At Homewood High School, students aren’t just learning—they’re speaking up. This month, several students participated in the USC “Speak Your Mind” Challenge, a national competition encouraging young voices to tackle real-world issues through public speaking.
The challenge, started by the University of South Carolina, began in March. The main purpose is to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
The trend is similar to the ALS Ice Bucket challenge that took place in 2014. People all around the country poured water over their heads and raised awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, specifically those controlling voluntary muscle movement. However, this time around, money isn’t being raised as it was with the ALS challenge.
Many HHS students have been active and participating in this challenge, causing a madness of nomination as students nominate their friends to partake in the challenge.
World history teacher Mallory Killam is heavily involved with suicidal awareness and the Out of Darkness Walk. She believes the idea of dumping water on your head to show awareness for these pressing issues is a fun way to participate.
She does point out, however, that some of the time students participate in the challenge and don’t know why they are doing it.
“Mental health and suicide awareness has been talked about a whole lot more in the past several years,” Killam said. “They shouldn’t just dump ice water on their head, but also really think about why they are doing it.”
Sophomore Duma McCollum is a big fan of the challenge. He likes the fact that it gets your voice out about serious issues.
“If you know someone who struggles with these problems. It can really help them feel seen and supported,” McCollum said.
Freshman Cameron Clifton was a recent nominee and supports the fun way to participate in the challenge.
“I love how it prevents suicide awareness,” Clifton said. “The whole setup of water being dumped on you is a fun way to spread awareness.”
While the challenge has been fun for most people, there has been some backlash.
Senior Harper Boland recently got nominated for the Ice Bucket challenge and while she was a fan of it, she wishes there was more time for the participants to speak their voice about suicide awareness.
“I wish they didn’t give people 24 hours,” Boland said. “It’s a short time frame for the person nominated to do the challenge.”
The “Speak Your Mind” Ice Bucket challenge has shown that students at Homewood High are willing to take a stand and make a difference. Whether it’s through powerful speeches or creative acts of awareness, they’re using their voices—and their actions—to inspire change.
