WynSpeak

This year Brinbeal Secondary College participated in the WynSpeak Program. During this program, students were taught how to become public speakers and students from a variety of school districts including Tarneit, Werribee, Caroline Springs, Melton and Altona City. WynSpeak is run by a Strategic partnership between Rotary International and Toastmasters International, local Toastmaster clubs who assist with adjudication support and feedback to students. 

The program beings with students attending an information session at Brinbeal Secondary College and being introduced to public speaking, choosing a topic of their choice and creating a speech. Students are provided with advice and feedback on how they can develop their public speaking skills. Students then present their speeches and assessed. The two students who score the highest go on to the next round where they choose new speeches and present these against other students in the next round of Wyn Speak. The winners of round 2 go on to compete in the finals. 

I would like to congratulate all the students who participated in WynSpeak at Brinbeal Secondary College as they all made the decision quite difficult to make, with a variety of topics. Naina and Aryan were the successful candidates representing Brinbeal Secondary College and presented their Speeches at the Lutheran Good News College. They gave amazing speeches and came a long way in their public speaking. Congratulations Naina and Aryan on your successes. 

WynSpeak is something I’ll be looking forward to in the upcoming years It was an incredible experience where I could let out my thoughts, ideas and opinions. When I first heard about Wynspeak, I was excited but also terrified. Public speaking has always been one of those things that can make your heart race and your palms sweat  and trust me, I felt all of that. But I knew I had to do it, not just to share my thoughts and opinions but to challenge myself to overcome my fears.

Round one was a mix of excitement and nerves. Standing on that stage, I could feel the eyes on me, and my heart seemed to be doing its own little dance. But as I began to speak, I felt something incredible I was not just talking, I was connecting. I was sharing my worries and doubts, But The moment I started Talking, I felt like I was making a difference.

When I made it to Round 2, it was like the nerves came rushing back, but this time they were a little different. They weren’t just fear, they were also excitement too, And meeting my fellow participants helped. I got to know some amazing individuals who weren’t just my competitors but became friends, people with incredible stories, ideas, and dreams. We laughed, we shared, and we supported each other as each of us went up on stage.

Yes, I didn’t win. And while that would’ve been amazing, it doesn’t take away from what I gained. I walked away with a newfound confidence, an amazing experience, and connections that matter to me. WynSpeak was more than just a competition. It was a place where I learned to conquer my fears, speak my mind, and be part of a community of young voices.

So, to anyone who’s scared to speak up, let me tell you this  take that step because You never know how much you’ll grow or how many incredible people you’ll meet along the way.

Naina! 7B

My name is Aryan, and on the 6th of May, I had the opportunity to represent our school at the Wynspeak Inter-School Public Speaking Competition, alongside my fellow Year 7 student, Naina.

Wynspeak is an annual public speaking competition for secondary students in the Wyndham area. It encourages young people to develop their public speaking skills by giving them the chance to present both prepared and impromptu speeches in front of an audience. It’s a great platform for building confidence, improving communication, and sharing your voice on important topics.

The event was held at Good News Lutheran College and brought together students from schools like Emmanuel College, Good News, Wyndham Central, and others across Wyndham. The evening began with the prepared speeches, and I won’t lie—it was a bit nerve-wracking. The audience had around 35–40 people, including parents, students, and teachers from different schools, but when you’re standing up there alone, it feels like a lot more! I felt a mix of nervousness, excitement, pride, and a little self-doubt as I stepped up to speak. My speech was titled “Happiness Is a Choice.” We were all aiming for speeches that lasted four to five minutes, but with the anxious atmosphere, many of us—including me—wrapped up sooner than expected.After the prepared speeches, we had a short 15-minute break to calm our nerves. During this time, I felt relieved, reflective, and even a bit more confident knowing I had gotten through the hardest part. The break gave us a moment to breathe and gather our thoughts before moving on to the impromptu speeches, which brought a new layer of excitement and pressure. The impromptu section was especially intense—it had an added layer of mystery because once we received our topic, we only had four minutes to prepare. This was the part I had been dreading the most, but once I presented, it didn’t feel so bad.

Though we didn’t make it to the finals, both Naina and I gave our best, and the winners truly deserved to move on to the next level. I’m grateful for the support from my teachers and classmates, and I’ll definitely be trying out for Wynspeak again next year. It’s something I encourage everyone to try out.

Aryan 7H