Flathead senior leaves legacy through speech

During her junior year at Flathead High School, Julia Wynne decided to use the platform of speech and debate to tell her story and share a powerful, resonating message.

With her speech on the topic of what she called “lookism” – the “beauty bias in society” and how society discriminates against those not seen as traditionally attractive – Wynne took home a 2018-19 state title in the original oratory category.

“It was really cool to see how that speech impacted people,” Wynne told the Inter Lake. She said people would approach her in tears after hearing her speech to tell her how much they connected with her message.

Wynne said it even took a while to not cry herself while giving the speech.

“Telling your story can be very powerful,” Wynne said.

Wynne was born with a congenital condition, and has had “countless surgeries” to correct issues with her heart, spine, trachea and esophagus. Her hand was also affected, which she said is “one the only parts of my body I’ve never had surgery on.”

She said to this day she will notice people staring at her hand, and even when people kindly ask what happened, “it still stings.”

She also had to undergo years of intensive speech therapy due to the issues with her trachea and esophagus. “It wasn’t until the age of 5 that I could truly speak,” Wynne said.

Wynne was home-schooled until sixth grade, and by the time she reached high school, she was slated to go to Stillwater Christian School. But she decided to attend Flathead High School because of the acclaimed International Baccalaureate (IB) academic program and the more diverse student body.

“There was no diversity [at Stillwater],” Wynne said. “I didn’t feel like I fit in.”

She said she has always loved school and learning, and found a home in Flathead’s IB program, which was the first of its kind in Montana.

“I connect with people who are interested in learning,” Wynne said.

“I loved IB history with Mr. Riley,” she said when asked about her favorite class, calling it “the most challenging but most rewarding class” in all four years of high school.

She participated in speech and debate throughout her time at Flathead, which she naturally connected to her love for theater; she was involved in Bigfork Children’s Theatre starting in second grade, and said seeing a live performance of the hit Broadway show “Dear Evan Hanson” in Seattle was “one of the best moments of my life.”

“Speech and debate put together theater and a more academic perspective,” Wynne said.

At first, Wynne said she was not ready to talk openly about her health struggles, and her speeches that first year “weren’t really on serious topics.”

“I didn’t want to talk about my problems with other high-schoolers,” she said. During her freshman year, however, a counselor suggested Wynne attend a support group.

Wynne said she did not talk at the support group, but listened intently. She said she heard from kids trying to navigate their problems without a family or many people to care for them. Some of them were sleeping on friends’ couches.

“I’m so blessed. I have an amazing family and friends, and I have people who care about me,” Wynne said.

This perspective helped Wynne arrive at a place where she was more willing to share her story and be open about her condition.

Her award-winning speech on lookism starts with a discussion of the inherent problems of the story of “Beauty And The Beast.” In the text of the speech, Wynne states she identified with the “beast” character “growing up as the kid who always looked different” – at least until “Belle’s love turns him into the classic, boring Prince Charming.”

“Knowing I’m never going to look like T.V. models or those perfect Disney princesses, I continue to remind myself that success depends on who you choose to be,” Wynne writes. “And looking different doesn’t make you a beast.”

Next fall, Wynne will attend the University of Montana and its Davidson Honors College, after receiving the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholarship. She loves reading and writing and has her sights set on journalism or English.

The school was not her first choice, she admitted, though she is happy with her decision, saying “the people are so welcoming” at the school.

Montana State University in Bozeman was not an option for Wynne, she said, as she “always has to consider elevation” due to her condition.

“My heart functions,” Wynne said, “but it’s always something I have to think about.”

“In the summer when everyone’s hiking, I can’t go on hikes,” she added as an example. But Wynne remains upbeat despite all her challenges. When speaking with the Inter Lake, she mentioned numerous times how fortunate and “blessed” she is to have such a caring family and support system behind her.

She also has her favorite television show, “The Office,” which she called “therapeutic.”

Wynne is disappointed, of course, that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her final semester and her high-school graduation.

“It’ll be weird not being able to hug people and say goodbye,” she said.

IB exams were also canceled. “It’s disappointing ... I put in all that work and won’t be able to see how I would have done,” Wynne said.

But this strange turn of events does nothing to tarnish the inspiring legacy Wynne has left at Flathead High School nor with her classmates and colleagues in speech and debate.

As Wynne put it, “God gives you these challenges” to share your story with the world.

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com