Once-shy Schaumburg teen now public speaking champion
A pivotal moment back in sixth grade at Schaumburg’s Collins Elementary School will always stand out to Athena Saldanha and her family.
“There was a parent-teacher conference, and my teacher said, ‘Athena knows all the answers, but she’s too afraid to raise her hand,’” Athena recalls. “I was shy, to say the least.”
No one could have ever imagined that, six years later, the Conant High School senior would be a state public speaking champion making her way — for a second time — to represent Illinois on a national stage.
Athena left Friday for the American Legion’s 75th High School Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, where she’s competing this weekend for the $18,000 grand-prize scholarship. She earned a spot the past two years by winning the state title.
Contestants deliver a 10-minute speech and also have four three- to five-minute speeches prepared, though only one is chosen to be delivered, on different aspects of the U.S. Constitution. In 2011, Athena fell just two points short of advancing to the second round.
The 18-year-old from Schaumburg hopes for a better showing this time. She has put in dozens of hours practicing in recent weeks, going over her five speeches twice each night for parents James and Rita Saldanha.
She first heard about the American Legion’s oratorical contest from an usher at St. Hubert Parish in Hoffman Estates, where Athena serves as a lector. She went to Peoria her sophomore year just to watch how it worked.
Chuck Linkenheld, past commander of American Legion Post 1983 in Schaumburg, planned to be in Indianapolis. He said it’s rare to find such a committed teen.
“We’re trying so hard to teach our children Americanism, but we have a difficult time recruiting these kids,” he said. “I can’t say enough about this young lady and what a breath of fresh air she is.”
James Saldanha, a native of India who moved his family to the U.S. from Dubai when Athena was an infant, said he and his wife were concerned after that parent-teacher conference.
“I feel in this modern world, you can know everything, but if you don’t get up and talk, and tell in a way that people will listen, your ideas will die,” said James, who describes his daughter as fiercely independent and hardworking.
So Athena’s parents did some research and found a local Optimist Club, part of an international association that works to empower kids through programs including public speaking.
“The first day I couldn’t even say my name in front of a crowd, I was so nervous,” Athena said. “It’s worn down over the years, but now that fear is like an adrenaline rush.”
Something soon clicked, and Athena grew to enjoy the challenge of writing speeches, expressing herself and perfecting techniques such as voice inflection, hand gestures and eye contact.
The greatest reward, she said, is having people share how moved they are by her words.
Athena currently serves as vice president of both Conant’s forensics team and National Honor Society. She’s also racked up state titles at the American Legion Essay Contest and Optimist Oratorical Competition, and placed first at the district level of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Contest.
Hoping to share her gift with others, Athena started the Break Out of Your Shell program at the Schaumburg District Library and volunteers as a public speaking workshop instructor for the North South Foundation, a nonprofit group that encourages academic excellence among Indian-American children.
“I try to share my view on things instead of spewing out facts,” Athena said. “I try to make my speeches as uplifting and powerful as possible so they resonate with people.”
Athena also jumps at just about every opportunity to learn something new.
When Ryan Higgins knocked on her door while campaigning for state representative in 2010, she signed up to make phone calls and walk precincts.
When her dad, a landlord, struck up a conversation with a real estate attorney at the courthouse, Athena helped arrange an internship at the Law Offices of Tancredi and Associates, where for the past two years she’s helped organize case files, research verdicts and occasionally tag along to court.
Her goal is now to become an attorney.
After attending either the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Illinois Business Honors Program or the University of Michigan, Athena hopes to become a prosecutor and then go into private practice. But ultimately, her dream is to one day be a traveling motivational speaker.
“I could have brushed off public speaking in the beginning when I didn’t win anything, but pursuing this odd path has led to greater things,” Athena said. “Working hard and facing my fears has paid off because I’ve found my passion.”
Ÿ Kimberly Pohl and Elena Ferrarin always are looking for Suburban Standouts to profile. If you know of someone whose story just wows you, please send a note including name, town, email and phone contacts for you and the nominee to standouts@dailyherald.com or call our Standouts hotline at (847) 608-2733.
Athena Saldanha
Age: 18
Hometown: Schaumburg
School: James B. Conant High School
Who inspires you? My parents and my grandfather
Whats on your iPod? The Wanted, One Direction, We Are Young by Fun., Stronger by Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West
What book are you reading? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The three words that best describe you? Easygoing, Compassionate, Dreamer