The Power of a Voice by Noah

The Power of a Voice by Noah - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

Imagine a classroom where students cannot merely learn information from a textbook or lesson plan but can articulate information confidently and clearly. We must treat this skill not as an extra but as an essential, and we can do this by creating speeches and debates for the required class. The ability to communicate effectively is no longer optional; it is necessary, yet too many students pass through the school system without ever learning to organize their thoughts or respond to an argument beyond pen and paper. That's where speech and debate come in. These courses don't just teach students to talk; they teach them to think, listen, and engage with the world meaningfully.

Making speech and debate a required class isn't about turning every student into a future lawyer or politician. It's about equipping them with essential life skills applicable to virtually every profession imaginable. From job interviews to collaboration and everyday conversations, these skills produced by speech and debate are foundational to creating functional citizens who can contribute something meaningful to the world.

This class would also enable students to view their voice as a tool, not as a fear. Public speaking is regarded as one of the most common fears in the world, so students need consistent opportunities to face and overcome it. They learn to manage nerves, speak clearly under pressure, and find their voice. Over time, even the quietest students can realize that their ideas matter. Equipping students with regular opportunities to practice speaking and debating with other students can peel back layers of shyness and timidness that hold many people back from finding their voice and learning how powerful it can be when paired with knowledge and confidence.

Beyond confidence, speech and debate classes can build practical analytical thinking. Students can learn to research both sides of an issue, identify weak arguments, and support their points with evidence in a verbal setting. They become quicker on their feet, produce more insightful responses, and obtain a valuable skill that many adults still struggle with seeing the other side. This leads to another often-overlooked benefit: empathy. During debates, students can shout their opinions to opponents; they must listen and understand opposing views well enough to respond with logic and respect.

Some may argue that speech and debate should remain optional because it's not regarded as a core class and creates unnecessary pressure for shy students. Communication is not an optional part of life. We don't let students skip math classes because they are difficult or health classes because they are uncomfortable. We require those subjects because they prepare students for the real world, and communication is a huge aspect of everyday life. We must view communication as a core skill every student deserves to master to aid them in navigating the complexities of everyday life.
We need to stop treating speech and debate like extracurricular activities when the skills produced by participating in them apply to our daily lives. These classes wouldn't just prepare students to talk but also teach them to think, listen, and engage with the world meaningfully by using their voices.