Step 1: Who am I

What do you want someone to know about you?

Write down about 10 qualities, passions, or values that are fundamental to who you are.

A quality describes who you are: a deep-seated character trait.

A passion is what you love: an interest, a hobby, an activity, a cause, etc.

A value is what you believe: what guides your decisions and actions.

• Studious
• Outgoing
• Prideful
• Committed
• Affectionate
• Articulate
• Compassionate
• Friendly
• Professional
• Loyal

From this list of 10, pick 3-5 that are MOST important to you:

• Professional
• Committed
• Loyal
• Articulate
• Affectionate

Step 2: How did I get that way?

Step 3: What stories do I have to tell?

Freewrite #1 Quality: Committed

I walk into Mr. Brown’s room, or Coach Brown as he likes to call himself. It strikes me as odd that he prefers to be called a Coach even though he is clearly a teacher at this moment, but no matter what, I praise him for his adaptability. In the past, I’ve had many teachers like him, but he wasn’t like the others.

Class started as usual: Going over last night's homework. We start the worksheet with vertices.

“If we wanted to name line 1 using Points A, B, and C, what would it be called?” Coach Brown asks the class.

Silence. No one decides to respond. It’s been two weeks since the start of the school year, and we’re still all too shy to voice our answers.

“Anyone? Anything at all?” Coach Brown asks again.

I raise my hand, ignoring the stares that my classmates would no doubt give me. I was already drawing attention to myself being a freshman in a sophomore class, but it didn’t deter me.

“Yes, Gabriel?” Coach Brown asks me.

“Would it be Line ABC?” I say, hoping that my answer is right.

“That is correct, Gabriel,” Coach Brown says. His hand moves across the page, showing the process in which you could name the line the way the question asked us to.

I sat there in my seat, listening to my teacher, and taking in the class. Most

Freewrite #2 Quality: Articulate

 I logged into the meeting for my second round of the Lady Bird Johnson Speech and Debate Tournament. It was also freezing at the moment, with PEC telling us to lower our energy usage due to the snow storm on going.

 I could feel my palms sweating as the seconds passed, my mind racing. Was my practice enough? Would I have a good enough speech? What if my energy is cut out? All of this and more came to my mind, and yet, the judges were very calm.

 “I’m so sorry, Gabriel, but we’re going to need to talk to Tabulation about the judge's situation.” An extra judge said to me.

 I nodded, trying to be courteous. “I understand. Not much else I can do outside with all the snow, after all.” I was saying. The judges laughed across my screen, and I felt my face muscles form a smile. This was going better than I thought it would.

 The minutes passed by, and I felt myself get more calm and comfortable by the moment. The judges were feeling good, I was feeling good, and even when another competitor entered the meeting, I invited them to stay for my speech. It gave me a sense of joy, helping others be at ease with me.

 “Four days ago,

Freewrite #3 Quality: Articulate

“Ok, Gabriel, here are your five topics. Pick one, and I’ll start the timer.” An elderly woman said to me.

 I was in the middle of my second and final round of the Austin UIL Impromptu Speech tournament for Round Rock ISD, and I was deciding on my topic. I had made it through the first round with flying colors, so I wasn’t worried about that. I was more worried about what topics I would get.

 My eyes scanned the little paper slips, interpreting what they had to say. Something about the future? Too many places to get the judges lost. Something about nature? I’d prefer to be indoors, thank you very much. Violent video games. Now this was a topic.

 The moment my eyes finished passing over the sentence, I knew that this was the topic that I wished to speak about. I knew so many things about the topic, and with personal anecdotes, compliments from my parents, I knew I could speak a winning speech.

 My hand flew over my note card, jotting down all the information that I could remember about violent video games and what my parents had taught me about them as well. I had a good introduction, three solid main points, and a great conclusion, I felt confident.

 “Gabriel? It’s time for you to go back now.” The elderly woman said to me. She was acting as a monitor and timer while I prepared my speech. I stood up, and nodded, saying thank you in the process. I walked back to the room, going over what I would say in my head, trying not to panic over the situation.

 I entered the room again, seeing the judges, a panel of three teachers, and my competitors. Going first had its advantages.

“May I know your name and topic, please?” a judge said.

Step 4: What story do I want to tell?

Outline

My Message

What I want the reader to know about me

1-3 of my fundamental qualities, passions, or values:

• Public speaking
• Good planner
• Confident in execution and clear speech

My Medium

Aspect of selfhood I’m focusing on

This is the experience(s), identity(ies), or relationship(s) that are the main topic of your narrative. (At least one, but no more than three recommended or else you probably won’t be able to meaningfully integrate everything in one short essay.)

• Moment in which I did my second UIL speech in 6th grade, learning that I am a good public speaker.
  
  

Major moments in my narrative

These will be the “plot points” of your story. Think of your story as one hiking path through the woods of your life. You, the writer, are the guide who is leading the reader on the hike, showing them the way and getting them from point A to point B. What are the major signposts along that path? (Add or delete bullet points here -- there’s no “right” number!)

• Pre-Round 1, highlight feelings
• Snippet of Round 1 speech
• Learning I got first overall in Round 1, moving into Round 2
• Preparing Round 2 speech
• Round 2 speech, abbreviated
• Learning I won the tournament, feelings afterward