Senior Speeches

One tradition SPA has, dating back to the class of 1985, is that of senior speeches. Each senior has a chance to (actually, requirement) get up in front of the whole school and share a story. They get 7 minutes to talk about whatever they want. These speeches happen during our "X" period, or break between first and second block of the day, one to two times per week. Four students sit on stage waiting to speak. Their friends or family come up to introduce them, then the student to speak plunges into whatever topic they are passionate about. Four students will speak in one X period.
Within the past 10 weeks, I have heard stories about parental death, adoption, political ramblings, checks of economic and white privileges, pizza rolls, faith, and smashing the patriarchy. The students dress up, get all nervous, then simply go for it. This is something students think about for years. There are two senior speech advisers and they all must pass through the dean's desk to make sure they are appropriate.
I bring these details up because after speeches, my students like to dissect and talk about their favorite or most meaningful speech from the day. Since there are a variety of opinions, I try to keep the chatter to about 5 minutes, but I do like to see what students have to say. Recently, we had a straight, cis-gender, white male challenge rape culture. It was invigorating for students to see someone who had so much privilege use his voice for something like this. Senior speeches are a time for listening and reflection, rather than talking and and discussing like school normally has us do.