Sarah Alfonso, Grade 11
UWCEA Arusha Campus
That school crossfire debates show always amazed me, I followed it on the Ugandan local television. I had always admired the debaters and wanted to be part of the debate, but I really never got a chance to compete even though I had ever physically witnessed some in my high school and perhaps I might never be part of it. But that doesn’t mean my passion for debates has grown any less, the light still burns in my soul and am willing to let it shine.
Over the years, my debating skills have greatly improved because I always debated every single chance I got. In my primary school, I was the assistant debates prefect, I didn’t really apply for the post but because my English was quite good and I have a pretty admirable confidence in my speech, a teacher nominated me for the post. When I was in primary seven 2015, war broke out in my country so we had to flee for refuge to Uganda. After finishing my primary school, I joined high school in a private church school under a scholarship. That’s when I got to know about the high school crossfire debates.
The high school crossfire debates were a series of debates organized occasionally by the ministry of education in Uganda. Here schools across the country both international and local compete against each other and winners go to the next level. The winners always got some presents. This is the show I always watched on the television
In my first year in high school 2017, I joined the debating club in my school as a junior debater. I always did the fourth speaker, where there was less time and less to speak. Then, I really didn’t have as much confidence in myself as I do now. My school qualified to debate against other schools a couple of times so we the debaters attended the functions. There was a new surprise each time and I got really more interest in debating. Since I didn’t have enough confidence to represent an entire school, I always kept away and watched among the crowd.
Recently this year after I had started my senior five in my former school, I really felt something had to be done about the debating because the debating club was really dormant and it was my favorite club. School didn’t feel the same without the debates. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, a lot had changed at school but I felt a need to revive the debating club. So I talked to our English madam who was in charge of the debating club and we arranged a debate between the senior 5class and senior 6 class. The senior six students had really some strong debaters unlike my class. But still we gave it a try. That day I was the best debater and the first with the longest number of minutes and I did the introduction for the entire debate. The judge was happy and announced me as the best debater. This gave me more confidence in myself to continue debating.
In Arusha (uwcea) I already heard about debates being part of our CAS and I was also told there are a couple of competitions so I would really love to be part of it. I naturally love public speaking and debates so I will fully participate in it at UWC. If the club is not as active as I imagine, I will try my best to revive it and make students see the value of debating because it gave me my confidence and a high self-esteem. A platform to always stand and support what I believed was right.
Image Courtesy: https://images.app.goo.gl/fwcBDEjM3FuKQP9t5
Over the years, my debating skills have greatly improved because I always debated every single chance I got. In my primary school, I was the assistant debates prefect, I didn’t really apply for the post but because my English was quite good and I have a pretty admirable confidence in my speech, a teacher nominated me for the post. When I was in primary seven 2015, war broke out in my country so we had to flee for refuge to Uganda. After finishing my primary school, I joined high school in a private church school under a scholarship. That’s when I got to know about the high school crossfire debates.
The high school crossfire debates were a series of debates organized occasionally by the ministry of education in Uganda. Here schools across the country both international and local compete against each other and winners go to the next level. The winners always got some presents. This is the show I always watched on the television
In my first year in high school 2017, I joined the debating club in my school as a junior debater. I always did the fourth speaker, where there was less time and less to speak. Then, I really didn’t have as much confidence in myself as I do now. My school qualified to debate against other schools a couple of times so we the debaters attended the functions. There was a new surprise each time and I got really more interest in debating. Since I didn’t have enough confidence to represent an entire school, I always kept away and watched among the crowd.
Recently this year after I had started my senior five in my former school, I really felt something had to be done about the debating because the debating club was really dormant and it was my favorite club. School didn’t feel the same without the debates. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, a lot had changed at school but I felt a need to revive the debating club. So I talked to our English madam who was in charge of the debating club and we arranged a debate between the senior 5class and senior 6 class. The senior six students had really some strong debaters unlike my class. But still we gave it a try. That day I was the best debater and the first with the longest number of minutes and I did the introduction for the entire debate. The judge was happy and announced me as the best debater. This gave me more confidence in myself to continue debating.
In Arusha (uwcea) I already heard about debates being part of our CAS and I was also told there are a couple of competitions so I would really love to be part of it. I naturally love public speaking and debates so I will fully participate in it at UWC. If the club is not as active as I imagine, I will try my best to revive it and make students see the value of debating because it gave me my confidence and a high self-esteem. A platform to always stand and support what I believed was right.
Image Courtesy: https://images.app.goo.gl/fwcBDEjM3FuKQP9t5
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