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Debate is a community where it’s ok to be smart. Debate brings together students that are hard-working and intellectually curious for competitions that are exciting and rewarding. Join an activity that over 1 million American students have participated in since 1925.

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STUDENT COMMENTARY

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Doing debate is definitely the best decision I've ever made. As a freshman, I am completely new to policy debate, despite having a year of parliamentary debate under my belt. I've been doing policy debate for only a month, and I've already gone to quarterfinals at an invitational. I do debate to expand my horizons in life, help me educationally, and overall, just to have fun. Debate has not failed me, and I don't think it ever will.

Molly Martin9th Grade
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I was originally forced to debate in 7th grade by my mother and cringed at the idea. But in retrospect, sticking with the activity was the best decision of my life. I chose to stick with debate because I was good at it. Because I enjoyed the rush and work that came with the activity. The intellectual gain of tournaments and the material gain of a first place trophy kept me from straying away. I debate because I'm completive. Because it puts me ahead of others, and because of the genuine experience. California is a competitive high school debate state, and I'm proud to be part of the competition.

John Gutierrez11th Grade
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I love debate because it has give me the opportunities to meet new and wonderful people I would not have otherwise met. It has pushed me to learn about things I would have not have learned about outside of debate. The activity itself challenges me intellectually in a way that school cannot. The rounds themselves are super exhilarating.

Abigail Norton11th Grade