Full Circle

after extemp round 2
Originally uploaded by mincaye.

That's me and Ken Ming, after our second round of Extemporaneous Speaking.

Extemp, as it is known, is an event in which the contestant prepares a 5- to 7-minute speech on a current issue, posed in the form of a question requiring a 'yes' or 'no' answer.

For instance: "Is peace possible in Kashmir?"

Participants are given 30 minutes to prepare, using resources from magazines like Newsweek and Time, which are filed according to topic.


Anyway, it's been great so far for the V.I. All four Duet Acting teams got into the Semi-Finals this afternoon, as did all four Impromptu speakers and all four Extempers. We also had three Solo Actors, two Orators and an Oral Interpreter.

What I regret most is that I did not make it into finals for Oratory, even after extremely successful preliminary rounds. Somehow the Semi-Final judges did not understand my piece.

The subject was grace, and it represented the culmination of virtually all my most significant experiences over the last two years. Perhaps I will post it up here someday...


At any rate, we have six finalists, which is second only to the International School, Kuala Lumpur (our hosts):

Fang Hai, Jon Siao and me for Extemp;
Vivek & Chris and Moi & Gustave for Duet Acting;
and Gustave for Solo Acting

Here's hoping for the best ;-)


It's really come full circle for me. I began with Extemp in 2002, when I was in Form 3. And now, my very last competitive speech at the Forensics will be an Extemp one.

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
--T.S. Eliot

These words were from his last poem, 'Little Gidding.' There is so much wisdom in them, and as the years go by, I see this more and more clearly.

But more on my five-year Forensics adventure, and the difference it's made, in a later post.

Meanwhile, I've got a theatre to rock tomorrow. Martin Luther: "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. So help me God." By God's grace, I shall!