Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Day 1 of the Oratorical Contest, we welcomed Dorothy, last year's winner, back to our middle school to perform her speech on stage in front of every eighth grader. Her command of the stage grabbed our attention as she addressed the power of her own voice. She needed no podium to brace her, for her words, her posture, her hands made her appear as if she were floating above us, hovering even over the solid surface of the stage. I wish she had come sooner--my thoughts must have echoed through many minds in the auditorium this morning, especially among those who were scheduled to present today. How many of them thought back to dubious decisions of the weekend, which may or may not have included watching another episode of __________________ instead of picking up their speeches to memorize? Fortunately for some, her arrival was not too late--many first-day speakers soaked up some of that energy and confidence for their own moment in the spotlight, and I clicked my heels together with pride. The rest of them, with eyes set on one of the three days ahead, I pray that with courage, heart, and a brain, they will see the same success as those who paved the road before them.