OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy Page A

called ‘original.’ So think about the issues facing you at school, at home, and in your clubs—and choose something that strikes an emotional chord. Use the index card I’ve provided to write down something that’s affected your world. What was the last thing that made you angry? What scared you or excited you?” She nodded encouragingly. “If you’re wondering how this will translate into a broader speech topic, trust me. It will.”
    For a few minutes, it got completely quiet. So quiet, you couldn’t think, because all you could concentrate on was how quiet it was. Fortunately, I’d flashed on an idea in 0.1 second. A brilliant idea. I scribbled it down and read it over. I got tingles. Tingles were a good sign.
    â€œWho wants to go first?” Mrs. Lee asked a few minutes later. “Nancy?”
    Nancy nodded, her head bobbing up and down. She was like a hummingbird—always fluttering in high gear.
    â€œMy brother plays football at his high school,” she began. “Last year, his coach wanted him to take a special PE class. But the only way to make it work with his schedule was to give up honors English for regular English. And he did it.” Her hand flew up in disgust. “And my parents let him!”
    â€œOkay,” Mrs. Lee said as she wove her way through our desks. “What are the issues here?”
    â€œHow coaches pretend that education is important, but it’s all about winning,” Andrew said.
    Tammy raised her hand. “How sports are treated as more important than everything else at school.”
    â€œYeah,” Ethan added, popping his retainer in. “If you’re a good athlete, it doesn’t matter what grades you get.”
    â€œGood,” Mrs. Lee said, nodding. “There are important issues underlying what happened with Nancy’s brother. And because it has meaning for Nancy, she has a better chance of creating that same emotional response in her audience.” She looked around again. “Let’s do a few more. Ellie?”
    â€œThis happened a few months ago,” I began. “I needed a physical for school, so my mom took me to the pediatrician’s office.” I swiveled in my seat so I could look at everyone. “That’s my doctor—still. I’m practically an adult, and I got examined in a room with Mickey Mouse wallpaper. It was humiliating. So it makes me wonder: there are special doctors for infants and old people; why aren’t there special doctors for teens?”
    â€œInteresting,” Mrs. Lee commented. “Class, what are the issues?”
    â€œEqual rights for minors,” Sarah said.
    Andrew added, “They call us young adults and treat us like babies.”
    â€œHow our medical needs change through life,” Peter offered.
    Tammy’s hand shot up. “And how the medical world is falling behind.”
    â€œVery nice,” Mrs. Lee said. “I think you can take this in any number of directions, Ellie, depending on what captures your interest. It also has great potential for humor, which is definitely one of your strengths.” She smiled, then looked around again. “One more?”
    Hands went up around the room. Everyone’s hand, in fact, but Devon’s. Mrs. Lee must have noticed, too, because she walked over and perched on the edge of his desk.
    â€œDevon?” She looked pointedly at his index card. He shrugged, and she slid the card out from under his fingers. She flipped the card over—it was completely blank.
    â€œI don’t know,” he admitted. “Nothing hit me.”
    â€œWell, let’s see if the class can help,” she said. She folded her arms across her chest. “Tell us something you really like, Devon. Off the top of your head.”
    â€œFast food?”
    Everyone smiled, but Mrs. Lee seemed to take it seriously.
    â€œOkay. What can you tell us about fast food?”
    â€œI