BY KAHI G. – 13 YEARS OLD
Do you ever get the feeling of intense anxiety before going into a debate, especially if you haven’t done one before? If no, you must be an extremely proficient individual, but for those who aren’t there yet, don’t worry because I will help you elevate yourself towards success!
First you must know the basics. A debate is a structured contest revolving around a specific topic or issue. It doesn’t have to be recent, but it certainly must be controversial.
Today I had my first debate, and let’s just say it didn’t go too well. The reason for that is because I was nervous, and boy did that take my entire debate down a steep hill.
At first, I started off strong, but then, while I was making my second argument I started stuttering. Yes, unfortunately this happens ever so often to the best of us, but my takeaway to you is that you cannot let fear get the better of you. When you do let fear creep inside your mind and start roaming free, you’ll start to forget certain things, even if you memorized them. That’s how strong fear influences us! Despite that, we must set ourselves up for success, and most importantly be prepared to think critically.
All in all, debates shouldn’t lead to people throwing hands, and no one should lose friends because it’s supposed to be a fun experience. Even though my first debate didn’t end too well, that doesn’t mean I will give up, and you shouldn’t either. Like Samuel Beckett once said, “Ever tried, ever failed. No matter, try again, fail again, and fail better.”
