I admire great debaters. As a child, I was fond of watching debate tournaments aired on television. I really marveled at the debaters’ insolence and intelligence. They appeared gods to me for they can justify their sides so well. This made me realize that I would love to be like them someday. But I was not given a chance. The schools I attended before college did not give premium on debate. Perhaps I was able to develop my skills in speaking…but only in form (fluency, diction, etc.). I was not able to improve my ability in critical thinking, which is very significant in debate.
Now, I am a graduating Speech Communication student. My degree actually has a venue for me to become what I envisaged of. But I was afraid to start. I was thinking that good debaters are only those who have been formally engaged in debate tournaments since elementary or high school, at least. In this case, I must just satisfy myself as a spectator in a debate, and not as the debater. I accepted the idea that I couldn’t be a good debater since I don’t have any experience…
I was offered to join a debate competition last year but I did not grab the opportunity. I was scared…I was easily intimidated. But I promised myself that I would join a competition after taking Speech 133 (Debate and Argumentation). And so I took the course during the first semester of the last academic year. But I didn’t feel any enhancement. I felt that nothing was refurbished. So I accepted the fact that I can definitely be a good speaker, but never a good debater… I sidetracked my attention to other things. I enjoyed the things I was doing to the point that I already forgot that I dreamt of being a debater. And so my last academic year came. I know for a fact that a debate competition will be carried out sooner or later, but I did not care. I was so engrossed with the matters I’ve engaged myself to, until 5 days ago. I was offered again to join the open debate tournament. I immediately turned the proposal down. I was thinking that I have more important things to attend to. But my orgmate was soooo persistent in convincing me to join. Every time he sees me, he persuades me. He even texted me for various times just to appeal to my emotions. He was really importunate. Perhaps he knows that deep inside, no matter how many times I decline, I really want to join. So about an hour ago, when he requested me to join the competition, I finally said yes. I have accepted the burden. At last, I will be facing my fear. When I contemplated on what happened, I realized that I agreed to join because I am really aspiring to become a debater. I am now in my last year as a college student. If not now, then when will be the next chance?
Now, I am a graduating Speech Communication student. My degree actually has a venue for me to become what I envisaged of. But I was afraid to start. I was thinking that good debaters are only those who have been formally engaged in debate tournaments since elementary or high school, at least. In this case, I must just satisfy myself as a spectator in a debate, and not as the debater. I accepted the idea that I couldn’t be a good debater since I don’t have any experience…
I was offered to join a debate competition last year but I did not grab the opportunity. I was scared…I was easily intimidated. But I promised myself that I would join a competition after taking Speech 133 (Debate and Argumentation). And so I took the course during the first semester of the last academic year. But I didn’t feel any enhancement. I felt that nothing was refurbished. So I accepted the fact that I can definitely be a good speaker, but never a good debater… I sidetracked my attention to other things. I enjoyed the things I was doing to the point that I already forgot that I dreamt of being a debater. And so my last academic year came. I know for a fact that a debate competition will be carried out sooner or later, but I did not care. I was so engrossed with the matters I’ve engaged myself to, until 5 days ago. I was offered again to join the open debate tournament. I immediately turned the proposal down. I was thinking that I have more important things to attend to. But my orgmate was soooo persistent in convincing me to join. Every time he sees me, he persuades me. He even texted me for various times just to appeal to my emotions. He was really importunate. Perhaps he knows that deep inside, no matter how many times I decline, I really want to join. So about an hour ago, when he requested me to join the competition, I finally said yes. I have accepted the burden. At last, I will be facing my fear. When I contemplated on what happened, I realized that I agreed to join because I am really aspiring to become a debater. I am now in my last year as a college student. If not now, then when will be the next chance?
No comments:
Post a Comment