Seniors Elise Mihranian and Angela Myers have been inseparable since the day they met each other at freshman orientation. On Tuesday, March 4th at 7:30 pm in the Suzanne von Liebig Theater, these best friends will compete against one another in Juniata’s longest-standing tradition, the Bailey Oratorical. However, neither Elise nor Angela considers the Bailey Oratorical as being a competition between one another.
“Honestly, it’s just so nice to have my best friend going through the process with me. It’s been a long week, but we never get tired of listening to each other and revising our speeches together. I’m so proud of Ang, and I’m really excited to hold her hand as we wait for our names to be called at the Bailey to compete,” said Elise.
Elise (left) & Angela (right)
“I don’t really consider it competing. We are each other’s biggest fans. Making it to the finals already feels like winning to me. Whatever happens, we will hug each other at the end like we both came home with the trophy,” expressed Angela.
Elise has previously competed in the Bailey Oratorical during her sophomore year at Juniata. Without having taken any public speaking courses prior to competing, she wasn’t expecting much, but to her surprise, she had won the competition!
“It was so rewarding for me, and I can only hope that my best friend gets to experience the same amazing feeling and support that I did when I won,” said Elise.
Since Elise had already competed in the Bailey Oratorical before, she wasn’t planning on participating again; however, everything changed after one conversation with a wise professor.
“In a conversation with Sarah Worley I recall saying, ‘I know if I don’t do it, you and the communications professors are going to be really disappointed in me.’ Sarah gave me one look and said, ‘Elise, if you don’t do the Bailey, you’re only going to be really disappointed in yourself.’ I began writing my speech the next day,” expressed Elise.
For Angela, this will be her first time competing in the Bailey Oratorical—a decision that she made with the help of friendly encouragement from Elise.
“Elise and I were having a conversation one night of what I would talk about if I were to do the Bailey, a totally hypothetical thought. After hearing my idea she was like, ‘Welp, looks like you’re doing the Bailey now.’ I mean, Elise is a force of nature, so you don’t really tell her ‘no.’ And somehow I made it to the finals. It’s been a crazy, crazy thing,” said Angela.
Both Elise and Angela acknowledge that the Bailey Oratorical will be a nerve-racking event; however, they believe in what they have to say to the audience and are not going to let their nerves get the best of them.
“I genuinely like speaking. I think the Bailey forum is unique in that there aren’t many opportunities in today’s modern and fast-paced world to have the attention of a captive audience for that period of time. That being said, the pressure is definitely on. All eyes are on you, and you know how much work and love you’ve put into your speech. I think the best thing about the Bailey is the opportunity to make a difference even if it’s only in the life of one person in the room,” said Elise.
“I’ve been having nightmares about projectile vomiting on the judges. So, I’m pretty nervous. But I really believe in what I have to say, so I am excited that a lot of people will be listening to my message,” stated Angela.
After four years of being best friends, Elise and Angela have had many great memories with one another. Angela’s favorite memory took place during their freshman year when they had to walk from an off-campus house to Sherwood
“When we went to leave the house, we stepped outside and the entire world had turned to a sheet of slick, shiny ice… We didn’t really have any other options but to trek through the icy tundra and hope we made it. We clung to each other and slowly moved across this strange landscape. We probably fell three times, but when one of us would slip the other would try to stay up strong and support us both. Sometimes we both got dragged down. We eventually made it back to Sherwood, which felt like the Taj Mahal. We just laughed and hugged each other and were so happy that we didn’t die or end up with a concussion.”
“It’s become a metaphor for our friendship, really. Life is unpredictable, and we have stayed strong and helped each other through our college years. Sometimes we’ve both fallen down, like our epic sophomore slump where we questioned our entire lives, but we always pick each other back up. It’s been a beautiful journey growing and learning together,” expressed Angela.
“Looking back at the past few years I have no idea what my experience at Juniata would have been like without Ang. We’ve definitely grown together the past few years, and I can’t wait to be old ladies together and reminisce about all the amazing memories we have had with each other,” said Elise.