Whether it be a tale of a first kiss gone horribly awry or a story about the brotherhood a student found in the Belmont Hill JV hockey team, this year’s Woodbury Public Speaking contest certainly did not fail to disappoint. This year’s speakers, Brady Paquette ’25, Will Achtmeyer ’26, Alex Tosi ’25, Thomas Sheehan ’25, Jordan Summers ’25, and Maksim Roman ’25 all did a fantastic job and provided the Belmont Hill community with speeches that will be remembered for years to come.
The proceedings began with Brady’s heartfelt speech about the bond he found within his Chinese class. As a first and second former floundering in Spanish, he turned to Chinese with Mr. Shen, and formed a bond with his classmates that turned language from a chore into a class that he looked forward to every day. Brady stressed the importance of brotherhood, and finding joy in our work, a lesson that surely resonates with many in the Belmont Hill community.
After Brady’s speech, which I, as a member of said class, particularly enjoyed, Will Achtmeyer spoke about the importance of letting things go and showing gratitude. His vivid description of receiving a scolding from his mother after showing disrespect after a simple question – and his mother’s ability to put that aside to wave to a total stranger on the street – hopefully, touched some of the first and second-formers in attendance. Will emphasized the effect that empathy has on others and encouraged Belmont Hill to show it at every opportunity.
Following Will’s speech, Alex Tosi described his disastrous attempt at a first kiss. Humorously taking us through his planning, the act itself, and his awful quip after the fact, Alex had the entire chapel laughing with heads in hands over some of his 13-year-old self’s poor decisions. In the words of the man himself: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” a message Belmont Hill students can certainly take to heart with exams around the corner.
Next, Thomas Sheehan shed light on his journey from aspiring hockey star to almost joining Coach Markham’s strength and conditioning program, before eventually sticking with hockey. Thomas described rediscovering his love of hockey with the small Belmont Hill JV Hockey team, where he made a number of friends and scored four goals. Thomas’ story highlighted the importance of sports at Belmont Hill and the value they can bring even if a student does not star for varsity.
Jordan Summers’ speech was next, and he discussed the intense games of “HORSE” he played with his father. Jordan vividly described how he and his father would not just horse around, but rather use the game to practice real shots and improve. His message about pursuing your goals with conviction was one that resonated with the Belmont Hill community.
Lastly, Maksim Roman talked about his harrowing experience of being hospitalized after being hit by a discus. Max talked about how right after he was hit – where he was at his lowest point – the care the community showed for him was never greater. Whether it be Mr. Zellner sprinting – as Max said – for the first time in 15 years or Mr. Chin immediately coming to assist him, Max’s story reminded us that the Belmont Community will always be there for us no matter what.
The field this year was particularly strong, with some teachers calling it the best in their decades of experience. Students agreed and generally raved about the quality of the speeches. After intense deliberation, the judges selected Alex Tosi as the victor. The Panel would like to congratulate each of the contestants for their efforts, and looks forward to the next installment this fall!