The Skill That Multiplies All Others: Public Speaking, Debate, and the Road to BPA & DECA

Ask employers, teachers, and coaches what skill they wish every young person had, and the same answer keeps coming back: the ability to communicate clearly under pressure. Public speaking isn’t just one skill among many — it’s the multiplier that makes every other skill visible. The student who builds a brilliant robot but can’t explain it will always be outshone by the one who can do both.

How We Build Confident Speakers

Nobody becomes a confident speaker by reading about it. Our approach is reps in a safe room: short, structured speaking exercises where every student gets up, gets feedback, and gets up again. Nerves are normal — we teach students to expect them, breathe through them, and speak anyway. The transformation between a student’s first attempt and their fifth is one of the most rewarding things our volunteers witness.

• Structured debates teach students to build an argument, listen closely, and respond to what was actually said — a thinking skill as much as a speaking one.
• Storytelling practice turns facts into messages people remember.
• Impromptu rounds build the composure to think on your feet — the skill interviews and life are made of.

The Competitive Path: BPA and DECA

For students ready to test themselves, we prepare competitors for Business Professionals of America (BPA) and DECA — national organizations where students compete in events spanning presentations, business scenarios, finance, marketing, and leadership. These competitions are a remarkable proving ground: students present to judges, solve realistic business problems, and build résumés and confidence that stand out for years. Our coaching connects directly to our entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs, so competitors arrive with both the speaking polish and the substance behind it.

A Note to the Parent of a Quiet Kid

Some of our strongest speakers started as the quietest students in the room. Quiet often means observant — and observant students, given tools and safe practice, frequently become the most compelling communicators. This program may be exactly the room your child needs.

Upcoming speaking and debate sessions are listed on our Events page. If you have experience in debate, business, or just speak for a living — our students would benefit enormously from you as a volunteer judge or coach.