Listen Up finalists picked from Muscat International School 

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Muscat International School's (MIS) Upasana Basu and Wasan al Balushi won in the middle and senior categories on Tuesday to book spots in the finals of Muscat Daily's Listen Up competition.

Ten students, aged between 11 and 18 years, took part in the contest. MIS is the 11th school to pick finalists for the competition, which is being held to groom students across the sultanate in the art of public speaking.

Competitors from the middle category spoke on prepared topics such as Internet chatrooms', It makes me angry when...' and Footballers earn too much', while the seniors spoke on Parents are to blame for unruly children', Examinations, a true measure of ability', Freedom of speech' and Are first impressions important?'.

Speaking on her unprepared topic Parents', Upasana said, ''My parents are my best gift. They are always there to support me even if I am wrong. My mother has always helped me to pull myself together in times of problems and she has sacrificed many things for my sake. ''My father is the most patient man I have ever seen, and he is my hero.''

On her prepared topic It makes me angry when', Upasana said that prejudice and judgmental attitude of people - who differentiate based on colour, race, religion and nationality - make her angry.

Wasan, who was chosen to talk on the unprepared topic What friendship really is', said that friends are the ones with whom people can share the deepest secrets.

''They are the ones who can make you laugh, boost your morale and will never misguide,'' she said. Other students who participated in the competition included Rida Farrukh and Ayesha Burney from the senior category, and Yousef al Riyami and Shaheer Haider fro