Why Are You Thankful For Speech and Debate?

I am thankful for debate- all aspects and events. Though it's not just that I am appreciative of the skill itself, I am grateful for being blessed with the access and vulnerability to such a beautiful marketplace of talents and ideas. Without stumbling upon a Tuesday meeting the first week of freshman year, I wouldn't have wandered off of the traditional path that was set for me; I wouldn't have any sense or experience of what it's like to feel the pride, anxiety, disappointment, success, failure, and pure happiness that comes with the competition. Writing from the perspective of a coach is different from that of a competitor. Had I written this five years ago when I was still competing I would have stressed the important aspects of feeling secure and empowered. While those sensations still exist, I have a much more expansive and in-depth set of emotions at my disposal to describe my thankfulness for the activity. I am grateful for the success my debaters have experienced- and I am even more appreciative for their failures. They have made me a better coach and my debaters better speakers as a result. More than anything, I am grateful for my first four year class: the four boys who introduced me to my greatest revelation: that this is my past, present, and future. I am grateful to love this enough with a burning passion that even on the most tiring, anxious, and dreadful days, it is worth it.

-Brittany Stanchik, Assistant Coach at Desert Vista High School

I'm thankful for being integrated into a community that's so kind and intelligent; a community that is so diverse and accepting of everyone who is involved. I'm thankful for the connections and friendships I have made throughout my three years in debate that truly make the event enjoyable; they're worth way more than a trophy, TOC bids or rank points. I'm also thankful for my partner Jake, my team and my coach for helping me reach my goals and supporting me through every step of the way. Most of all, I'm thankful for debate for shaping me into the person I am today.

-Joshua Schulster, Student at Boca Raton High School

I am thankful for debate because it offered me opportunities and challenges that I couldn’t find elsewhere in my high school. I am thankful that debate taught me how to think critically, how to dress, how to succeed in college, and how to positively and responsibly engage with the world around me. Most of all, I am thankful for my high school coach who continues to make this difference in the lives of underprivileged students.

-Reilly Hartigan, Assistant Coach at Bronx High School of Science

Just thinking about debate never fails to make me smile. Nearly every weekend, I get the opportunity to be surrounded by great, similarly driven debaters that push me to be my absolute best- in and out of round- and make a difference in our world. Each month, as I prep for a new topic and learn about the world that surrounds us, I learn a little bit more about my self too. Without debate, I have no clue how I’d spend my weekends, let alone who I even am. The life long lessons and life long friends I’ve made as a debater have shaped me into the person I am today. I am so grateful that my mom practically dragged me into my first debate meeting freshman year and even more thankful for all the benefits I’ve reaped over the past three years

-Caroline Wohl, Student at Summit Senior

I'm thankful for speech and debate, because I have seen this activity change lives. Weekend after weekend, students from across the country, from all walks of life, participate in our community and benefit from that participation. They improve their critical thinking skills, they are asked to challenge their beliefs and the beliefs of others, and they learn how to communicate effectively. In a world full of injustice, inequality, and senseless violence, these students give me hope - because they'll be able to apply these fundamental skills and help make our world a better place. They are our future. And for that, I am thankful.

-Chase Williams, Assistant Coach at The Hawken School

I'm thankful for debate for allowing me to join a wonderful community of bright and interesting people from all around the country. I've made so many fantastic friends and learned so much: from random facts about topics to skills I will use the rest of my life.

-William Arnesen, Student at Walt Whitman High School

T - The TEAM that forms when we join people for a common goal. H - The HELP we get from colleagues, administrators, and parents. A - The ARGUMENTS that we create in agreement or opposition to each other. N - The NUANCE that we all learn from perfecting our craft. K - The KINDNESS we have for one another and the world around us. S - The STUDENTS who learn something new each day and push us to learn as well.

-PJ Samorian, Director of Forensics at American Heritage School

I'm thankful for debate because part debate allows you to be a part of a network that immerses itself in political discourse, philosophical discussions, and provocative conversation. Ultimately, I am thankful for debate because it has allowed me to form and create lifelong skills in problem solving, critical thinking, research, socialization, and ultimately a passion for all that hard work entails.

-Lexi Lampner, Student at Miami Beach Senior High School

I’m thankful for debate because it taught me that my voice was important. Sure, lots of activities can teach you how to speak or think critically or even research pretty well. But debate did more than that; it taught me who I was - debate gave me an opportunity to explore my passions, learn the importance of advocacy, and helped me discover my strengths as a student and a person.

-Becky Hall, Director of Forensics at North High School

Debate has taught me so much over the past four years, and I am thankful for that. But the thing I'm most thankful for is the family I have created through the debate community. During the ups and downs, I know my teammates and friends have my back. The kind of love and support I have experienced in the past four years is something I would not trade for anything, and I'm so thankful for all the wonderful debaters in my life.

Lily Burdick, Student at Durham Academy

I am thankful for the privilege of working with such a broad cross section of people, unbelievably diverse in their interests, abilities, and successes. I am thankful when I watch a gifted speaker move their judge and their audience with power and conviction, and thankful to know that they are prepared to make a positive difference in the world. I am no less thankful to witness the courage of a mortally shy student who has the gumption to sign up for a public speaking class, and to see them not blossom, but explode as they are lifted and encouraged by more experienced peers who choose to be stunningly blind to the initial gap between them. I am thankful for the lives that this activity changes for the better, mine among them.

-Matthew Gillespie, Assistant Coach at American Heritage School

I'm thankful for debate because it gives me the opportunity to learn totally new things. I'm thankful for debate because it helped me create a community of amazing friends, in my school and around the country.

-Anne Kramer, Student at Millburn Academy

I'm thankful for debate because it allows me to be a part of an amazing community of people that encourages me to think critically about the information and events around me.

-Harrison Giovanelli, Student at Bronx High School of Science