Before Joining SVUDL, I Thought I Had Nothing Worth Saying
Nicholas Carrubba, a senior at Summit Everest High School in Redwood City, won the Impromptu Speech division this past Saturday at our annual Dolores Huerta Tournament. This is no small feat as Nicholas joined SVUDL in 2021.
The power of SVUDL helped him to uncover and hone the power of his voice: “SVUDL has given me stage after stage and each time told me to get up there and give it my best shot. My time with SVUDL has made me an unfathomably more outgoing and outspoken individual, allowing me to truly make my mark and do my part in places such as student government at my school and in almost every class I have. As an aspiring lawyer, I have no doubt that the skills I’ve learned from SVUDL will be invaluable in the furtherance of my career ambitions, both inside the firm and out,” said Nicholas.
He first got involved with SVUDL during his sophomore year of high school when he took SVUDL’s Speech and Debate class, taught by Senior Program Specialist Kwodwo Moore. “That was my entry point and it was there that I truly learned how to speak, and of course how to debate. It was a class like no other, to say it was my favorite of all time would be no exaggeration,” said Nicholas.
SVUDL helped him to identify and practice specific tools that are essential for advocacy. “By using the new speaking ability they’ve helped me to cultivate, I am now more capable than ever of advocating for changes in my school, community, classroom, or wherever,” said Nicholas. “The Speech and Debate class run by Mr. Moore taught me how to properly write a speech, and my writing ability has been massively improved by SVUDL, and further honed by trials of the keyboard. My speaking ability was also entirely developed there as well,” said Nicholas.
SVUDL changed his perspective on life by convincing him to place more value upon himself. His time in the league revealed to him that he can indeed make an impact. “I lead my club; I’m on the Student Leadership Council; and I make speeches. Without SVUDL, I would not have found such self worth and I would instead still be within the mindset of negative perspective,” said Nicholas.
SVUDL has also impacted his goals for the future, entirely cementing his desire to pursue a career in law. “I had been considering such a career for years, often telling people it was what I wanted to do; however, there were times when that desire faltered and I found myself wondering if it was right for me. SVUDL has changed that. The league has shown me what I can really do, and now I know beyond a shadow of doubt that I am a speaker and that the California State Bar is where I belong,” said Nicholas.
The most impactful part of his experience with SVUDL was getting to meet and compete with unbelievably talented people. Nicholas cannot fully express the joy and exhilaration that he had over the course of various tournaments in which he has participated. “I will never forget these people, and they undoubtedly were what drove me to be a better speaker,” he said. “I am surprised by how much the SVUDL journey has been in every possible sense of the word. Tournaments have countless participants and spectators, and there are various events, as well as many awards to compete for – during my first year, I was utterly astonished by it all.”
SVUDL has made Nicholas a more joyous, open, and outgoing person.
“Before joining the league, I was quiet beyond belief, as I thought I had nothing worth saying or that no one would listen even if I did. SVUDL made it abundantly clear to me that I was wrong. I’ve found countless people who do indeed wish for my input, to hear what I have to say - and that has truly changed me. I now seek discussions of all sorts in life, and I am always an active participant,” he reflected.
The 2022 John Lewis SVUDL Invitational is Nicholas’s favorite memory of his time with SVUDL. “It was a harrowing and exhilarating experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I made it to the semifinals and ended up receiving a medal on stage for my efforts. It was a weekend that I shall always remember fondly for my effort, skill, and resilience in the face of solitude and masterful opponents,” he recalled.
Nicholas has found SVUDL to be an important part of his college application process. “My activities and awards with the league, time on the Student Leadership Council, and extracurricular activities helped to round out my application. I also appreciate that multiple individuals within SVUDL have offered to either write letters of recommendation or to look over my essays,” he said.
When Nicholas does pack his bags for college next year, he knows that the Speech and Debate skills he’s learned through SVUDL will be with him for his entire college experience. “Having such capabilities allows me to truly advocate for myself, which I gather will also be of exceeding importance in college. These skills already come in handy constantly in high school, so I can only imagine how useful and perhaps even necessary they will be in the coming years,” he said.
He recognizes the new opportunities that he has access to through the organization. “I’ve judged a round of team-based debate, and acted as a mentor to other up and coming speakers and debaters. I’ve had the chance to meet new people and to help them. What opportunities could be better than those?” reflected Nicholas.
He underscores how a diversity of voices builds a more equitable and brighter world. He feels that this diversity is undeniably critical to a more equitable and brighter world, as without a multitude of opinions, backgrounds, and experiences being represented in the discussions at large, the world cannot improve. He emphasizes that the differences that can be found in the lives of all sorts of people cannot be understated, and input from all is necessary for the continued advancement of humanity.
“Decisions cannot be made by a select few who are all alike, for that would be entirely unfair to countless others. Instead, each and every single one of us must contribute our voices to diversify the discussion and to make universally beneficial decisions for the betterment of the world,” he urged.
