Hard work, confidence, and community support fuel memorable national appearance.
For most high school students, summer means a break from classes and a chance to relax before the next school year begins. For Durant High School student Adalee Szczech, however, this summer brought an extraordinary opportunity: the chance to stand on a national stage and share her story with more than 2,000 people.
Szczech, who will enter her junior year at Durant High School this fall, was selected as a national student speaker for the Tampa AVID Summer Institute, one of the organization’s largest professional learning events. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college and career readiness program designed to help students develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed both in school and beyond.
For Szczech, who has been part of the AVID program for nearly six years and is also a varsity cheerleader at Durant, the honor represented months of hard work and preparation.
While the audience saw a polished presentation on stage, few knew how much effort had gone into preparing for that moment. In the weeks leading up to the event, Szczech participated in five speech coaching sessions, carefully refining her message and practicing her delivery. She also spent two full days on-site rehearsing before stepping into the spotlight.
“There was a lot of preparation behind the scenes,” Szczech said. “Every coaching session helped me become more confident and helped me realize how important my story could be to others.”
As the event approached, the preparation extended beyond the speech itself. Like many students preparing for a major milestone, Szczech wanted to look and feel her best. She spent time searching for the perfect dress and accessories to wear on stage, wanting the moment to reflect both her personality and the significance of the occasion.
When the day finally arrived, excitement quickly mixed with nerves as she looked out at a crowd of more than 2,000 educators, administrators, and students from across the country. Among them were some familiar faces; close friends and teachers had come specifically to support her.
Through the opportunity, Szczech was provided with a hotel stay, lunch, and parking passes for her guests, making it possible for members of her support system to be present for one of the biggest moments of her academic career. “I was fortunate enough to have some of my close friends and teachers attend the session which meant the world to me to have such an amazing and supportive group.”
As she spoke, Szczech reflected on the impact AVID has had on her life and the opportunities it has created. More importantly, she hoped her words would encourage others to recognize their own potential. Although being selected as a national speaker was a personal achievement, Szczech said the experience was never just about her. Her goal was to connect with the audience and inspire someone else to take a step forward in their own journey.
“What my hope overall is that I at least inspired one person in the crowd of over 2,000 people,” she said. “Because all it takes is one person to make a change and create a ripple effect to others to hopefully lead and live through AVID.”
Looking back, Szczech describes the experience as both humbling and life-changing. The opportunity gave her a chance to share her voice, celebrate the impact of AVID, and represent Durant High School on a national stage.
As she prepares for her junior year, she carries with her the lessons learned from the experience: confidence, perseverance, and the belief that every story has the power to inspire. For one Durant High student, a summer speech became much more than a presentation. It became a chance to show thousands of people that leadership begins with a single voice, and that one voice can inspire many more.
