Competitive speaker Sofia Campos instructed the audience members to close their eyes as she explained her experience of being invisible.
She accounted her experience of living as an immigrant from Peru without a social security number, and the accompanying feelings of neglect from the U.S. government. A leading member of IDEAS, an organization supporting the rights of immigrant students, Campos advocated for lower tuition rates through an impassioned narrative retelling her struggle juggling a job and school while paying out-of-state tuition.
Campos, a fourth-year political science student, won the second annual Bruin Speech Contest on Wednesday night. Hosted by the Bruin Toastmasters, the IDEAL Leaders Association and other affiliated groups, the contest aimed to provoke inspiration for UCLA students. The theme was stories of inspiration with a supplementary focus on humor.
“The contestants were successfully funny; we were all really impressed by this year’s students,” said judge Cathy Behrens, who coordinates ASK Peer Counseling. Her only complaint was that not enough students showed up to watch the show.
Contestants waged a war of words in competition for a $2,000 scholarship. The speech contest opened doors to a spectrum of subject matters, from personal anecdotes to issues of universal importance. From a speaker who finds inspiration in his roommate to a neuroscience student touting stories about academic competition, the event welcomed a wide range of personalities.
Third-year political science student Christian Adriatico spoke of finding inspiration in even the most unlikely of resources, such as his drunken roommate.
“I learned to never drink beer…before liquor,” Adriatico said, turning the trivial pursuits of his college existence into an intriguing verbal recollection. “I used the opportunity to enhance my public speaking skills.”
“It’s not only about giving UCLA students an opportunity to hone their speech skills, but a chance for the school’s many clubs to express their cause in a enjoyable manner,” said Parus Suraprasert, president of the IDEAL Leaders Association and a fourth-year chemical engineering and philosophy student.
Considering the overwhelming number of extracurricular activities at UCLA, the platform provided a concise introduction to the campus’ scattered interests.
“All the participants exhibited commendable passion in their speeches, and the show itself was well-organized and telling of great effort,” Campos said.