Because they qualified as individuals, Nguyen and Clegg attended the competition separately from their school’s full Mock Trial team. While at the event, they sat in with Centennial High School from Kern County, the team that ultimately placed fourth in the state. Both students expressed gratitude for the hospitality and insight they received from the Centennial team.
“It’s amazing how much insight you can gain from other people and other perspectives,” Clegg said. “Not only was the Centennial team gracious and enjoyable, they also taught me the importance of having multiple perspectives.” He noted that many teams had students double-cast, performing roles on both the prosecution and defense sides of the case. “By approaching the case from both sides, they were able to critically analyze, understand, and execute their material on a much deeper level.”
The journalism competition included a Friday evening workshop followed by the article-writing portion, which was due Saturday evening. But the weekend wasn’t all work. On Saturday night, students from across the state gathered for a dance celebrating the conclusion of the competition’s main rounds.
“It’s amusing to see how teams that were so competitive with each other during a mock trial round end up dancing together later that night,” Nguyen said. “I think it really highlights the true meaning of sportsmanship: being competitive enough to help each other grow but knowing how to stay respectful and not take things too seriously.”
The weekend concluded with the final trial round on Sunday morning, where Nguyen and Clegg joined other competitors in the audience to watch the state’s top teams compete.
“During the final round, you could tell that every student in that room was striving and pushing themselves for the win,” Clegg said. “Regardless of the outcome, each of those students has been shaped into a new person in pursuit of their goals. It’s taught me to go big and push for grand goals, because even if they aren’t achieved, the growth you gain along the way is worth it.”
For Nguyen, this marked his second year competing in the State Mock Trial journalism competition, making the experience even more meaningful.
“Having the opportunity to go to State Mock Trial for two years has validated my optimism in our generation,” Nguyen said. “Seeing so many students my age so dedicated to civic engagement brings me hope for the future of our country, our state, and our community. I’m glad I got to be a small part of this overall experience.”
Liberty High congratulates Keen Nguyen and Bobby Clegg for representing the school at the state level and for bringing back valuable insight and inspiration from one of California’s most competitive academic events.