HARLINGEN — He was just there to watch.
Maximiliano Cervantes, 17, had been in speech, drama and debate for only a couple of weeks. He was still barely learning the ropes. He’d need more time to hone his skills enough for competition.
Vanessa Alaniz, his speech, drama and debate teacher at Harlingen High School, thought it would be a good experience for him to join the rest of the team at the competition last Saturday. He was happy to go along.
“I was just there to observe original oratory,” he said slowly, his deep voice steady and measured.
“When I was done they said, ‘You’re going to compete in domestic extemporaneous speaking,’” he said, a mild trace of shock appearing in his eyes as he remembered the moment.
He had only 30 minutes to prepare his topic about presidential elections.
“It was the first time I’d ever competed and I got eighth,” he said.
