Hello Forensics community!
My name is Jeff M. Davis and I’m excited to join you all as the new coordinator of the National Junior Forensic League. Forensics has been a part of my life I can trace back through college and high school, but beginning in junior high. I can clearly remember a friend of mine inviting me to the speech club, but I was hesitant—why would I want to participate in the long-winded stuffiness that belonged only at graduations and the State of the Union Address? Forensics, I would quickly learn, offered much more than that.
From my first duo performance in junior high to my final after dinner speech in college, forensic competition was a wonderful, exciting part of my life. Weekends full of travel with well-dressed, well-spoken peers culminated in thrilling finals finishes, tears, and trophies. There is a lot of work that goes into forensics: long hours researching and practicing, and tedious tournament preparation. But there is also glamour to being a part of something so exciting and larger-than-life. After ten years in forensics, I wasn’t done. I wanted it back.
After my graduation from Ripon College with a degree in politics, I spent a year abroad in South Korea teaching English to 4-14 year olds. With a new respect for teachers, some nifty martial arts skills, and the knowledge that there is such a thing as TOO spicy food, I returned to my homeland. It was time to put my newfound appreciation of language to use.
When I learned the NFL was looking to expand its middle level programming with the National Junior Forensic League, I wanted in. Forensics was such an integral part of my adolescence that I wanted to make sure middle schoolers across the country had the same opportunity. I have found very few activities as good for the confidence and courage of a young man or woman as the ability to speak. This skill is of utmost importance because the students are not just learning a skill set for this particular activity- they’re learning the primary skill of human interaction throughout the world.
As a collegiate-level forensics coach and the NJFL coordinator, I want to thank you for being out there putting time and effort (and weekends) (and sometimes sanity) into the development of forensics as a nationwide program for making effective competitors, communicators, and people. It won’t be an easy job to expand NJFL opportunities everywhere, but it’s a job I do gladly. I’m grateful for the many of you who do the same. Here’s looking forward to a great future of the program.
Regards,
Jeff M. Davis
