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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Debate concludes second season

Debate+concludes+second+season

Critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, expressing yourself, acting, getting up in someone’s grill. All are used to describe aspects of the debate team, which does much more than just debate.

Having just ended a successful second season in March, and a whole trophy case dedicated to them in the library,  the team encourages students to join the club that president and founder, senior Joseph Chan said, has a place for everyone.debate 1

This season the team attended six tournaments, five more than last year and sent two members to State Qualifiers in original prose and poetry for their final tournament on March 7.

“This season has been absolutely amazing,” publicity Manager, sophomore Bryn Lawson said. “For speech there are varsity and JV events and for debate there are varsity, JV and novice events. This year we were actually able to enter some people in varsity events, which was great, and next year even more people will be competing in varsity competitions.”

The team, which holds regular meetings once a weeks to prepare for tournaments during the season, does not however restrict itself to just debate — it focuses on speech as well.

The debaters practice impromptu and prepared speeches, interpretation of written material and all different types of debate.

“Speech and debate really has something for everyone,”  Lawson said. “For actors, there are events in dramatic and humorous interpretation. For writers, there is original prose and poetry, original oratory and expository. For people who like to argue, there are four different kinds of debate.”

Debate club member, sophomore Krysia Olszewska said that the team has made great improvements since last year and has gained more practice and experience.

“Personally, I think I have grown a lot from last year.” said Olszewska “Constantly being thrown in front of people has diminished my stage fright as well as increased my self-confidence.”

Olszewska also said that the team has taught her to speak on the spot, improve body language, develop better research skills and learn to laugh at her mistakes.

“There’s an event and a place on the team for everyone” said Chan, “Literally any student can find a comfortable place to thrive on our team.”

Those interested in joining in September should like the PHS Speech and Debate Team page on Facebook to get information about the start of next season.

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