When Takarah Talks, People Listen

Takarah Parker was first introduced to debate in middle school and has arguing ever since… but in a good way.
When she came to Highland her freshman year, she joined the team and started competing in policy debate arguing for or against a proposed government policy. She quickly realized that she would be better fit in a different category and switched to interpretations.
“The first time I competed in humorous interpretations was my freshman regions, and somehow I got first place,” Parker said. “I took that as a sign that maybe I had found my event, and I should stick with it.”
Humorous interpretation is an event where the competitor recites a 10-minute piece from a published work while portraying multiple characters through voice alone. Essentially, it is like a one-person show, but that person has to perform voices from multiple characters. This worked perfectly for Parker due to her outgoing and funny personality.
Not only does Parker enjoy this event, she has won multiple awards since her first win freshman year.
“I am second in the state right now for humorous interpretations; this year at national qualifiers, I got first place,” Parker said. “In every single region competition, I have gotten top 5, and in every single state competition, I have gotten top 10.”
Parker, as a captain this senior year and varsity member since sophomore year, uses her skills to help mentor the younger or less-experienced members. She mainly works with novice and JV members who want to hone their skills in interpretation.
Along with the other captains, she will spend class time working in the halls with others to get them ready for region and eventually state.
“We have a really strong team this year,” Parker said.
In addition to being a strong team, Parker believes that she has the best team. They spend countless hours preparing for competition together, helping each other improve, and in the process, becoming a tight-knit team full of unconditional support.
“I have never found a community as passionate, caring, and supportive as speech and debate, and it really pushes you to be competitive and to really value the work that you do,” Parker said.
With graduation on the horizon, Parker has been set on finding a school that will allow her to continue to follow her passion and compete in college. Her top two choices are Howard University and Tuskegee University.
“It is really something that has made such a strong impact on my life and that I value very dearly. I don’t think I could go on in college without being able to keep doing this,” Parker said.
Along with debate Parker is very active in many other groups. She is a co-dance captain for Highland theater, part of The Boys and Girls Club, and a volunteer for a nonprofit called Curly Me for black girls in Utah ages 7-18.
She started theater in 4th grade and continued all throughout high school, eventually taking on a leadership role. For Parker, this has been the perfect addition to her life because it coincides so well with debate.
“Theater has really been a wonderful intersection of so many different types of arts for me, and it is really beautiful to be a part of that process from beginning to end,” Parker said.
Not only does Parker use her voice for entertainment, she also uses it for good. Highland students recently participated in a walkout to protest the government agency ICE. Parker was contacted by the student who organized it and asked to speak. In a different walkout protesting gun violence, Parker also spoke up.
She is not afraid to argue for change.
“I really wanted to speak because through speech and debate I have learned the power that words have and how speech is maybe one of the most fundamental ways you can impact a person,” Parker said.
This most recent walkout hit close to home for her because it has affected people in the organizations in which she takes part. She believes that not standing up for her communities would be a disservice.
Aside from Highland student-led protests, she participates in the MLK day march and the pride parade supporting groups and people that she values.
Through speech and debate, Parker has found her voice and continues to use it for good.
“I would encourage people to join speech and debate because it is the place to be,” Parker said.