Final Speech

The last day of class I also gave my final speech. I gave my final speech on post-secondary or PSEO. I tried to convince everyone in the class what a good program that it was and how much it can help someone out. Since I have been in this program I have earned 96 credit hours and got my associates degree in science. Now I am moving on to a bigger college in the fall of this year. Since I have taken all my basic classes at southern state I don’t have to at Eastern Kentucky, and this will save me a lot of money and time. So I encourage everyone to push their kids or family members towards the PSEO program, because I guarantee that it is a choice they never will forget.

But with that said I would like to tell everyone that I had a great time in this class and it was the funnest class I have had a Southern State. Looking back I never would have thought that this class would have been the best,because it is speech and who likes to give speeches but Candee made this class very fun. As well as everyone else in the class. But since the class is over now I want to wish everyone the best of luck, especially Candee with her new job.

Skylar

SPEECH 115 IS IN THE BAG!!!!

I want to start off by saying congratulations to everyone in my class.  WE DID IT!!!  We overcame all our fears and made it through the class.  I really enjoyed this class and everyone in it.  I was amazed at all the speeches we done and not 2 were alike.  I could really tell by the end of the class that everyone had overcome their nervousness and felt pretty comfortable in front of the class.  Whether you did or not it wasn’t noticeable.  I would also like to thank Hannah Z. for letting me do my last speech with her.  It was a really good one!!!  I have nothing but wonderful memories of this class that I will keep with me forever.

I also want to thank Candee for making this class seem easier that I thought it would be.  I know I dreaded this class and put it off till very last but the minute I stepped in the door you made me feel less nervous.  With each speech I gave it became easier for me.  I know Southern State may not realize how much they are losing a wonderful instructor but you will be missed.  With all this said (without getting to mushy) I want to THANK everyone again in my class for making this a wonderful class.  And the best of luck to everyone including Candee, I have faith that you all will succeed.

Annie

Parting is such sweet sorrow…

Hard to believe we have made it through all of our speeches not with 20 students but 26 because we kept everyone. All I can say is that it was fun and a wonderful experience that I am glad I didn’t put off because if I did then I wouldn’t have had a wonderful teacher like Candee. Good luck to everyone wether it be continued with classes in the summer and fall or you are graduating this weekend or starting a new job. For the ones who will be here in the fall I will see you then. Hope everyone has a great summer and again good luck wherever life takes you. Hope our paths cross again at some point.

Dottie

Preparing for the persuasive…

As I prepared for the persuasive speech I kept asking myself the same question: “Who am I to persuade anyone of anything?” While I still feel this way, I look forward to giving it my best shot. My speeches have consisted of someone who inspired me, my passion, and one of my many loves. This one will be no different. I have always had plenty to say, but getting it out in an easy to follow way can be a challenge. So I sit here preparing my key points that I want to talk about in hopes that my peers will appreciate and enjoy what I have to say. I certainly enjoy listening to everyone talk, and always looks forward to their thoughts and opinions. I personally believe there is no such thing as a bad opinion, as long as you have one and can back it up. As much as I anticipate the final speech, it is also saddening that this class is over so quickly. I have enjoyed it far more then any other class I have taken…ever.

Andy

My visual reflection on…

For my visual reflection I decided to try to reflect what everyone in the 2:20- 3:45 class has done there speeches on so far. In the center is what I have done my speeches on so far and I am still thinking on my topic for my last speech. Mostly everything on my board is a reflect of the informative speeches and demo speeches.

If you want to know what each piece means feel free to comment and I will explain each piece and why I selected them. Anyways one more speech and then we all will part ways with some of us graduating and others continuing on with other classes but I will leave you all with this…

We all were nervous coming into this class some of us put it off til last-minute but now with it over all we can say is goodbye and good luck to each other and that speech class wasnt that scary after all.

-Dottie L.

I am touched by your kindness.

Thank you.   To my classmates and Candee,  thank you, for being there for me.  It means more than I can ever put into words.  When all of you came forward to form a circle, I thought I was going to cry.  Each of you have amazed me beyond belief.  During this past quarter you have welcomed me into your number and continually gave me support and encouragement.  I am overwhelmed and deeply touched by your kindness and the love extended and will remember each of you with fondness.  I feel that I have received a double portion of blessings in that I had the best possible  instructor AND the best people to go thru Speech class with.

I do not know if our paths will cross again.  If they do, we will make sure to say hello and chat awhile; but if they do not, please know that you have left a print upon my heart.

I love you all and may each of you receive many blessings for your kindness.

Take care and best of wishes as you travel along life’s pathway.

Pamela B.

