Standing front and center, posture straightened and speaking with confidence, Vivian Evans delivers a speech. She had been working on this speech for months. Now, on stage, she presents a piece of work that she has spent countless sleepless nights carefully crafting and preparing for. In the end, Evans wins her first state championship.

From learning public speaking to teaching it, Vivian Evans has dedicated over 10 years of her life to the subject. Being faced with bullying and humiliation in high school led to a search for a sense of validation; she found this in speech and debate. For her, speech and debate was more than an extracurricular; it was a form of self-expression and the start of a lifetime commitment.

“I first got into public speaking in high school when I joined the speech and debate team. I started out nervous like everyone else, but I quickly fell in love with the attention that public speaking brought me,” Evans said. “A little vain, I know…but it was validation for a young gay boy who craved to be heard instead of bullied. One standout moment [for me] was when I won my first state championship, not because of the trophy, but because I finally felt seen and understood through my words. I kept doing it all four years because it gave me purpose, community, and confidence I didn’t know I had.”

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Clark SNFL 2009 tournament first place original oratory award

During her commitment to speech and debate for her entire high school career, Evans realized the significance and relief public speaking brought to her. Upon graduation, she realized that this fundamental and significant skill was something she wanted to share to give individuals the comfort that it gives her.

“I decided to teach public speaking because it completely changed the course of my life, and I wanted to give that same gift to others,” Evans said. “Communication opened every door for me from leadership to entrepreneurship, and I realized that helping students find their own voice is one of the most meaningful things I could ever do. Watching a shy student deliver their first confident speech is pure magic.”

Mastering the art of speaking properly and confidently opened many doors for Evans. Dedicating a major part of her life to this skill has altered many social dynamics in her life. 

“Public speaking taught me resilience and emotional intelligence. It gave me the ability to express myself authentically in relationships, in business, and even in healing after personal challenges,” Evans said. “It has helped me lead our speech and debate, start my own speech writing business, and advocate for myself as a transgender woman, navigating major life transitions. It’s not just a skill, it’s a form of self-liberation.”

Due to the classroom environment she fosters, Evans’ students feel that their confidence in public speaking has increased greatly.

“Ms. Evans is beyond the word ‘fantastic,’” senior Ghiada Ferraer said. “I feel extremely comfortable being in her classroom, and I feel that my public speaking skills have improved a lot. I don’t like going out of my comfort zone, but I like that Ms. Evans encourages it, because she knows it can lead to the success she has from pursuing public speaking.”

Evans gives advice for those interested in pursuing public speaking or those trying to be confident with their speaking.

When it comes to teaching confident speaking, her emphasis isn’t on performance, but rather something else that holds more significance.

“One of my favorites is from Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,’” Evans said. “That’s what I try to teach. Speaking isn’t about performing, it’s about connecting. If your words touch even one person, you’ve done something extraordinary.”