Troubled Waters

So, I've very quickly found myself in a rather bad spot. Maybe It's just me looking through the filter of my own high expectations, but I've recently come to the conclusion that I'm not doing very well in this class. This is in part, however small, due to some of the grades I've been getting back, but mostly it's due to my feelings about the speech I'm delivering tomorrow.

I was definitely given time to prepare for the speech. Unfortunately, however, that time in my own schedule had to be alloted to other things, such as preproduction for the apparently millions of film and video shoots that I have coming soon, and then to the vicious amount of studying that I is required for the other classes. Then on top of that there's the insanely frustrating personal/familial problems that are rapidly rising to attention. AND THEN! I'm going to Texas for all of spring break to visit my girlfriend, Hannah's parents, family, life...

I know this seems like a desperate rant, numbering off all the excuses why I feel I'm unprepared for my speech tomorrow, which it is, but I find that writing about my problems on web journals like this can sometimes be helpful to center myself. Which, in itself is rather humourous, because I haven't touched my livejournal since I've gotten to college...

The speech itself, is actually about something I like though, which should make it easier...An informative speech on the photographer Henri Cartiers-Bresson, one of my biggest photographic influences. I know a good bit about him already, I just have to get it all down on paper, and then out of my mouth.....before 8:30 tomorrow.

Maybe there's something to learn from this whole predicament: the obvious, do the work for this class earlier; maybe take on less time-consuming endeavors; or maybe even that the Midterm season is an unnecessarily stressful time for all parties involved, and maybe something should be done to lighten it? Whatever that lesson is, I don't really have the time to think about it anymore.

Anyway, I guess this entire entry was an attempt at communicating my own personal feeling on my state in the class. I know I can come back from it, I sort of did the something similar last semester with research writing and I did alright. It's just a matter of catching the fall before it happens.

Oncoming Narrative!

So, I'm still having some troubles with this speech. I'm pretty confident about what I want to talk about (My father's second [and possibly most dramatic] run for Stuyvesant Town Supervisor). It's bound to make a good story, I just have to sit down and flesh it out, throw in the little details that make it engaging and interesting to listen to. I just hope there's enough time in a night to do it.

It'll be interesting to write it out. I mean, I've written speeches before. Actually, the last time he ran for Town Supervisor, which happened to be this past fall, he asked me to second his nomination at the caucus, and had me write a speech about it. So, I feel as if writing a political speech isn't that far from my own experience, and writing a narrative speech telling of a political race shouldn't be too far off. I think my biggest hindrance will be the fact that I'm used to writing out every word instead of just writing an outline and working off of that.

Finally the last problem that I think I'l have is having a definite "moral-of-the-story." There's alot flying around my head at the moment, the idea of perseverence, and sticking to what you believe in. Or, possibly, the thought of doing something fully, and not being half-assed about it. OR! (My personal favorite so far) Fighting for what you believe in, fighting for the sake of your home, fighting for the right to fight.

There's alot still left to do before tomorrow, but I'm confidant that I can get it done.

First Speech Blog

So, this is the first of what is apparently going to be one of many blog entries for the Fundamentals of Speech Class I'm enrolled in this semester. I've actually found that I'm fairly enthusiastic about taking this class, and I'm very interested to see how much it will improve my speaking skills.

I've had an interest in public speaking for a long time. I've always enjoyed being in front of people, performing, or talking. In high school I had a very strong foundation in acting and musical performance, which, I feel, has done well in giving me a head start (albeit small) in this class.

Additionally, my interest has becomed piqued concerning the history of this school (Emerson College). The fact that it was founded as an oratory school definitely had an impact on my decision to come here, and I'm excited to be part of a long standing tradition.

Hopefully, I'll get a great deal out of this class. I guess I'll find out...