A Look In The Mirror

Coming to the end of speech class, we were all asked to do a visual reflection… something creative. I knew right away that I wanted to do some sort of ‘craft’ dealing with Confidence. The most important thing I gained from being in this class, I believe, is self confidence. And I wanted my visual to reflect that. So, while my idea was extremely simple, it meant a lot to me. A $3 mirror and some sticky letters from Wal-Mart was all I needed. As I wrote ‘CONFIDENCE’ across the hand mirror, my point was that whomever was looking into the mirror would see themselves and their confidence– confidence gain through the journey of speech class!

 

Shayla

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

The end is here.

I honestly never thought those words would escape me as I came into this quarter.

I came in terrified, thinking “How in the world am I ever going to pass this class?” and as some of you remember, I am graduating next Friday and put this class off for two very long years. I guess maybe I was hoping they’d take it off my list of requirements?

I can now say that I’m glad they didn’t. I have learned a lot this quarter. I have learned that public speaking is really not so bad. I have learned how to accept myself and to take what I have to say seriously. Sometimes you think people really don’t care what you have to say, but in all honesty, they do. And they listen. And sometimes what you say can help them and/or even teach them.

There have been so many wonderful speeches this quarter and I , personally, have learned a lot. I never knew what Anna’s Army was, I never knew Patty’s great tips for decorating, I never knew that Jamie howled at the moon, and I never knew that Hannah made such fantastic cupcakes. I also never knew that Clinton was absolutely hilarious, no matter what the speech topic was. I never even knew that I’d actually be interested in what these people had to say because all I was worried about was just making it til June.

Well June is here and I am so glad and grateful to have taken a class like this. I have met some great people and even made a friend or two along the way. I have learned more than I ever thought possible out of one class. I have even learned how to come out of my shell a little bit.

In the end, this class will be one I will never forget. Thank you Candee.

 

Jennifer

Down to the Wire

Summer is approaching all of us and I think I can safely say–many of us are tired.  I know I am, this semester has been the most difficult one of my entire school career. My speech class has helped me get through it. I’ve left some nights feeling so much better than before I came to class. Just because of something that someone shared.  So, on that note. . .

To everyone in my speech class,

I have learned so much from each and every one of you guys. I didn’t expect to make the friends that I did, have such a diverse group of people sharing with me about their lives. . .I didn’t expect any of the wonderful things that I received from speech.  I walked away from each and every class learning something new about everyone.  We are all so different but yet we bond with kindness and understanding, it’s strange but that is what I have loved about it all. Did I ever have to feel uneasy about what you all thought of me? Absolutely not. We all supported eachother in the class, and even shedded some tears together and made memories that I think we all will keep in our hearts. And if I never see some of you again, I’ll miss you. If I do, yay!

To Miss Basford,

Thank you for teaching us to respect one another, be kind to everyone and understand that no one is perfect.  In a way, you let the class teach each other instead of just standing in front of us for two hours talking by yourself. You had us interact, and for that I think we’re all thankful. We made new friends, cured some nerves and hopefully can take the memories from class and put it into other things in our life. I’m so happy for you and your new job opportunity, I hope you really enjoy it. And you will! Thank you so much, for everything.

 

Erin

Demonstration Speech.. Short, sweet and to the point!

Last week, I gave my demonstrative speech… It was about how to make cupcakes. Short, sweet and simple.

I let my nerves get the best of me and totally lost my train of thought. So I improvised, I added stuff about me. To be honest, I am a good cook and baker. I just tend to forget the little things, like to not get egg shells in the batter. But that is okay. Cause from speech I learned that it is okay to not be perfect.

This is a lesson I really needed to learn for my life. I always put my expectations so high that it is almost unreachable. So for that I am thankful for this class. It made me understand that it is okay to make mistakes.

I would also like to thank Candee for helping me realize this and that it is okay to be nervous. You are going to be greatly missed.

-Hannah Z

Our Voices…

As far as demonstration speeches go, they were all wonderful and very interesting. I believe we all done a terrific job.

This class as taught me so much about myself this quarter. This week has been rough for me. I missed class Tuesday and missed all the visual reflections of what everyone has felt they learned the most. I feel my voice and stepping up is what I have got from this class the most. My sister just delivered her baby 3 months early. Not only is she in an abusive relationship and the beating was part of the cause for the premature delivery but the use of drugs also had to do with it. This class has given me the courage to use what I have learned to step up outside of class and in this situation to speak out for my sister and that precious baby that is in the NICU at UK. She is strong and a fighter. At only 2 lbs 2ozs right now she is going to pull through and make it!

I am very grateful for this and for the opportunity to learn everything I have in this class. It is a shame that many more students will not have the opportunity to have Candee as a teacher to learn this same thing.

