Kyra Mitchell is a recent graduate of Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan. She will attend Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in the fall, where she plans to double major in Accounting and Marketing. Kyra was introduced to ACT-SO by the local Saginaw ACT-SO branch chairperson who contacted her encouraging her to compete. After further research, she became quite interested in the program and decided to join. Kyra competed at the 2017 local Saginaw ACT-SO branch competition in two categories: Playwriting and Oratory. She received a gold medal for her play titled, Fighting for a Change, and another gold medal for her oratorical piece titled, Be the Best You. Due to her accomplishments at the local competition, Kyra has advanced to compete at the national competition in Baltimore, Maryland this upcoming July!
ACT-SO History
Kyra competed in the Original Essay category of the 2016 local Saginaw ACT-SO branch competition and received a gold medal for her essay. She then traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio to compete at the national competition in the Original Essay category for her piece titled, Stereotyped Generation. Although she did not receive a medal last year, she is grateful for the experience, and she is hoping for better results this year as she competes in her last national competition.
Three Words to Describe Feelings about National Competition
Excited, proud and sad. Kyra is excited to showcase her talents and be acknowledged for all the hard work that she has put into creating her pieces. She is also excited to see what critiques the judges have about her work. She feels proud because she has put so much of her time and energy into her craft and is happy to have been chosen to compete against students across the nation for the second year in a row. Lastly, Kyra feels sad because this will be her last year competing at the national ACT-SO competition. She wishes that she would have competed in the program for more than two years.
Nerves & Excitement
Kyra is a lot more excited about this year’s national competition because she is familiar with the program and knows what to expect. Last year, when she competed for the first time, she was very nervous and stayed within her comfort zone. This year, she is anxious to push herself beyond her limits and enjoy every moment of her last competition. Kyra is not particularly nervous about anything, rather she is looking forward to meeting new people and having new experiences that she will carry with her forever. She is looking forward to showcasing her own talents, while also observing those of all of the other students from across the country. Throughout this competition, Kyra hopes to gain valuable advice from the judges about how to improve her craft, so that she can continue to grow and develop her passion.
Motivation
“If you are interested in showcasing your talents, compete in ACT-SO. It is definitely an enriching experience with multiple benefits. You get to showcase your talent, improve on your talent, meet new people, and so much more. The only thing I regret about my ACT-SO experience was not starting earlier; I wish I competed more than two years. I highly recommend that anyone and everyone compete, even if they are only a little bit interested, because you learn so much, and this is such a unique experience.” – Kyra Mitchell
We wish you the best of luck, Kyra, in the 2017 national competition!
ACT-SO Victorious Stories 