Well, hey everyone 😀
I recently attended an awards ceremony at my school (that I forgot was happening that day-) and won an award (I forgot the name hehe :,D).
I didn’t expect to get anything- whenever this stuff happens, I don’t win anything and end up just standing there awkwardly while there’s applause.
But you know those moments when you realize your name is about to be called and your brain just goes, “Welp, I’m-a go die now :D” and you’re just like:
But you have to go up there anyway and uhhh you sort of die
Yeah that happened ._________.
But Forensics (4N6) is an experience I’m both proud of and enjoyed (…well, after a while anyways…)
How did it all start? Well, my first Forensics encounter was when I was in maybe 4th grade?
My cousin told me, “You’d be great in Forensics! You should join in middle school!”
Now I didn’t really like this cousin, so I didn’t listen to them.
But, Forensics was inevitable, as I soon figured out in early 7th grade.
When I learn something in History that I question, I yell about it. Yeah, I know. Weird.
But uhhh it helps me remember everything I learned, so yeah (I stopped doing it after a bit, and that’s why my History study guide is uhhhh dead).
But anyway, I was yelling about I think…the “Glorious” Revolution? It was NOT glorious, a TON of people died.
So I was screaming about this confusing and weird thing, and then my History teacher dropped this on me:
“Oh, you’d do great in Forensics, you know?”
And this stopped me cold.
I wasn’t very sure about this.
I don’t like speaking in front of people, and preforming?
Nope.
Definetely not.
But when she gave me the first meeting date, I was encouraged to try it. Just once.
I chickened out the first few times, but eventually I worked up the courage to go to the first meeting.
It was pretty simple. I got my script, brought some documents home for permission to go to State (which I was 94% at the time I would not make it close to State- like, at all–), and practiced with someone doing Poetry. (During this practice, we also got as many mini candy canes as we could eat. That was awesome.
Background: There are different 4N6 categories, each describing the gist of what you’re performing- If you’re in Poetry, you’re performing a poem. If you’re in Humorous Solo, you’ll be performing a short, silly thing by yourself. Group Acting- Pretty self explanatory. Farrago- despite the name, it is NOT a dance. It’s a bunch of poems/other stuff that all falls under ONE topic. It’s really fun to listen to.
I was in Serious Solo Acting (usually just called Serious Solo), and performing a monologue by Christine.
In the Phantom of the Opera, there’s a girl named Christine. Her father dies of an illness but promises her that he’ll send her an “Angel of Music” or something of the like. The Phantom (Phantom of the Opera) lives beneath the opera house where Christine lives in Paris. When Christine hears this voice, does she go see a doctor?
…
NOPE.
She talks to the voice, and it offers to give her singing lessons. And she ACCEPTS, thinking that it’s the Angel of Music her father sent her after he died. OR she thinks it IS her father.
Anyway, the Phantom falls in love with Christine (who’s like, 20, and the Phantom is about 40), but Christine falls in love with >a-hem<
✨✨✨✨ RaOuL ✨✨✨✨
(He’s important, in case you can’t tell)
The Phantom gets jealous and kidnappy naps Christine. Later she gets saved by >a-hem<
✨✨✨✨ RaOuL ✨✨✨✨
(Ok I’ll stop now)
So anyway, Raoul defeats the Phantom. Happy ever after. Le end.
But I only read a small part. (The requirement is 5-8 minutes for Serious Solo- penalty for too short, penalty for too long. Applies to ALL Forensics categories, but time limits vary.)
And everytime I read it then, my time limit got SHORTER. 2 minutes 39 seconds at longest.
Now, at the time, my coach(the History teacher) and I didn’t know that this was NOT the full script. I got the full script a few days before a big meet.
I memorized it though, don’t worry :,D
Anyway, this is getting long, so:
- My first meet, I got infracted for script usage. I didn’t know this. I never got infracted again.
- I got a perfect score and placed 2nd overall for Serious Solo.
- I made it to State.
- I got into Power Round for STATE (a big deal. Also, I placed Power Round for practically ever meet. When I didn’t, I drowned my sorrows with whoever else didn’t make it. Usually the girl I practiced with on my first day.
- I have the nickname of “The Phantom of the Opera” by everyone else in Serious Solo. My coach called me “Christine.” You can probably guess which name I liked better hehe
- There was the most EPIC dance off at State. If you didn’t see it, you missed out.
Yeah!
I TOTALLY recommend you join 4N6. Make new friends, gain speaking skills and confidence…
It’s awesome. Trust me.
(I generally hate people, and I loved 4N6. Definitely doing it again next year.)
Bye everyone!!
-Abby