-Ashley

Maiden Voyage of the USS Contemplation

This is a photo of my visual reflection.  It’s name is the USS Contemplation (I forgot to leave enough room to paint it the name on the side of the ship).  It is proudly flying the flag with the label F.E.S (Fundamentals of Effective Speech).  Each mast contains a genre and the sails equate the outline of what I have learned during this quarter.

The theme represents our journey as a class into the unfamiliar and sometimes fearful waters of Speech.  The speaker is giving his/her speech on the bow of the ship.  As the speech is being given,  fellow classmates are being active, supportive listeners while Professor Candee is at the stern (the end with the rudder) to confidently steer us in the right direction.

The mirrors placed throughout the ship represent  ”reflections” of what we have learned.  A couple of the mirrors are placed so that individuals can see themselves.  This is to show that we have not only learned about giving speeches but have also learned things about ourselves.  Candee has encouraged us to be authentic and to choose topics that we care about.  In order to do this, we had to reflect and think about who we really are.

I am so thankful to have taken this journey with each of my classmates.  They have all shown by example that seemingly impossible tasks can be accomplished when people work together to reach a common goal.  I find myself  thinking and contemplating  that if the attitude of support, encouragement and kindness were displayed by the majority of people in our communities, in spite of our differences, just how much could be accomplished.  People finding common ground and working together, building each other up, helping each other, growing together for the good and betterment of everyone’s future.

Pamela B.

Demonstration Speech

This week me and my classmates were assigned to give a demonstrative speech that we were credible for.  This speech is somewhat similar to the informative speech from before, only difference is that we have to perform a demonstration of what were talking about.  For me this speech was a little more difficult than the informative mainly because not only did we have to talk about our subject in a certain format but had to organize a demonstration relating to the topic.  Once I made my speech I felt that I had a better grasp on public speaking.  As the class progresses on I’m finding less difficult with public speaking.  I’m more familiar with being organized and how to format my speeches, and becoming more successful with how to present a public speech.

-Eric

“Coming together, sharing together, working together, succeeding together” (author unknown)

As I reflect upon my experience in Speech class, this quote sums up how I feel.

We have formed a very supportive unit during this quarter.    As we went through the introduction process, we all had varied explanations as to why we were taking Speech.  Some were excited about the class while others were apprehensive.

As the weeks went by and we began to deliver our individual speeches, we learned that listening was just as important as delivering the speeches.  From what I read in the posts of others, it seems the majority agrees that the atmosphere is one that is safe and accepting.  Some expressed concerns as to how their speeches would be received and afterwards discovered thru the evaluations that what they had to say was embraced (ability to listen without pre-judgment and be open-minded).  All seemed to agree that their classmates were supportive.

I have learned thru researching one of my own speeches that when we give a genuine smile to others, it sends a non-verbal message to the recipient that they are accepted, and they fit in.   I found this to be true for me when I was on the receiving end of my classmates’ smiles.  I think this is part of what Candee was trying to get across when she was talking about our responsibilities as listeners.

In the classroom before class begins you might hear us supporting and encouraging each other.  Sometimes we try to help each other come up with an idea for a speech.  Sometimes we share experiences, thoughts and reservations about upcoming assignments.  Sometimes we just socialize.  No matter what the conversations are, they are friendly and engaging.  To me, this is speech at its best:  relating to each other, communicating, sharing.  The bonus is that it is all in a safe and positive atmosphere.

As this class draws nearer the end.  We are all delivering speeches and we are all “succeeding together”.

“Coming together, sharing together, working together, succeeding together.”

Pamela B.

Now that my internet is finally working!!!

So although this was supposed to be done weeks ago, my internet has been down and between work and school I have not had any extra time to stay at the school and do these blog entries. So I figured, better late than never!

So I have to admit going into this class I was pretty terrified. I didn’t know what to expect or how my professor would act. I had started taking a speech class while I attended the University or Cincinnati Clermont, and that class and that instructor had me scared to death! From day one we were informed that our speeches had to be at least fifteen minutes a piece, and had to follow specific formats, and blah blah blah. And then he informed us our first speech would be due that next class! Needless to say I wanted no part of that, I dropped that class in a heartbeat!

But then I transfered to Southern State, and I love it here. I had put my speech class off entirely way to long and needed to get it out of the way. So I came into this class scared to death, but then Candee introduced herself, and suddenly I became more relaxed. The more she explained to us what was expected of us the more the knot in my stomach loosened. So far I have found the class rather enjoyable, which is a shock considering my preconceived notions about the class due to UC. When we were told we would have to do this blogs I thought oh great!, this will be a pain in the butt. Honestly though after I began typing it has just kind of flowed and came naturally. Had my internet been up and running all this crap would have been on time, considering how easy it actually is!

Amanda

It’s Over and Gone with the Wind….

My informative speech was a disaster and after listening to everyone else speak I knew it was going to be an even larger  failure than what I had  imagined. I couldn’t top any of those speeches.

Everyone’s speeches were amazing and possessed a part of them! (To their reason for the speech or just their personality that shined through in the details). I think that thought alone may have made me  a little nervous.

Talking about Gone With the Wind  was my first idea for a speech but it wasn’t what I had planned to give my speech on. I had planned on a speech about a band. I had imagined the entire speech, planned the visual aid… but the day I started on this my computer had crashed and it was my computer that had all my info and tools I needed to make that speech.

So I had my first idea, my ‘backup’ speech, and that was what I had ‘presented’ to Ms. Basford.

And you know the rest…

Maybe my speech was a failure because I felt like I could have done better, but I can’t worry about that. It’s over and now I can only hope my next idea for a speech won’t be ruined (fingers crossed).

Sabrina

The Act of Listening

Last night I completed my second speech (the informative speech).  The topic of my choice was what my father taught me through the unusual vessel of Alzheimer’s disease.

The main points discussed were creativity, unconditional love and patience.

It was less stressful than the first speech.  Everyone was so kind.  There were still errors in my delivery, I could not find my card with the closing statement (it was right in front of me), and I caught myself leaning on the podium at one point; nonetheless, I was able to complete my speech and things seemed to go fairly well.

I just can’t get the faces of the audience (my classmates) out of my mind.  It felt as though they were opening their hearts and minds to hear what I had to say, and it was a very humbling experience.  As I was delivering my speech, their eyes were so expressive and the body language changed for several of them.

I am still processing and struggling to find the words to describe my experience.   One thing I know for sure is that if my speech was to be considered successful, it was not because of me.  It was because of my supporting classmates, there are none better.

Pamela B

Take Some Water If Needed

First off I want to say sorry I’m late Candee. Good news is I have the paper now so I’m getting back on track.

On a completely different note I have completed my first speech. Like most people I was excited to get the first speech over with. Unlike most people I wasn’t too nervous. My mom is a music teacher/singer and my dad is a politician so they have always done everything they can to introduce me to the spotlight. In other words speech class isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve sung in my church, had leads in plays, sang the national anthem at my school, and even gave a mini sermon to my church.

All these things have led me to give everyone some hope. It DOES get easier. I am nowhere near perfect, but I can say with confidence that it does get a whole heck of a lot easier. Now its going to take a lot longer than I’ve been doing it to be 100% comfortable with speaking, if that’s even possible. One thing that still bothers me to this day is my throat. I will be fine and calm untill right before I’m about to go up then my throat will get very dry.

For those of you that are like me, it is ok to take a water bottle up with you. If I could have found enough change for a water bottle then I would’ve had one on my first speech. Even if you don’t think you will need it go ahead and take it anyway. Trust me when I tell you that it is better to have it and not use it than to not have it and need it. That is my big helpful advice for the class so far.

Casey

It’s Going To Be Alright

After weeks of worry, speech class is in full swing, and the worry has subsided a little bit. I have completed my first speech, the reading of the kindergarten story, and it wasn’t as terrible as I believed it would be.

Although I was very nervous and scared, I was told afterwards that it wasn’t even noticed while I was reading the story. That definitely makes a person feel better, knowing that even though they are a mess of butterflies inside it really isn’t visible on the outside. It has helped to calm my nerves knowing that I can mask them (the nerves) and I can come across as someone who might not be nervous at all. Faking confidence is what I’m guessing that would be called.

I am still worried though, because the reading seemed to be the easiest of the assignments, which is probably why we started with it.  Reading out of a book wasn’t difficult, but trying to compose my own speech and ideas is another story. Trying to capture the attention of the audience and deliver a good speech with something personal that I have worked on brings on a whole new meaning to having butterflies.

But like I read in another blog, I will just have to get up there and do it. Work through it and get it over with. And I have to remember that no matter what, at the end of the day, it’s going to be alright.

Jennifer

A Sigh of Relief!

So, Tuesday I gave my first speech! After I left class the previous Thursday I couldn’t believe I signed up to go on the first day… because I’m usually the procrastinator that will try to stay hidden until I absolutely HAVE to go! But I thought, what the heck, I’ll just get it out of the way!

I woke up Tuesday morning nervous, and it continued to stay with me through the day. When speech class began I felt more at ease,  of course until I was next to go. Once I got up in front of everyone and began to speak, my knotted stomach and anxious nerves died down. I felt like I was talking forever though! But all in all, I’m very glad I went on the first day, and glad I got the first speech out of the way.

Bring on the next!

-Shayla Black