Students from both schools benefited from sharing ideas, strategies, and perspectives, gaining insight that will help them approach the competition with greater depth and confidence. Coaches noted that the groups achieved the equivalent of an entire week’s worth of classroom learning in just one day.
The collaboration was especially meaningful with the presence of two We the People alumni serving as chaperones, along with the East High coach and former Liberty High coach, Eric Ball. Their experience added an important layer of mentorship as students dug into complex constitutional topics, sharpened their arguments, and honed their speaking skills.
After a morning filled with intensive practice and revisions, students capped off the day with a lively Bill of Rights themed Jeopardy game. The activity showcased just how much knowledge they have gained this semester and highlighted their growing readiness to be informed and engaged citizens.
Liberty student Emily Freeland reflected on the value of the experience, sharing, “I liked that we were given the opportunity to really sit down and work on our speeches for such a long, extended amount of time. Working with another class helped us to know their insight on the knowledge and also to inform them of what we know. The most important thing we accomplished was improving our speaking abilities. Prior to this, we only practiced speaking in our class, but this opportunity allowed us to speak to people we had never seen before and hear what they thought as well. This has made me feel more comfortable and confident in my own performance because before I was just gaining knowledge and going through the actions of studying, reading, and researching, but this allowed me to actually demonstrate to myself my knowledge and prove I know more than I thought I did.”
The Liberty We the People team will represent the school at the regional competition on December 6, where they hope to earn a bid to the state competition in Sacramento. The team consists of six groups, each responsible for preparing three four-minute speeches that demonstrate their understanding of constitutional principles and their application in modern society.
With strong preparation, collaborative learning, and growing confidence, Liberty’s students are well on their way to an excellent showing in this year’s competition.