The Official Student News Source of HSEHS

HSENews

The Official Student News Source of HSEHS

HSENews

The Official Student News Source of HSEHS

HSENews

Speaking to Shed Light

Speaking+to+Shed+Light

  When you’re young you don’t think much about your ability to see, but sophomore Katie Sevier was already beginning to lose her sight as far back as seventh grade. Rather than letting it hold her down, she used it as a tool to help her compete in Speech and Debate team and ended up winning second place in the state.

  As a freshman, Sevier had already heard about Speech and Debate team and was eager to join for the experience. Speech and Debate has a lot of more complicated subgroups ranging from interpreting acts out of plays to writing and presenting your own speeches. With all these options, many would think that it can be easy to get lost in a maze of options.

  “At first it was very overwhelming,” Sevier said. “There’s just so much you can do and it is hard to decide.”

  Her most recent speech, which was at the state competition, told her story about growing up and gradually losing her sight and showing it from the perspective of a teenager rather than an adult. Titled, “Journey Into Blindness” Sevier hoped her piece would reach people in a different way and shed a light on the lives of the visually impaired.

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  “I didn’t want to just list laws or anything,” Sevier said. “I wanted people to be able to connect to [my speech] and spread awareness”

  Sevier’s main initiative was to connect with people, so when she found out she made it through not only to semi-finals but all the way to state and earning second place, she was thrilled. In a competition where there are many opinions, skillsets and ideas, it can be difficult to stand out to judges.

  “I wasn’t [expecting to place in the competition],” Sevier said. “I was just planning to go in and do what I felt was best for the piece.”

Although she may never completely regain her sight, she uses it as a tool of strength and knowledge for other people.

  “My main goal was to really connect with people,” Sevier said. “I really wanted to share with them my experience about going blind”

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