Debate sets high goals

The debate team is hoping to up its game this year. With that in mind, Wingspan’s Sarah Swinford talked to senior Eunise Chen, about her ideas and experiences about debate class and the team.

Wingspan: Do you have high standards in debate this year?

Chen: “I think that I do expect a little higher standards than last year because last year we didn’t get to compete as much so I do expect a little bit more from my debaters this year; and I do see a lot of talent and a lot of qualities that I would like to see that become. I would like to see people become into really mature debaters.”

Wingspan: What are some of your goals for this year?

Chen: “A couple of my goals this year are to definitely attend more competitions, maybe about, I’d say about, eight to ten this year but if that goal is not met that is totally fine. The most important thing is to establish that debate is a family; like the team spirit and helping one another prepare for cases will really increase our depth of knowledge per topic and just really have like the spirit of like a family, to have that friendship, to have that connection and network.”

Wingspan: Why do you think some people in the past took debate as a “blow-off” class?

Chen: “People have taken debate as a blow-off class because I feel like the leaders haven’t really been there for the students. I feel like in the past our officers have been sort of slack because their seniors, and because they are seniors, they don’t really care so much and they’re like: I’m leaving man. So, that’s why they don’t really care; so, it has turn into a class in which people just do their homework, but that has been changed last year and it’s even, this policy is evolving even more this year.”

Wingspan: Since tryouts have just ended and you are one of the judges, do you see potential in this year’s official debate team?

Chen: “I see so much potential, I was actually just talking to Ms. Maier and our officers this year that their are so many good debaters and I’m so excited, I’m so excited for our bimonthly, tryouts every two months, I’m so excited to have new people in varsity every two months to compete. Oh man, I’m so excited.”

Wingspan: Is there anything that is going to be improved in debate team from last year?

Chen: “I would definitely say work ethic and preparation. I think last year a lot of what we were doing was kind of last minute, you know, the night before pulling an all-nighter; really being wiped out the next day. I would like to see that changed because that’s really terrible on our physical health, our mental heath, and honestly, when we get to competition, having to have pulled an all-nighter, is really terrible for our performance. So, honestly, the work ethic, the preparation, and the practice we do in class.”

Wingspan: Now, you said that you don’t know what teams they are on yet, but do you see a lot of potential for a certain type of debate?

Chen: “Honestly, I am really excited for CX debate. So, policy debate. I think that the way lots of people think in our class is very technical and very: If A, then B, then B, than C, that way A is C; or just something like that. And that kind of mentality is really beneficial in CX debate and so I believe CX will really grow this year. It’s definitely one of the harder topics, harder forms of debate to teach, and to get across to people, but it’s worth the time and I, I look forward to seeing that grow.”

Wingspan: What essential skills does debate give a person?

Chen: “I feel like debate honestly, it encompasses so many skills. So in terms of academics, let’s just say that, in terms of academics, it really helps you develop your critical thinking skills and that’s so important. Especially in English class, when you’re having socratic seminars and whatnot, and when you’re having conversation with other people you can quickly be able to react, quickly be able to carry the conversation, that’s definitely really important. Second, in the educational part, is the professionalism. So, as you become a debater, you learn to speak in a way that honestly puts you on sort of another pedestal from other high school students. You learn to be able to public speak, you learn to be able to carry yourself, you learn all this information that typical high schoolers wouldn’t know. In terms of socially, he professionalism you develop in the way of speaking to adults that really let them feel impressed with you; and so this helps you in your interviews, this helps you when you’re meeting new people, when you’re talking to your people, when you’re talking to people older than you this really helps. Not only that, but you also make a lot of new friends when you’re at the debate competition, despite them being your competitors and your enemies, or whatnot, you do make new friendships and when you do see them at new, other competitions you’re like: Oh hey! I remember you from last time, good luck this time! So, that really helps.”

Wingspan: If someone joins debate with a lot of extracurricular activities, how does the debate team work around them?

Chen: “So, in the past we’ve tried to accommodate with people  in like DECA, HOSA, and all these really time consuming activities. For this year, and last year, we’ve actually told people that they couldn’t be able to go to competition if they have too many extra curricular activities and we’re going to be seeing whether or not this, the other extracurricular activities, impacts your research and your time to be able to focus on debate; and it really sucks for not only yourself, but for the team. If you’re unable to prepare, it gives us a really bad image so, we will most likely not let you compete at least until you tell us your priority. So, it’s either between debate or DECA or HOSA or one of those really time consuming clubs.”