Preparing

 Our 8th graders are preparing for their biggest project of the year.  

The presidential debates.

Each student selects a president and has to prepare a speech about why that particular president should be remembered as “the best”.  

They then face off against another student and the winners continue through the competition of each round until the final debates are held in the auditorium with guests from the community leaders as judges. 

While many people get butterflies or full-on nausea at the very thought of speaking in public, this generation definitely feels more confident behind a keyboard. 

So I spend lots of time encouraging and helping students prepare since we have a goal of 100% participation.

So how do I help them prepare?

I read through their speech out loud to help them

hear gramatical  errors and the correct pronunciation of words.

They read it many times until their pronunciation and flow is smooth.

They practice reading in front of peers. 

They practice projecting their voice. 

Their goal is not to win, but to at least have enough information to answer questions and “not look dumb“.

I ask them questions that they might be asked.

These are life skills. 

And last year their English teachers sent me multiple pictures of kids who had said they would never participate, no matter what, standing up and using their voice. 

Why were they able to do this hard thing?

They had prepared.

And not just halfheartedly. 

They had put in the work and done everything they could to prepare. 

So they were able to conquer that fear. 

In Come Follow Me this week we are prompted “As you study section 38⁠, notice how the Lord prepares His Saints so they can face the future with courage. How does He want you to prepare for challenges so that you don’t need to be afraid?”

What are the things he is asking us to do so that we can be prepared for the future? 

We are counseled to avoid debt and to have a food storage, so we can face difficult economic times without fear for basic survival. 

We are taught to face small things with faith so when the big things come, we are ready to handle it and know where to turn.

Daily repentance helps us know that we can turn to the Savior when things are difficult and we are imperfect .

When we daily practice seeing the Lord’s hand in our lives, we can be assured that He is always there.

And when we listen to the Holy Ghost regularly, we can have confidence in his guidance as we navigate difficulties.

As it says in D&C 38:30 “ if ye are prepared, you shall not fear.”