Off the cuff: Whiting tries extemporaneous speaking

Asher Whiting isn't sure if public speaking will be in his future.

The seventh-grade student said he chose to participate in extemporaneous speaking during the conference.

"I was told it was hard," he said.

According to the rules, Whiting had a five-munte prep time to develop and organize the speech.

After being given a topic, Whiting used three-inch by five-inch notecards to outline his thoughts.

He said during the competition, he didn't realize there was anything he would need to fix if he had a second opportunity to present.

"Except I needed a few more minutes to prepare," he said, chuckling. "I didn't realize how long the speech was.

He had a time limit of three to five minutes.

The event incoporates elements of public speaking, writing and organization skills and self-confidence.