By Chloe Mee
Public speaking is an important tradition at Collingwood School. Many students grow as public speakers during their time at Collingwood and public speaking may become one of their hobbies and talents. Gabrielle Bourgault, also known as Gabby to her friends and family, is one of these students. Ever since joining Wentworth in fourth grade, she has taken advantage of the public speaking program. Gabrielle says that her favourite year in public speaking so far “was in grade 4 when I did my first public speaking competition, and I did really well. It was my first time, and I think that the first is always the most exciting and fun because you have never done it before.” Her favourite part of delivering a speech is the very beginning of it. “Right before and during the first paragraph I am always freaking out. I am really scared and nervous, but after that I get into it. I start to get into my rhythm of speaking and can just enjoy and express myself.” She enjoys public speaking because she can express herself through this form; and she admits that her friends would say that she loves to talk.
Aside from public speaking, Gabrielle is a swimmer, a triathlete, a grade 9 piano player, a singer in the choir, and a guitar player. Swimming is a part of her life, and she enjoys triathlon because it incorporates three diverse sports: biking, running and swimming. She participates in cross-country so she can develop her running skills for the event. Apart from public speaking, music, and her sports, she is a part of Round Square. During school, Gabrielle enjoys science and math because she looks forward to solving challenges and problems. She says, “[they] expand my knowledge on how everything in the world works, which I am interested in.” Before attending Collingwood, Gabrielle was attending a French school in Ottawa. She moved schools frequently before settling in Collingwood, and had even gone to school in Europe. Gabrielle was not born in Vancouver, but in California. Her father was born in Ontario and her mother was born in Québec. As a result, her first language was French. In her family, Gabrielle’s little sister Emily shares the same public speaking talent. If her family or friends were to choose three adjectives to describe her, Gabrielle says that they would be “determined, outgoing and hard-working.”
Public speaking is an important tradition at Collingwood School. Many students grow as public speakers during their time at Collingwood and public speaking may become one of their hobbies and talents. Gabrielle Bourgault, also known as Gabby to her friends and family, is one of these students. Ever since joining Wentworth in fourth grade, she has taken advantage of the public speaking program. Gabrielle says that her favourite year in public speaking so far “was in grade 4 when I did my first public speaking competition, and I did really well. It was my first time, and I think that the first is always the most exciting and fun because you have never done it before.” Her favourite part of delivering a speech is the very beginning of it. “Right before and during the first paragraph I am always freaking out. I am really scared and nervous, but after that I get into it. I start to get into my rhythm of speaking and can just enjoy and express myself.” She enjoys public speaking because she can express herself through this form; and she admits that her friends would say that she loves to talk.
Aside from public speaking, Gabrielle is a swimmer, a triathlete, a grade 9 piano player, a singer in the choir, and a guitar player. Swimming is a part of her life, and she enjoys triathlon because it incorporates three diverse sports: biking, running and swimming. She participates in cross-country so she can develop her running skills for the event. Apart from public speaking, music, and her sports, she is a part of Round Square. During school, Gabrielle enjoys science and math because she looks forward to solving challenges and problems. She says, “[they] expand my knowledge on how everything in the world works, which I am interested in.” Before attending Collingwood, Gabrielle was attending a French school in Ottawa. She moved schools frequently before settling in Collingwood, and had even gone to school in Europe. Gabrielle was not born in Vancouver, but in California. Her father was born in Ontario and her mother was born in Québec. As a result, her first language was French. In her family, Gabrielle’s little sister Emily shares the same public speaking talent. If her family or friends were to choose three adjectives to describe her, Gabrielle says that they would be “determined, outgoing and hard-working.”
Gabrielle says that public speaking is “a way to portray your view on the world and perhaps what you think is going to happen. It is a way to spread our knowledge in a more interesting and persuading fashion as people love it.” As a person, it has helped her develop skills that she might not have discovered if she had not gotten into public speaking. Although she says that she has always been outgoing, public speaking has helped her grow and learn. Gabrielle believes that public speaking is equally as important as academics. “Art helps promote creativity and without this, nothing new would be learnt and we would not achieve anything better. Public speaking is so important as a way to directly impact people and create movements or a difference. In all, I believe that anything we do in life should have a purpose, not matter how small, for good.” Gabrielle finds Ted Talks inspirational because they inspire her to do something amazing. This shows that she is passionate about making a change for the better in the world. As a public speaker, she has grown from reciting poems to participating in international competitions. When asked what advice she had for budding speakers, Gabrielle said: “Practice. Once having written a speech or have whatever you are going to present, just practice. Practice makes perfect. Over time, giving speeches will become easier, and become more and more fun, as you can enjoy it more while being less stressed. Either way, you still need to practice, because it is the key to being successful.”
Gabrielle is still considering her options after graduating from Collingwood. At the moment, she is considering going into medicine. When I asked if she thinks public speaking will help her in the future, Gabrielle replies, “Definitely. I think it helps me be more fluid and confident when talking to people. It is helpful for interviews, but can also be good for things like resumes.” Recently, she participated in an international public speaking competition, in which she found success. Whatever Gabrielle chooses to do in the future, I wish her the best of luck with what she pursues!
