Meet Grand Finalist, Ruby-Tuesday O’Brien

We are delighted to share that this has been the biggest year ever for Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge. Up to 30,000 students have been trained in over 500 schools across all of London and Essex.

Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge provides year 10 students in state schools across London and Essex with public speaking and communication training to increase their confidence, sense of agency and drive to make a difference in society.

During the academic year, over 500 schools have received a free one-day public speaking workshops for their students. The student’s confidence in speaking to an audience, without notes, is measured at the beginning and at the end of the day. During 2022-2023 76% of students have increased their confidence to stand up and talk to a group of people. At the end of the day, every school nominates one student to go on to a Regional or Digital Final, where they compete again other school finalists and their speeches are judged based on content delivery, structure and positive impact by a panel of esteemed judges. After going on to win the semi-finals, our 15 inspirational, articulate, and impressive speakers are now ready to present their speech to you!

We will celebrate the achievements of these awe-inspiring young people in the heart of London’s West End at Cambridge Theatre on Monday 10th July and crown the 2023 “Speak Out” Champion!

In no particular order, meet 2023 Grand Finalist Ruby-Tuesday O’Brien! 

Their speech ‘The Tumour Inside My Brain’ earned them and their school, Frederick Bremer School, first place in their Waltham Forest Regional Final. Ruby-Tuesday wants to educate and inspire others with her story.

We asked Ruby-Tuesday, what three items or people would you choose to take to a desert island and why? 

A fueled plane- to get back home! A pilot- to know how and where to go! And water, to keep me hydrated while getting home!

What is your favourite saying or quote and why?

‘Through difficult experiences,life sometimes becomes more meaningful’-Dalai Lama.This is a meaningful quote for me because after enduring the most horrific few years i’ve had to go through,i still am able to find the beauty in things all around me and want to experience new things whenever i can.

What three top tips on life would you give a Year Seven student? 

1) Be yourself! If you’re not yourself, people are getting to know someone that your not! 2) Have the most fun in the first years of secondary school (before you have a real need for revision!) 3) Be kind to others – you’re all in the same position!

You could have made a speech anything in the world. Why did you speak about this one subject? 

I chose to speak about this topic because i find that telling my own story, now looking back on it with compassion for the girl i once was,often helps others to understand and want to find out more about my disease- which is the best way of raising awareness.

If you could make one change in the world what would it be?

Make the wealthy poorer, and the poor wealthier! I believe people that have struggled with money, know where it could be best put to use (e.g youth clubs,ending poverty.)

Outside of delivering a speech, how do you think this experience could be helpful now or in the future?

This experience will help me with my ability to talk publicly,but will also help me talk openly about my illness and not be afraid to share in detail what i have gone through, which will also educate people- helping me make a change of finding a cure in the future.

And finally, how would you like people to think / act differently from hearing your story?

I would like people to look at my story with compassion and proudness,but most importantly, to see my story as an inspiration for themselves-if i am on a stage performing in front of loads of people, facing my fears, they can do that too!

Watch Ruby-Tuesday‘s winning speech: