Speech and Debate's Redirection of My Academic Career by Autumn

Speech and Debate's Redirection of My Academic Career by Autumn - June 2024 Scholarship Essay

Spending an hour arguing about Barbie's impacts on young women initially seemed like something of a burden, the end of a brief commitment. Little did I know, it was a precursor in a complete change of academic trajectory.

As a student who's been privileged enough to join my high school's Speech and Debate club, I approached it with no expectation. Going into my junior year, I found myself struggling with hopelessness and defeat, the lack of friends, clear goals, and stability in my life leaving me adrift.
Thankfully though, my Communications teacher offered me an invitation to this club he'd been put in charge of, imbued with a belief in my potential.

I found that what posed as another way to spend my Saturdays managed to rapidly shape how I function. Speech and Debate has allowed me to speak with more confidence and purpose in what I'm conveying. Exposure to opportunities of demanding pressure, high intensity situations, and quick thinking exercises led me to get a 4.2 GPA that same year, raising my cumulative by 0.5, and helping me determine what I’m going to major in in University.
In the classroom, I've managed to put more thought into what I'm processing, creating goals and purpose behind motivation. Above everything I’ve gained, though, because of this amazing opportunity I have been blessed to appreciate the significance of a word, and I will continue to aspire through my academic goals because of this.