At Jackson Academy, you are surrounded by a community of supporters— all dedicated to helping you identify your greatest talents, develop your particular gifts, and live with a strong sense of faith and purpose. A natural self-starter, this is just what Natalie Ford needed to help her develop a mastery of speech and debate skills. She became the most decorated member of the Jackson Academy speech and debate team. Among her many accolades, Natalie earned the honor of competing at the 2017 National Catholic Forensic League tournament, as well as a Degree of Distinction from the National Speech and Debate Association.
In addition to her speech and debate skills, Natalie also began writing a blog. Here is a recent Q & A with her about the blog.
What motivated you to start your blog?
I’m not sure…I wanted to have a place to share my thoughts and ideas with the world.
What steps did you take to get it started?
First, I did lots of research on various bloggers and blogging platforms. Then, I came up with a name and topic area. Next, I chose WordPress as my platform for blogging and built my website. Finally, I published a few blog posts.
What have you learned doing the blog?
It’s not as easy as it looks. Writing and creating fresh content is fun but, it can be time-consuming and you must have your target audience in mind.
What is your career ambition?
I want to be a fashion designer.
What things do you like to do at JA?
Speech and Debate is my favorite activity but I am also a member of the Varsity Volleyball team and the Cooking Club.
How long have you been a student at JA?
I have been a JA student for 5 years, I came in Pre-K through second grade and then returned for my Junior and Senior year.
