Meet Grand Finalist, Ethan Bousoula

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 Ethan Bousoula! 

Their speech ‘It Doesn’t Get Better’ earned them and their school, Enfield Grammar School, first place in their Enfield Regional Final. Ethan teaches us we should value ourselves as we are, and not change for anyone else.  

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

A private jet, a pilot and a private jet tank worth of fuel – I could fly out of the desert island and I’d be 50 million pounds richer once I get home.

What is your favourite saying or quote and why?

”Only you know where you’ve come from and how far you’re gonna go.” It changed the way that I saw myself and my successes. It taught me that I shouldn’t limit myself based on other peoples beliefs of my capability.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be and why?  

I would eat sushi – I feel like there’s so much variety in the combinations and styles that I’d never get bored. Also you can make it healthy.

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

Don’t let anybody tell you what you can and can’t do, Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, Stay kind and humble.

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

I spoke about my coming out in school story because it’s something that has had a great impact on my life and I knew I could translate the passion and emotion of this experience into a speech. However, my main message relates to everyone, not just queer individuals. Self image and self expectance is something that everyone can relate to and I hope that sharing my personal experience with this can help someone who might be where I was.

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

I want people to realise that waiting on people to change and giving people control of your own self worth and happiness is the biggest mistake you could make. Its not worth any of your time every feeling inadequate because somebody else can’t appreciate and accept you. Growing as a person is important, learning from your mistakes is important but being someone you aren’t for others approval is a mistake.

Watch Ethan‘s winning speech: