The ESU leads the operation for the Shakespeare competition. Their goal is to pass Shakespeare's writings throughout the generations.

     “[ESU] tries to enrich the lives of students and adults throughout the United States,” said English teacher Kristine Boccia, who is coordinating the competition at the school level. “They're making sure that people continue to study Shakespeare and read and enjoy Shakespeare.”

     Boccia has been involved with the Shakespeare competition for almost 20 years. Before she came to Rose, she was an adjudicator in New Bern, now she is unable to judge the competitions anymore due to her own students competing.

     “Gracie Tyson did such a great job,” Boccia said. “She not only excelled in the competition but won regionals her freshman year.”

     This year, only one student has signed up for the competition. Boccia is working on recruiting more students and encouraging them to take an interest in competing.

     “Anyone who is interested in any kind of performance, anyone who is interested in language at all [or] people who are interested in debate or speaking in front of people would enjoy the Shakespeare competition,” Boccia said. “I've been mentioning it to my kids in my classes and other teachers.”

     Boccia encourages all types of people to give the competition a shot.

     “It's a wonderful opportunity to meet students from other schools; it builds confidence to move past your anxiety about speaking in front of other people,” Boccia said. “I strongly believe all young people need to learn how to speak to groups of people.” 

     Boccia believes that the Shakespeare competition teaches life lessons all students should learn.

     “I know that Shakespeare can feel daunting, the language can feel too flowery and a little scary,” Boccia said. “But if you think about it, it's exactly the kind of stuff that we say every day; it's just written in verse.”