Debate
Debate (mainly cross-examination) was an important activity for me
in high school. Last summer,
my sister Phoebe
went to debate Nationals in North Carolina. She
rocks! Here's what I had to say about debate senior year of high school:
My stomach turned somersaults as I stood on stage before
more than 1000 expectant faces at my town’s Martin Luther King Jr.
Day celebration. I proceeded to give a speech I had written with
my best friend, expressing our optimistic views of society's
journey into the future with our generation in the driver's seat.
It was then, in eighth grade, that I took my first step toward
overcoming my fear of public speaking. The venture was successful,
for during that speech my butterflies quickly turned to pure
adrenaline-induced excitement, which later inspired me to join my
high school’s debate team.
Since I made the initial commitment to join the team in
my sophomore year, debate has been richly rewarding--beyond the
trophies and community recognition. The activity has opened my
mind to a range of engrossing topics, fostering an ability to see
all sides of an issue before making any judgment. Each year the
cross-examination topic has been on the front-burners of political
focus. Thus I’ve researched subjects such as Brazil’s deforestation
regulations, NAFTA, Clinton’s health care package, GATT, the U.S.
auto industry, managed competition, current immigration
restrictions, and other interesting controversies. There are a
plethora of views on every subject, and in order to be a successful
debater, it’s important to know them all and be able to effectively
argue them. Debate is the ultimate intellectual engagement, for
with extensive research comes a deeper understanding of these
complicated issues, which has allowed me to form my viewpoints on a
solid foundation of knowledge.
Debate is more than research, though. I have also honed my
skills of thinking on my feet, formulating arguments (beyond what I
have learned through my role as an older sister), and persuasively
verbalizing my ideas. These skills are put to the test at the
tournaments my team attends all along the west coast. A joyful
part of these tournaments is when I get the chance to meet dynamic
thinkers, my age, with unique ideas--and the ability to communicate
them. I also learn more about my teammates and friends on the
long-haul bus rides late at night, when true opinions and
aspirations are shared.
Our team is set up so that the more experienced debaters
share their knowledge with the new novices. This pyramid of
learning strengthens the friendships between team members and is a
satisfying way to ensure the growth of an activity that has given
me so much in three years. Thinking back to my eighth grade
speech, I still get butterflies in my stomach before any public
presentations, but debate and speech have proven that the benefits
outweigh the initial fear.
(written fall 1994)