19th Place Winner, 2017 National Public Speaking Competition, Jacinda Tsen, River Valley High School

Summary

In this heartfelt speech, Jacinda reflects on the true meaning of love, moving beyond common perceptions of affection and romance. She shares powerful examples, illustrating that love is patience, kindness, bravery, and selflessness. From waiting for loved ones and supporting family members to helping strangers and facing personal fears, love is portrayed as a complex, courageous force that drives people to go beyond themselves. Jacinda concludes that love is what transforms ordinary actions into extraordinary virtues, making the world a better place.

Takeaways

• ❤️ Love is multifaceted: It's not just about sweet words or affectionate gestures, but a complex range of emotions and actions.
• 🌟 Love is patience: It involves waiting for loved ones, understanding their needs, and supporting them in their endeavors.
• 🤗 Love is kindness: Small acts of kindness, like offering a tissue or helping a neighbor, are expressions of love.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Love is support: It's about being there for family members, even when it's inconvenient or requires personal sacrifice.
• 🕰️ Love is waiting: It's the willingness to wait for the right moment or for someone to be ready, despite personal impatience.
• 👶 Love is nurturing: It includes caring for children and helping them grow and develop at their own pace.
• 👵 Love is assistance: Assisting the elderly and those in need is a demonstration of love and compassion.
• 🌧️ Love is bravery: It can involve doing things that scare you, like braving the rain or climbing a ladder, for the sake of others.
• 🍲 Love is care: It's shown through actions like cooking for a sick family member, ensuring their comfort and well-being.
• 🌟 Love is transformative: It has the power to make ordinary people do extraordinary things for the sake of others' happiness and health.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is the concept of love and its various forms, illustrating that love is not just about romantic gestures but encompasses patience, kindness, selflessness, and bravery.

How does the speaker's perception of love change over time?

The speaker initially thought love was about saying 'I love you,' hugs, and kisses. However, as they matured, they realized that love is more about actions such as patience, waiting, helping others, and making sacrifices.

What example does the speaker give to demonstrate love as patience?

The speaker describes waiting for a partner who is a surgeon, understanding that they may spend more time on their career than on the relationship, but still waiting for them to spend time together.

How does the speaker describe love as kindness?

The speaker describes kindness as offering a tissue to a crying woman on the bus, even though they have social anxiety and the tissue is the last one they have for the day.

What does the speaker say about love and selflessness?

The speaker mentions that love involves going out of your way to help others despite being naturally selfish, giving the example of supporting an elderly neighbor or grandmother.

How does the speaker depict love as bravery?

Love is depicted as bravery by showing courage in challenging situations, such as cycling through a storm to deliver a son's water bottle, cooking for a sick sibling despite a fear of fire, or climbing a tree to save a kitten.

What does the speaker say about love and small actions?

The speaker emphasizes that love is waiting for and valuing the small things that matter, like waiting for a child to start speaking despite pressure from others or asking a tired father about his day and making him tea.

What does the speaker believe love ultimately represents?

The speaker believes that love is complex, not just a simple or sweet gesture. It is the driving force for many virtues, making an ordinary person extraordinary through acts of patience, kindness, and bravery.

How does the speaker connect love with courage?

The speaker connects love with courage by sharing examples where love makes people do brave things, such as overcoming personal fears to help others, like saving a kitten or preparing food for a sick family member.

What is the speaker's final message about love?

The speaker's final message is that love is not just about words or grand gestures but is a powerful, complex force that motivates people to act in extraordinary ways to bring happiness or well-being to others.