Meet Grand Finalist, Sabria Hoxha

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 Sabria Hoxha! 

Their speech ‘There Is Another Option’ earned them and their school, Southchurch High School, first place in their Southend & Rochford Regional Final. Sabria wants us to know there is always a choice and we always have options.  

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

1. Hair products, to tame the mane! 2. Toothbrush because your SMILE is really important. 3. Skincare because I cant be looking like a clown!

What is your favourite saying or quote and why?

“I’ve gotten tons of awards and I believe when it’s my time to get a Grammy, I’ll get a Grammy.” – Nicki Minaj. It’s my favourite quote because it helps me to strive to success.

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

Salad….. Fruit salad, Caesar salad, Chicken salad, basically all salad!

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

1. Don’t grow up, its a trap 2. Find your passion 3. Give respect to receive respect

How could this experience help you further any passions you have?

This experience has given me drive, determination, and a taste for success. I will be successful in whatever I do.

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

I feel this experience could be helpful in the future because it was a challenge for me to write the speech and be open to share my experiences. If I was able to do this now, I’m sure that only bigger and better things are to come.

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

I want people to know that there is a choice. Don’t feel that whatever is going on with your life right now determines your future, because it doesn’t. There are options, so just be brave, and push through because there are people who care and love you.

Watch Sabria‘s winning speech: