Student:

Subject: English HL
Written Assignment- Speech by Melinda Sordino from the book ''Speak'' by Laurie Halse Anderson
Rationale:
''Speak'' by Laurie Halse Anderson is the novel which tells the story of a freshmen high school
student Melinda Sordino who was raped at the end-of-summer seniors' party and since then was
ostacized by her peers because she doesn't want to say why she called a police. Unable to verbalize
the event, Melinda nearly stops speaking allowing her art to express her emotions in Mr.Freeman's
class, gradually recovering from the event that changed her life ready to speak up.
I decided to write a speech about the rape given by Melinda at the school assembly once she opened
herself up to Mr. Freeman who encouraged her to finally speak up and share her story. The aim of
this speech is to inform the other students about the importance of seeking help and support in case
anyone encounters the same problem as Melinda and to raise the awareness about the rape in
general. The aim will be reached by Melinda sharing her own story, how she felt about herself and
how she managed to speak up with the usage of general statistics about rape and book quotes: ''I just
want to sleep. A coma would be nice. Or amnesia. Anything, just to get rid of this, these thoughts, whispers in my
mind. Did he rape my head, too? '' and ''You are a warrior. You are the phoenix and you will rise from the ashes.
I'm here.''

(236 words)
Hello everyone!
My name is Melinda Sordino and I'm a freshman here, in Merryweather High School. Most
of you know me as a quiet and weird girl, a social outcast who doesn't speak at all and tries to make
herself invisible in every possible occasion. You're all looking at me now and I can basically see the
questionmarks above your heads; ''Why did Mr. Freeman gathered all of us here?;What is she doing
on the stage?; Is she really able to talk?; etc.'' and I'm here to give you the answer to every single
question you might have now. I'm standing here today, in front of you, to talk about something that
changed my life from the roots, that turned me into the weirdo and made me wish to spend my life
silent and invisible. Yes, I was raped.
You all probably remember that cool senior party that happened this summer and you all probably
remember police breaking up the party because some ''stupid, selfish chick called the police for no
reason and then didn't know what to say. '' Yes, that was me and yes, I didn't know what to say and
how could I've known? How could you've known? Yes, I was raped. No one knew about it until two
weeks ago. Neither my parents and neither did I. ''That's ridiculous, how can you not know?!'', that's
the only question in your heads right now, isn't it? Well, I didn't. I didn't know. Or at least I didn't
wanted to accept the fact that I was raped. I felt out of world, a galaxy maybe. I didn't belong
anywhere. I was a slave of my own thoughts. I remember sitting in this small locker down the hall,
thinking: ''
I just want to sleep. A coma would be nice. Or amnesia. Anything, just to get rid of this, these thoughts,
whispers in my mind. Did he rape my head, too? '' , unable to speak, to fight my demons, to seek help,

to trust.
And everything shifted in one single day. Thanks to Mr. Freeman, I realized it's time for me to
speak up, to fight, to share my story with you, to save you. To save you?! Why would you need to
be saved? Because it can happen to you. Yes, it can happen to all of you. Rape is like a disease,
it results in physical, sexual and psychological harm, suffering and distress. It cuts across gender,
age and race. It goes beyond. More than 250,000 cases of rape or attempted rape were recorded by
police annually and God would know how many are not recorded because persons are afraid to
speak up. And that's the biggest mistake. How can you cure a disease if you don't seek medical
help? Same is with the rape. How can you be saved if you don't let anyone to save you? You have to
fight the need to handle it all yourself. You cannot find the demon alone. Speak! If you don't speak

who will?! Speak to your family, friends, teachers, anyone you trust. Save yourself! Say:'' Yes, I was
raped and I want you to know that. I want you to help me. I want to help you not to feel it on your
own skin yourself.''
Give your support. Show that you care. Raise awareness. Melinda can be you, your daughter, sister,
friend... Don't be ashamed to seek help and don't ever think of yourself as less valuable. You are a
warrior. You are the phoenix and you will rise from the ashes. I'm here.
Thank you.
(600 words)