Near the end of last semester, I noticed a title in the Daily Mammoth that said, “Apply for 2025 Speaking Competition: BELONGING.” The word “belonging” grabbed my attention. As a first-year international student, I had been constantly asking myself, “Why did I come to this cold, small city for my four years of college? Do I really belong?” These questions prompted me to write a genuine application.
However, I had never completed a public speaking contest before, so I did not know where to start. Thankfully, during the winter break, Susan Daniels, the Public Speaking Coach at Amherst’s Writing Center, provided virtual training sessions for speakers. Susan demonstrated Monroe’s motivation vividly using common advertisement strategies, which is an effective way of persuasion.
Having the structure in mind, I began to think of a topic that really speaks to me and possibly to others. There are many aspects of Amherst that I love, but also some that I don’t feel belong. So, I’ve been constantly thinking of somewhere else that might fulfill all of my “criteria” of belonging. But does this kind of place or group really exist? Probably not… So I landed on this idea: instead of seeking belonging, we should create belonging.
I still remember when I had a Zoom meeting with a professor last semester, he commented on the wall in my dorm, “Why is it so empty?” Thinking that I would only live in this room for a year and that I did not carry many items from my home, I did not think of decorating it at all. However, by writing the Belonging speech over the break, I realized I should make it look a bit more like home, like a place that I belong.
Hence, when I came back to school, I hung up some photos I took with family and friends and beautiful Chinese calligraphy my aunt wrote for me. So, whenever I looked up from my bed, I knew I had these people supporting me. Not only did I find belonging for myself, but I also tried to create belonging for others. As you might have read in my previous post, I invited friends from various countries to celebrate Chinese New Year. It was such a wonderful night to cook dishes from home, watch the Spring Festival gala, laugh at random jokes with friends, and sing some Chinese songs…
These experiences gave me more confidence in drafting and presenting my idea. During the month of practicing, Susan and I had a conversation on the importance of public speaking. She told me that many colleges do not have a public speaking program. With the increasingly powerful AI technology, written words can be generated within seconds, yet speaking can never be replaced. Hence, how to voice one’s thoughts, convince someone, or build bridges through words are vital skills to the next generation. In addition, we, as speakers, are not just sharing our understanding of belonging, but we are saying it for hundreds and thousands of people who share the same concern and would like to be encouraged and inspired.
On the day of the competition, everyone performed excellently. I learned a lot from them. I was so glad that my friends, professors, and staff who made me feel that I belonged were in the audience supporting me. It was also reassuring to see people nodding during my speech to express understanding and connection. Although I did not receive any awards, it was an inspirational experience to reflect on what makes me belong and how I can create such a belonging for myself and others.
Thank you again to Susan for guiding me on public speaking, to all the Writing Center staff who helped me refine my speech, and to all the people who came to support me. Can’t wait for next year’s theme!