HARLINGEN — Jaime Gomez’s affable nature suddenly fell away.
In its place appeared a personality composed of passionate anger, a cry for justice and the right to be loved. His character for prose interpretation in a national competition was on a quest for self acceptance. And in the midst of all this was a tenderness that touched many.
People are still talking about Jaime Gomez’s performance in early May, which won the top prize at the National Individual Event Tournament of Champions May 12 through 13 in Kansas City, Missouri. Jaime, 17, competed in the event with the Harlingen High School South Speech Drama and Debate team.
Several other team members also did well. Valerie Luevanos and James Gracia took fourth place in duet acting. John Duncan and Valerie Luevanos advanced to the quarterfinal round in duo interpretation. The tournament hosted more than 150 schools representing 26 states.
It’s a stiff competition and Harlingen South has tried for years to attain the top title. Jaime is the first Harlingen High School South student to ever win the national title at the event.
“The piece is basically about an individual who overcomes adversity, who overcomes trials and tribulations in life, that essentially leads that person to find self worth and self love, to find acceptance of themselves,” Jaime said.
He seemed adept at transforming himself at will from himself to another self, that self which spoke the minds and hearts of so many.
“I want to go, I want to see, I want to experience all the things I have only dreamed of,” he said in the voice of his character.
The performance was based on scenes from the book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
His facial expressions fluctuated with an evolved eloquence, broadened with aspirations of hope, twisted in moments of pleading and desperation, and radiated with boundless love. His character, with every nuance, extended a message of validation.
“When you walk out on stage and you hear the roar and the applause, that’s how I know I was born to be here,” he said in character.
Jaime’s instructor, Lee Ann Ince, said the judges and all others who watched his performance were close to tears.
“Many of the judges were moved by his performance because his performance also had a very strong message that I think is very timely as well,” Ince said. “I think the message in his piece is very universal, and it did speak to all of the judges at some level.”
Being the first Harlingen South student to bring home this national title is especially significant.
“I knew it was something he wanted and he was doing everything in his power to make it happen,” Ince said. “It was a very surreal moment because I know how badly he wanted it, and he also wanted it for the school. It was a great moment for not just myself and Jaime but for the entire team as well.”
