Port Macquarie teenager Phoenix Nincsics prides himself on his school accolades, drama performance skills and humorous speeches.
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The Hastings Secondary College year 12 student is running against five other students in the region for the Tacking Point Lions Club Youth of the Year Quest 2019. The other finalists in the Hastings are Kingslee Marks, Brodie Knott, Cameron Lloyd, Liam Halmi and Phoebe Germanos.
Students aged 16 to 19 compete in the public speaking competition in zone, regional, district, state and national rounds.
Mr Nincsics said he is hoping to win by drawing on his music, drama achievements and volunteer work with the elderly.
"I originally applied because this is a good way of building my own confidence and also assisting other people. It's helping prepare myself for the time after I graduate," he said.
"I think I first applied around mid-October. There was a written application which detailed my experiences with State Drama Camp, State Drama Ensemble and other achievements."
Since applying participants have faced impromptu questions from a panel of independent judges at the Port Macquarie Golf Club on November 17. Mr Nincsics also presented his prepared speech at the Golf Club.
"The interviews were a bit difficult because of the broader questions being asked," he said.
"The more I got into it, the easier it became. My speech took about two weeks to write and I actually changed it completely about two days before I told it.
"In a speech I like to use humour to capture everyones attention before delivering the serious message, so I wrote about the bushfires and how they bring us all together."
Entrants are judged on their public speaking ability, responses to impromptu questions, their delivery of a prepared speech and overall presentation.
They are also judged on their activities completed inside and outside school, academic achievements, general knowledge and mindfulness of current youth topics.
Participants will next take part in the Public Speaking Dinner round at Port City Bowling Club, 5.30pm on Wednesday, November 20.
"It's always a good opportunity to give it a go and it's great for improving your confidence in yourself," said Mr Nincsics.
"My advice is just to believe in yourself and know that you can do it if you believe you can. If people can believe they have the ability, then their speech is ten times better."
Each state winner and their school receives a prize of $1000, a $5000 prize is awarded to the national overall winner and the national public speaking winner receives $5000.
All national finalists also attend the Lions International Youth Camp in New Zealand.
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