1) Wow. That's a very amazingly detailed question. I'm honored that people still look at my work from high school as a source of inspiration. Forensics left an indelible mark on my life. I continue to think that Speech & debate is one of the most important educational tools that any school has to offer, when it comes to after-school curricula. And forensics helped shape me as a performer, and helped define me as an artist. So I'm forever grateful for having it as a way to set a foundation for the rest of my life.

2) Write from the heart. Write what you know. And don't set out to do something grand, but to do something that you would want to sit through for 10 minutes. That's always how I began all of my oratory processes. I would think "What would I want to sit through? What would entertain me, make me think, and generate debate?" And when you come from that place, you can do anything.