Meet Grand Finalist, Sophia McCart

We are delighted to share that this has been the biggest year ever for Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge. Up to 35,000 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 2023-2024, 74% 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 8th July and crown the 2024 Speak Out Champion!

In no particular order, meet 2024 Grand Finalist Sophia McCart! 

Their speech ‘Take care of today’ earned them and their school, Wallington High School for Girls, first place in their Sutton Regional Final. 

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

My dog: for some company.

Scuba diving kit: I’ve always wanted to scuba dive and I figured now would be the best time also I could possibly find food or travel far enough to get help.

And an unlimited supply of ice cold drinks: so my dog and I can enjoy them on the beach together.

What is your favourite saying or quote?

“Slow down you’re doing fine, you can’t be everything you want to be before your time”- Billy Joel

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

Sushi – Because there are so many different variations.

What three tips would you give to a Year 7 student? 

My number 1 tip would be: LEARN YOUR FRENCH VOCAB FROM DAY ONE! Also, find friends you genuinely enjoy spending time with, I’m still best friends with the girl I met in the lunch queue on the first day after saying I liked her earrings, and take every opportunity, you never know what will happen… until you try!

How would you like people to think/act differently from hearing your story?

I would like people to think about what THEY truly enjoy doing, and to try not to sacrifice their personal dream by doing something they don’t find fulfilment in, just to please others or their past selves. I would like people to not live in the future but do what’s best for themselves RIGHT NOW because that is what we can be certain on and is the only thing we can control.

Best of luck Sophia and see you at the Grand Final on July 8th!