LOHS student takes home first place trophy in national speech contest
Published in the July 22 – Aug. 4, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Samantha Sadoff
Samantha Sadoff
It is crucial that young people start viewing themselves as future leaders. As adolescents, we are often told we cannot achieve certain goals or be influential because of our age. Yet it is essential for high school-age students to understand that what they do does matter and that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.
I recently competed in the “Step Up to the Challenge” national public speaking competition for the Future Business Leaders of America club, held in Chicago. After putting in hours of hard work writing and memorizing a five-minute speech, as well as pushing myself to overcome the apprehensions of competition, I made my way past 104 contestants from across America, coming in first place. This was a monumental achievement, as it illustrated that people were interested in what I had to say and were convinced by my speech on how building character, leadership and ingenuity can assist me in pursuing my career path as a film director.
Winning such a prestigious award not only accelerated my self-confidence, it also helped me to reflect on the journey of getting to this level and the people in the community who helped me get there. It is an honor representing Morgan Hill’s youth, and I hope to continue spreading positive energy throughout the community by helping others achieve their full potential as blossoming leaders.
Communication skills such as public speaking are very important tools for a young leader to have. Someone who wants to be successful in life must develop the ability to speak confidently in front of people in order to convey ideas. In doing so, they are opening themselves up to opportunities that would have otherwise slipped away if they did not voice their opinions.
Samantha Sadoff shows the first place trophy she won at the “Step Up to the Challenge” speech contest held in Chicago this month by the national Future Business Leaders of America organization that promotes young people as leaders.
Photo courtesy Tyler Sadoff
Besides being a persuasive speaker, another significant leadership skill is the ability to be patient and listen to others. When running a business, or trying to achieve any ambition for that matter, an individual cannot accomplish everything alone. A good leader is one who is willing to receive additional support and advice from the people around him or her. It is imperative that we open up our minds and become accepting of new ideas and new ways to approach challenges. In this way, a leader is not simply giving orders. He or she is being a member of the team and creating an environment where everyone collaborates. This allows for a healthy and thriving professional atmosphere with respected and content employees. Furthermore, a true leader only fulfills the job by helping other people become successful.
This upcoming school year, I am going into my second term of serving as the president of the FBLA chapter at Live Oak High School. Having this leadership position has been an impactful experience in my life. Being president has given me the opportunity to work with many different people and assist them in achieving their goals. In turn, working with the diverse student body at Live Oak has allowed me to develop the virtues of patience, responsibility and service.
An essential concept for young adults to learn is that they can use the leadership skills they develop now to benefit them later in life. After I graduate from Live Oak in the class of 2016, I hope to use the leadership talents I learned in the FBLA club in the career path I intend to follow in film production. It is my dream to become a filmmaker and open doors for other young women who want to break into this male-dominated profession. If more women are involved in making films, they can share through the medium of cinematic art more diverse views in the telling of stories and highlighting issues in our society. Women filmmakers can inspire different types of audiences and attract a wider variety of people to relate to their movie messages.
This call to action for young leaders to break through societal norms can be applied to almost every professional field. Many businesses discriminate in allowing certain groups of people to be leaders. America has come a long way in its history of increasing equality and opportunity, yet we still have a long way to go. Among the privileges we enjoy today, our nation’s youth are still facing many limitations in a future they wish to live in. It is fundamental for students to continue to believe in themselves and set out to accomplish their aspirations, despite the obstacles temporarily blocking their way.
It is vital for high school students to rise above “social” disbelief in their abilities, and apply themselves to becoming the leaders of America. By joining leadership clubs such as FBLA, students learn what it takes to become an influential and productive member of society. By sharpening their public speaking skills, learning how to work with others, and having determination, students can break into career fields they once thought impossible to enter. The young leaders in our community can be the catalysts who have the ability to spark true change.
Samantha Sadoff is a 17-year-old senior at Live Oak High School. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
