Should I Bring in a Professional? Coming to Appreciate World Schools Debate

“There was so much lying!?” Was not what I expected to hear when the crowd of onlookers at TFA’s finals flooded out of the hotel ballroom.

What to a world schools debater was an exemplary round, seemed like a spout of misinformation and lack of proof to a policy debater. I had never fully comprehended the level of bewilderment debaters from other events could feel from World Schools’ abandonment of scripts and citations, but these varied perspectives caused me to reevaluate the very foundations of my debate event.  

Coming from a different event, I had always sensed an underlying notion that World Schools was looked down upon by other forums, whether it be because they used more evidence, technicalities, or had a longer history. There was this hierarchy of difficulty and World Schools was at the bottom. It made me feel as though Worlds wasn’t legitimate because it didn’t have scholars backing it up or institutions standing behind it. At times, I even felt unsure of my place within debate in an event that wasn’t taken as seriously. 

However, along the way, I’ve come to my own conclusions about the validity of the event and it’s given me a unique appreciation for Worlds.

I started my debate career shallowly diving through novice policy in my school’s middle school debate academy and ninth grade center. I found first person logic and analysis would take a backseat within rounds. I always felt relieved and a little excited for the rebuttal speeches where I got to finally step away from scrolling or flipping frantically through highlighted cards and instead was able to bring my own opinions into debates.   

The adrenaline rush I, along with others, got from policy’s cross examination, was something I found in almost every aspect of worlds.

When I’m in a World’s round, I’m listening to the other team’s case and quickly jotting down my refutations. When their timer rings and they close off their speech; it’s pencils down and without any prep time, I gather my papers and walk towards the podium. Drawing one final breath, I start my own clock and I’m thrown into my own speech. The only worlds that exist now are prop and opp, theirs and ours, inside the vacuum of the debate round. Somehow, my 8 minutes are already over, and once I sit back down, I also come back to reality. Emotions are still swirling: relief, anxiety, anticipation, determination, and the rush of having to think on your feet.

Everyday in class or practice, I learn more about Worlds as an event and I always feel like there’s another layer I can uncover or add. Specifically, I’ve become aware of the diversity of arguments I can draw from my World Schools toolbox and it’s been an exciting new challenge to reach for more than just a quote or citation. When reading cards, I often felt disengaged with the round, like what I was saying never perfectly clashed with the other team’s material. In Worlds, I really feel like I can shoot a cannonball into the hull of my opponent’s ship instead of just passing it by in the night.  

From being an outsider to an avid World’s debater, I’ve come to find that the most special thing about Worlds is its accessibility to everyone, regardless of language or abundance of resources. I remember being a freshman at after school debate practice looking forlornly at the rowdy, laughing crowd at the other end of the hallway. I had wondered who they were and how they were having so much fun while I was struggling to find my place. But suddenly, I was in that crowd, surrounded by friends and coaches, laughing even while working hard. 

But more than the community it’s built for me, Worlds taught me the power in my own voice by allowing me to speak my own thoughts rather than reciting anothers. Especially in a world where highschoolers don’t always get taken seriously, being able to assert my voice has been extraordinarily empowering in my development as a person. I can see it in the way my voice grows stronger and more assured when I look up from my papers. I can see it in the way I have more confidence speaking in my daily life as well. It’s reflected back at me when out-of-debate friends compliment the way I articulate my thoughts. It’s a source of pride that I’ve been able to grow into someone who can find the right words and help advocate for others. Instead of glorifying an outside source, Worlds tells young debaters that their opinions matter just as much.   

In Worlds, you rely on your own wit and logic; form connections and find new angles on the spot. Reliance on logic vs evidence is a big reason why I believe in the authenticity of Worlds. We get to hear each other instead of the Phd candidate. Worlds is a true test of independent thought and understanding of each topic. It becomes less about knowing every opinion that has ever existed about the topic, but instead, forming your own, coming to the same conclusions or new ones altogether. By forcing debaters to form their own connections, Worlds helps us see the “how” and “why” and “who cares”. In this way, I’ve learned the merits of an event that pushes you to look up from the laptop and take in the world around you. 

From doubting the legitimacy of my debate event to appreciating its unique joys, I’m excited to continue flourishing in an event that helped me realize the power of my own voice.