Lessons from Co-Teaching Advocacy & Leadership

Co-teaching Advocacy and Leadership Through Speaking was an eye-opening experience. It marked the first new bootcamp offered by the Future Speakers Initiative since the summer. We were bringing with it a fresh curriculum, new activities, and, for me, a completely new challenge. I had no idea what to expect. Sure, I had taught Public Speaking and Presentation and Introduction to Debate before, even helping to design parts of those curriculums. And yes, I had learned the fundamentals of debate from being on my high school’s speech and debate team. But this fall, I was stepping into uncharted territory.

In our first session in mid-September, students brainstormed a wide range of issues (personal, community-based, national, and global) and shared their solutions on a collaborative Padlet board. That activity changed how I viewed public speaking. I began to see it not just as a skill to be taught, but as a tool for empowerment. I could be helping students discover and strengthen the most powerful instrument they have: their voice.

The entire bootcamp centered around identifying problems in the world around us and articulating solutions with authenticity and emotion. We explored concepts like The Golden Circle, Kairos, The Power of Framing, and The Power of Storytelling. Each week built upon the last, guiding students toward a culminating Model UN simulation where they represented countries, presented national issues, and negotiated alliances to craft shared solutions. Watching them transform into thoughtful advocates was incredibly rewarding.

I genuinely loved working with these students and witnessing their growth in confidence and communication over six weeks. When I had to miss the fourth session for college tours, I truly felt the absence of their energy and enthusiasm.

Advocacy and Leadership Through Speaking illuminated a new dimension of my journey with FSI. Though it was our newest bootcamp, it left one of the deepest impacts on both my teaching and personal development. I learned the real weight of my voice and how to use it to make a difference. If someone asked me, “Would you teach this course again?” my answer would be simple: “In a heartbeat.”