Grade 8 UpWord Speeches: A Graland Tradition of Self-Discovery and Growth

Using Graland's guiding principles, these students explore their personal paths, sharing stories of overcoming obstacles and the valuable insights they've gained along the way through UpWord speeches. These speeches provide students with an opportunity to share something they've accomplished, overcome, or discovered about themselves, connecting it to one of the school's guiding principles. The project has become a cherished tradition, fostering self-confidence, and a sense of community among the students.

Every month, each Grade 8 advisory group decides the order in which they will present their speeches. Each student gets their moment to stand in front of the entire grade and tell their story. Mr. Sean Keefe, a Grade 8 advisor, appreciates the project because it allows teachers and peers to see a new side of the students, providing a source of inspiration for everyone involved.

The UpWord speeches enable students to develop trust in themselves and their stories. By writing and sharing personal experiences, they learn to embrace their openness and recognize the growth that comes from it. Mr. Keefe explains, "the process of writing a personal story and sharing it helps them to trust being vulnerable, and through that vulnerability, there is always growth. They are proud to have shared, and it gives them a lift to overcome something that is scary."

Sophie Camidge, an eighth-grade student, shared her own experience with UpWord speeches. She stated, "I have social anxiety, so it's hard to go up there, but it helped me get through that and gave me self-confidence. I liked talking about my experience at Graland about learning bass guitar. It was fun being able to share my thoughts on something I'm proud of to the people in my life."

Through UpWord speeches, Graland students not only develop valuable public speaking skills but also gain a deeper understanding of themselves and deeper insights about their peers. This meaningful project serves as a testament to the power of sharing personal stories and the growth that can come from embracing vulnerability.