01
How do I stop overthinking what to say?
Notice what you do under pressure and build steadier confidence.
Weeks 1—5
Student Influence & Communication Association · Cupertino High School
Practice the conversationsthat shape everyday life.
From first impressions to difficult conversations.
Practice the skills that shape how you work with people.
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Have you ever…
You had something worth saying… but stayed quiet.
You thought of the perfect response… after the conversation ended.
You wanted to introduce yourself… but talked yourself out of it.
You knew the answer… but never raised your hand.
Those moments happen to everyone.
They aren’t personality traits.They’re skills.
If you’ve experienced even one of those, you’re exactly who SICA was built for.
Say your friend went to Tahoe over break. You ask, “how was it?” He says, “It was good.” Conversation dead.
SICA teaches the other version: you put your phone down, actually face him, make eye contact. Instead of moving on, you dig one layer deeper — “what’d you end up doing there?” He mentions something specific. You remember it, and bring it up the next time you see him.
That’s it. That’s the whole skill. It’s what makes someone feel like you’re actually curious about them, not just being polite — and that’s the difference between a real connection and a surface one.
People call this communication and emotional/social intelligence — which really just means staying level-headed in the moment, and actually paying attention to the person in front of you. Small skills like this one are what SICA is built around.
Every grade. Every personality. Every starting point.
One useful idea: ask one follow-up before changing the subject.
You pair up. One person shares something small — what they did this weekend. Instead of a flat “oh nice,” the other person faces them, makes eye contact, asks one real follow-up. That’s the entire rep.
Your partner gives you one small thing to keep and one to change.
You asked a follow-up instead of switching to your own story.
One thing to tryLeave a beat of silence after they finish.
No lectures. No memorising speeches. No experience required — and you’re never thrown on stage. Everything starts in pairs. Everyone starts somewhere.
30 weeks. Six phases. Each one builds on the last.
Notice what you do under pressure and build steadier confidence.
Pick up on what a group needs and ask better questions.
Turn an idea into words other people can follow.
Disagree with respect and work through conflict.
Start a conversation, guide it, and help a group decide.
Use everything you’ve practiced in a final challenge.
Source: NACE Job Outlook 2024–2025.
Yes — but SICA isn’t only for people who struggle with this. Plenty of members join because they’re already ambitious and want an edge in leadership, interviews, or networking. Shy or confident, the practice works the same way.
No. Most activities begin in pairs or small groups.
No. The goal isn’t winning arguments. It’s becoming better at working with people.
None. Everyone starts somewhere.
Any grade. Every skill level. Beginner to advanced.
Come to a meeting. That’s all.
Add yourself to our mailing list. We’ll let you know about meetings, activities, and what’s next for SICA.
As Vice President of Codestarters, I watched something strange happen over and over: the students who got picked for leadership roles — and who actually performed once they had them — weren’t always the ones with the best grades. It came down to communication. The ability to give your ideas real weight, to influence a room instead of getting talked over.
That’s why I built SICA: a club that teaches you to be listened to. Not just heard — listened to.