Speech Competitor to Speech Coach: Malia Frerking

Malia Frerking, ‘21, Concordia’s assistant speech and debate coach, sees public speaking for what it is – a necessary hurdle that takes a lot of effort to overcome.  

To elaborate on this description, she likens public speaking to driving a car. “There’s nothing inherently comfortable about driving a car or public speaking, but unlike driving a car, we expect people to be able to navigate public speaking without much help.” Frerking has been working to navigate doing something inherently uncomfortable for her whole life.  

Frerking began doing speech in seventh grade and credits her early start to a love of learning. Says Frerking, “I am a fact machine. On a basic level, speech gave me the opportunity to talk about the things I know a lot about in a new way.” A fourth generation Concordia student, it seemed only natural that she would come to Concordia and only natural that she would join the speech team.  

Throughout her years on the team, Frerking felt one of the most valuable lessons was how to think.  “Speech and debate, at its core, teaches you how to think.” Frerking believes that both speech and debate help this practice, because in both of these experiences, you have to debate topics that one might not necessarily agree with. “Getting experience with arguing a viewpoint you don’t hold helps to bolster what you believe or gain empathy for people you may not agree with.” 

Frerking finds the emphasis on becoming familiar with different viewpoints uniquely helpful for Concordia’s speech team. “The circuit we’re currently a part of is pretty progressive, and a lot of the people on the team are not as progressive. I think that it really provides good perspective and experience for engaging in meaningful dialogue after college is over.” 

Frerking contributes uniquely to this environment by teaching the students on the team how to think. “You have to engage with ideas and come up with your own ideas at the same time, and because of my experience, I know what it is to describe that method of thinking to people.” 

While Frerking appreciates the thinking part of speech, she finds that head coach, Joe Davis GR ’17 does more of the heart work for the students. “Joe and I work well together because he validates what people are feeling and then I teach them how to think. Over my past few years coaching, I’ve learned to help people express themselves in a way that is genuine to them.” 

Together, Davis and Frerking create an environment where “Meraki” is the core of what they do. “Meraki” according to Frerking, means putting a little bit of yourself into everything you create.  

Frerking has loved her speech and Concordia experience and plans to stay here for a while. “It’s my way to give back to the community.” 

Malia is married to Josh Frerking ‘21. She lives in Seward and in her free time, she enjoys playing Sims and watching video essays.  

Interested in joining the speech and debate team at Concordia? Learn more here.