My Debate Team Experience!

Walking into Staten Island Technical High School on December 6, 2025, I felt the kind of nervous energy that only comes before a debate round. The tournament topic focused on lawful access to encrypted data, which meant teams were arguing about whether governments should have the ability to access private encrypted communications under certain circumstances. It is a complicated issue that sits at the intersection of privacy, security, and technology, so every round pushed us to think carefully about the arguments on both sides.

I competed as a team here at csi and with my debate partner Seth. We had spent a lot of time preparing our arguments, evidence, and responses before the rounds started. Even with preparation, the experience was still nerve-wracking. Sitting in front of judges and other competitors forces you to think quickly, respond to challenges, and present your ideas clearly under pressure. At the same time, that pressure is part of what makes debate exciting.

*Live at the actual tournament In a building filled with students from different schools who were all there to compete, created a strong atmosphere of focus and competition. Each round felt different. Some debates moved very quickly with constant argument and rebuttal, while others became more strategic, with both sides carefully building their cases.

By the end of the tournament, our record was 2–1. While the goal is always to win every round, finishing with a winning record still felt like an accomplishment. More importantly, the experience itself was valuable. After all this was my 1st debate ever. This challenged me to think critically, speak confidently, and defend my ideas/beliefs in front of others.

Overall, the tournament was a great experience. Even though it was nerve-wracking at times, it pushed me to improve and gave me a chance to compete alongside my partner Seth. It is the kind of experience that reminds me why I enjoy debate so much.