This Tarneit teen has the gift of the gab.
Year 12 Al-Taqwa College student Shahani Munaff has battled through regional competitions and a semi-final to make it to the state final of the Plain English Speaking Awards, which she will contest today at Melbourne’s Treasury Theatre.
The public speaking competition, which is being run by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, calls on entrants to speak about an issue they’re passionate about.
Shahani will speak on the media’s negative depiction of mental illness, with a focus on Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why.
“That show, while it does sort of raise awareness of suicide, exposes suicide to more individuals, such as teenagers who are watching the show,” she said.
“What it fails to do is clearly underline the mental health issues behind suicide. More than 90 per cent of people who do commit suicide have a diagnosable mental illness, so if a show really wants to raise awareness about suicide, they should inform people about the underlying factors, rather than simply doing it for shock value and to gain ratings.”
The topic is particularly close to Shahani’s heart because she is keen to study psychology once she finishes high school.
The 18-year-old said she was feeling excited and nervous in the lead-up to today’s final.
“It [the competition] promotes self-confidence, and it also encourages conversations about important issues that really shape the future of our community,” she said.
The state winner will advance to the national final, where students contend for their chance to represent Australia at the international public speaking competition.
