Inkstain’s Writing Universe Camp Thread

Public Speaking Should Be A Part Of The School Curriculum

On the prompt: Speaking publicly on a specific topic requires a number of skills. Students should be able to deliver a speech of at least 3 to 5 minutes in length in front of a class. This should be a compulsory part of the curriculum for every student from Year 3 until high school graduation.

Seventy seven percent of the general population fears public speaking — but if this was taught as a compulsory unit of school curriculum, this fear would be far less common. Public speaking needs to be taught in schools from Years 3-12 for many reasons.

To begin with, adding public speaking as a subject at school will help develop life skills from a young age. This is absolutely necessary; at one point in their lives, students will need to perform a speech, and inserting training and practice into the curriculum from primary school will not only make sure that we will never sit through a monotonous speech again, but also will form a strong basis of support for further learning in future years.

Additionally, public speaking encourages strong self-confidence and leadership skills. Public speaking isn’t just standing up in front of a crowd and droning on for a few minutes - it’s about sharing something you’re passionate about and expressing your opinion. These teach confidence in children as they stand up to perform a well-rehearsed speech or smile while a crowd applauds them. They learn to stand up for their beliefs and become more certain in their ability to represent others.

Furthermore, students will learn to try new things, and, if they need to, will be given the chance to overcome their fear of public speaking. With eight years to hone their skills and attempt completely new ideas, students will become more open-minded and less afraid. This leaves more room for growth and development. Repetition of their skills will also increase familiarity, slowly pushing away that dread so many of us feel in the situation of being forced to speak in front of a crowd.

The advantages of adding public speaking to the curriculum are overwhelming. Not only is it an important skill, but it also boosts confidence and leadership while allowing personal growth, overcoming fears and encouraging open-mindedness. Public speaking needs to be added to the curriculum for all students’ benefits, for a successful future generation.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3647380/#abstract1

(344 words)

Forever

On the prompt: It’s hard to turn the page when you know someone won’t be in the next chapter, but the story must go on. (Thomas Wilder)

Fear and hope are warring within me, threatening to burst out of my chest. My breath catches as the doctor shuts the door gently, sorrow lacing her features. I know what she’s about to say, and I tear my gaze from hers, desperately hoping it isn’t true.

“I’m sorry,” pity and empathy cloud her eyes. “We couldn’t save her,” the final statement tumbles from her mouth. The words have barely registered before I’m tearing down a random hallway.

I need to be alone.

Now I’m trapped in a whirlpool, my own spiralling thoughts tugging me under. It’s not real, I tell myself, but I know it’s a lie. Despite my earlier escapade from being around others, I now yearn desperately for the warmth of an arm around my shoulders or a few kind words. I lift the silver, heart-shaped pendant on my necklace to my face, and its blurry outline focuses: ‘Best friends forever’.

Forever.

Forever meant to eternity. Forever meant shared secrets and promises. Most importantly, forever meant she didn’t leave me alone in this harsh world.

Footsteps sound behind me against the hard floor of the hospital. My hands clench into tight fists, nails digging into my palms. She promised.

Aren’t promises supposed to be forever too?

“Leave me alone,” the words slip, uncontrolled, from my mouth. I want the world to slow, stop, even, and allow me to fall apart, because I am unable to move on, because without her, I mean nothing.

I am nothing.

She was the only person who ever cared.

This terrifying numbness to all I used to love is a monster that has swallowed me whole, consumed my very being.

But a tiny voice inside me, almost identical to hers, whispers for me to move on, to see, breathe, live this world she’d never be able to. For me to live for us both.

I have never disappointed her before, and I will not start now.

(325 words)

Daily - (2/10/2026)

On the prompt: Today, let's do a fun activity- accountability! Before you run away, though, I'm not asking you to sleep more (of course, you should, but that's a different story). Post three goals you have for this WUC session and post them in the main cabin! Then, pick someone else's comment and write an encouraging letter to them. Make sure your letter is a minimum of 400 words for 600 points!

Letter to @queenofsneaks

Weeelllll hello there to you too!

(In case you’d forgotten where that came from, it’s the bottom of your What I’m Working On)

It’s Soda, or, well, Inkstain now, but that doesn’t matter! I’m here to motivate you *evil laughter*… and hopefully I will! At least, I’ll try my best, and then you can motivate me back *more evil laughter*

Let me just go grab that to-do list— ahem, I meant, very official checklist that I wrote for this very official occasion.

“Outline or plan details for a retelling of a story my ballet teacher told,”
This one sounds actually really fun! I’d love it if you could share it with me once you’re done (and yes, that is a when you’re done, not if you ever get started! Because it sounds way too good to just fade away in that brain!) I’ve done ballet once before at this little tiny place where I was in a class with two girls who were both younger and more flexible than me (;- and I stayed for about a year before leaving. I had one concert in a larger hall at one point where I’m pretty sure we followed the teacher in our little bunny outfits and walked a circle and then offstage, but it definitely is something I did not excel at, heh. Retellings are peak though, good luck!

Alright, what’s next on my list…

“OC-tober stuff,”
Writing about this will probably also remind me to do it myself since I am 2 days behind but it’s alright, I’m sure that I’ll find motivation… one day… *stares bleakly into the visible future in which I doomscroll while lazing around on a couch and probably eating mangoes*. See, this is why I need this daily, so someone can actually motivate me… maybe the mangoes will help? Anyway, not really sure what to write for this one but a very good luck to her royal majesty of awesome art (do not let anyone else tell you otherwise, it is most definitely very peak, *plays intense classical music*, if anyone says it’s not, feel free to call me and I’ll go give them a bashing) and fingers-crossed looking at it will be a better motivation-giver than eating mangoes.

And then, we’ve got,

“Get in the mood to write/draw again,”
Yes, this one is so relatable! Luckily I’m currently in the mood to write, otherwise you wouldn’t be pelted with horrible jokes right now… but maybe the motivation part is helping, so I guess I’m not completely useless, I can be used as a comic relief! That’s a… relief… (ba dum tshh) Sorry, yes, like I said, horrible jokes. But drawing ehh the last time I was in a mood to draw was during school when I couldn’t draw, and now that I do have time, I have absolutely no motivation to do so… sometimes you just have to sit down, look up Alexandria and listen to her music until you get an idea (I swear, the lyrics are so good for plots and stories).

Sorry that this was a few more bad jokes than it was motivation, but hopefully, those helped too! Good luck in both WUC and SWC (if you join, of course)!

*waves goodbye with an ominous smile on face*

(549 words)