Club Spotlight: Speech and Debate Club

Written by: Zirvaa Baghri (‘28)

Hidden gems are always being uncovered as well as stones being polished. Lawrence High School hosts a variety of clubs and sports, catering to a range of interests for various personalities. We’re fortunate to have a Speech and Debate Club led by Mrs. Confroy and Mrs. Johnson to cater to students interested in technical writing, public speaking, critical thinking, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions.

Debate season is during the Fall (from mid-September to mid-November) where we meet in  room 138 on Tuesdays and on Thursdays after school. On Thursdays, we go to debates at other CVC schools. Tuesday meetings are typically very brief to decide who’s debating affirmative and negative as well as who’s debating Varsity or JV. Our Thursday Meets tend to go into the evenings due to travel time of the buses. However, different members take turns debating affirmative and negative, allowing for a great deal of flexibility to let you decide whether or not you want to participate this week or another week.  

Additionally, Debate club is an extracurricular that allows students to apply the skills and knowledge they acquire through debates at other schools and research writing. Some clubs feel monotonous through passive participation, however, Debate allows students to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The clear progress and instant gratification drives students such as myself to further participate in the club.

Outside of satisfaction, Speech and Debate looks very promising as an extracurricular. Many colleges and universities view Speech and Debate as a competitive club involving great level of skill and technique. It also provides students an edge when applying for scholarships and grants to subsidize tuition due to great rigor and passion involved. It illustrates great passion as well since it's incredibly preparation heavy in order to execute a successful debate.

Furthermore, the club allows students to connect with one another through a strong partnership. When asked about the benefits of joining Speech and Debate, Coach Allison Johnson said, “Debate allows for a strong opportunity for students to collaborate with one another on a deeper level”. The issues and topics that come up across meets are relevant and timely, which better prepares students to engage in robust discussions as well as to see different perspectives. As a member of the Club for two years now, I’ve cultivated various strong partnerships with other members through the shared trials and tribulations within the Club.

To sum up all my previous points, Speech and Debate is a strong opportunity for students to further their public speaking and technical writing skills to boost college resumes as well as cultivate long-term expertise in leadership and collaboration.