people were very engaged,” and no one reacted too strongly to her speech.

In addition to her personal experiences, Yanovich also provided advice for both participants and the student body in general, reminding students “to speak from the heart.” For those less comfortable with public speaking, Yanovich offers an interesting but helpful tip: rather than focusing on the large audience, students should remember that “there will always be a familiar face in the audience” they can count on.

Our Lawrenceville community is built upon the voices of our diverse student body composed of many different backgrounds and experiences. Sometimes, students might find it hard to connect with the experiences of others, but opportunities such as the public speaking contest allow students to communicate with each other. I highly recommend that we pay attention to the messages and stories these students share as they can impact our lives and continue to strengthen our community!

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Behind the Scenes: Woodrow Wilson Speaking Competition