The Debate Team has done it again, surpassing all expectations. On the 23rd of November 2024, Millennium High School’s Debate Team attended its first-ever tournament in its history. Seeing as it was the first tournament the team attended, they didn’t expect that one of their members, Danny Axler, would win 4th place in the Best Speaker category. Some may think it was luck, but no. Later, on the 1st of February, the team attended another tournament, this time at the Bronx High School of Science. Not only did two members win 4th and 8th place for Best Speaker, but one of their teams took home 3rd place for Best Undefeated Team, taking home a total of four metals. Not only is this a huge feat to have accomplished, but it is incredibly impressive, considering it was only the second tournament that these students attended.
This Tuesday, I took a moment to talk to some of the team members and asked them some of the questions.
What’s your favorite part about the Debate Team?
Keida, a first-year member, said, “The community. It’s friendly, supportive, and it feels like a real team, especially when we go to tournaments.”
“My favorite part of debate is our little arguments during scrimmages. They make things fun while sharpening our critical thinking. I also love getting involved in bake sales and tournaments because they bring our team together outside of competition. Those moments of teamwork make debate more than just an activity and more of a community.”
-Karyssa, Treasurer of the Debate Team
Michelle, the club’s Vice President, said, “My favorite part about the debate team is the community building, especially during tournaments. Debate can be challenging at times, so having a team is great for when you need help or just want to talk about the struggles or victories of each round. I personally love seeing debate members discuss how well they did and earn medals for their hard work.”
The club’s Sophomore Representative, Audrey, said, “Debate encompasses my passion for speaking on issues important to the world. I enjoy public speaking, so the debate team is the perfect outlet to work on such skills. The close-knit community built during meetings and the competitions has allowed me to grow close to other debate members.”
What made you want to join?
“I wanted to join because It gives you a lot of opportunities. It has really helped improve my speaking skills and confidence level. Whenever I do presentations in class, I feel more comfortable than I did before.” –Keida.
“I wanted to join to further my public speaking and presentation abilities. Beyond those, debate has also strengthened my researching and improvisation capabilities.” — Audrey.
“When I was at my old high school, I joined debate on a whim because I didn’t know which clubs I was interested in. However, when I transferred to MHS, I believe it was in the 2nd week of advisory that I asked around to confirm that there was a debate club. What made me want to join the second time was knowing how much I loved debating, but also, I was a transfer student, and it was a huge window for me to get to meet people.” – Michelle.
“I joined debate because I wanted to meet future friends and debate partners while improving my analytical skills and public speaking. I knew it would challenge me, but I also saw it as an opportunity to grow. Working as a team and engaging in in-depth discussions makes school something I actually look forward to.” – Karyssa.
What would say to anyone interested in debating?
“If you want to improve your speaking skills, make friends, and overall just want to boost your confidence, come to debate.” – Keida
“I can definitely see my progression in many facets relating to speaking, so if anyone has even a slight interest in increasing their skills, I would highly recommend joining the debate team!” – Audrey
“For anyone interested in debating, I would say that it takes a lot of commitment and sometimes a lot of sacrifice. You have to set aside a considerable chunk of time to write speeches, practice, and go to tournaments (on top of all the MHS work). Aside from these major aspects, debate is great for various reasons. You improve your public speaking skills and confidence, you meet new people, and you can even win awards.” – Michelle.
“Debate is a lot of work, but it’s absolutely worth it. You’ll gain skills that go beyond just arguing; you’ll learn how to think on your feet, analyze different perspectives, and understand your thoughts with confidence. It’s a learning experience that pushes you, but the friendships and memories you make along the way make it all worthwhile.” – Karyssa.
All in all, there’s a lot to say about the debate team. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, a freshman or a senior, or any type of person, debate may be for you. The team will attend its last tournament (as of now) in April. There is still much work to be done, but there’s no telling what this team will achieve in the years to come.
