Being the person to go first on Tuesday, I have the least amount of time to prepare for my speech. Thus, you would hope that I have a pretty good start on my speech. I don’t. As of right now, I have not found the artifact that embodies the theme I want to use in my civic engagement speech. In fact, I don’t even know if I want to do an artifact or an interview.
All I know now is that I have a central theme for my speech. To me, civic engagement is about understanding that you, as a member of a society, help to build the social structure of that society. To be civic, you must understand that your being and your actions stand for something larger than yourself. Whether you are involved in the political process that governs the society, are involved in charity work that benefits others, or simply find ways to improve the community around you every day, it does not matter how you get involved. The important thing is that you do get involved.
I don’t have any problem speaking in front of people; in fact, I really enjoy it. I’m not nervous about lacking content or quality things to say. I am nervous, however, that I won’t find the perfect artifact or interviewee to embody my idea of civic engagement.
At this point, I am considering to search for an artifact to help convey my theme, or I may interview my uncle Dave. My uncle Dave will be here this weekend for the football game, because he and his family have created one of the most unique tailgating atmospheres for Penn State football. I think he would be a good person to interview because he puts a lot of work into this tailgate so that others can enjoy the atmosphere and sense of community it creates. (It really is a community, complete with a town name, “Beavertown”)
I’d like some feedback if anyone has anything to offer. Thoughts on my theme of civic life? Suggestions about what to choose? I have to set the bar high going first.
I think I have changed my mind 5 times in the past hour. Thanks for all of the input guys it’s really helping me brainstorm
Don’t focus too much on getting it “perfect.” You’ve already done the hard part, in that you clearly know your opinions and ideas, know what you want to talk about. It may be impossible to find something or someone that “perfectly” coincides with your plan. However, there are tons of options out there that you could “spin” to match your idea. It would be cool to take something wacky (I don’t know, like a poster in the bathroom) and spin it to be about getting involved and shaping the structure. It also would be cool and unique if you started a conversation at the tailgate with everyone to get their take on being civic. Then you could combine an artifact (the actual tailgate, like you explained) and interview into one “perfect” speech!
Perhaps you could discuss how your uncle’s tailgate changes other people. What is it that causes them to enjoy the experience? Does it connect them to the PSU community more intimately? Or does it allow them to build their relationships within the group better, allowing for stronger community of “Beavertown”? After you interview your uncle, you could talk to some of the participants in his tailgate, maybe even include their quotes in your speech.
To add to Kim’s comment, since you’ve narrowed your idea of a civic artifact a bit, have you since spotted anything on campus that could work as an example of the individual helping to build the social structure of the community? You mentioned tailgating, and this could work, or consider how Penn State is promoting academics in light of the NCAA sanctions — how is PSU doing this? Is it on the students, faculty, etc. to find ways to show each other and, maybe more importantly, those outside of the PSU community the strength of PSU academics? Is that a civic action, or just a PR move, or both?
Wow this really helped. I think I may focus on the “One Team” motto of the football team, and how it encompasses the whole school and extends to the entire Penn State family.
I love your main theme about civic engagement about how to be civic you take part in something larger than yourself, no matter how small the actions and deeds are.
Some food for thought: What have you done in the past to become civically engaged? You could potentially write about that. I also really like your idea discussing your Uncle’s unique tailgate. I believe that something as simple as a tailgate is a great way to get involved with the community!
Don’t set the bar too high though; I’m going two speeches after you 🙂