Marlborough Youth Debate Club has been a really inspiring experience for me. Previously, I’ve had a little debate experience, doing political speech competitions with the organisation Speech And Drama NZ, so learning new skills from their workshops and teachings has been very beneficial for further growing my confidence in debating skills in MYDC. Dana and the committee members strive to bring our club members together as one, to make an impact in Marlborough, one meeting at a time. Our last meeting was a perfect example of this.
This week, we started our meeting with icebreakers, telling each other our ‘hot takes’ on certain societal aspects of daily life. After listening to a member's ‘hot take’, club members were given the opportunity to either agree or disagree and to justify their stance. This helped us develop our speaking and critical thinking skills. An important principle in our debating club is that we support students who are passionate about different topics such as politics, but still ensure that discussions remain fair, respectful, and aligned with the club constitution.
Next, we took part in a debating exercise which is heavily favoured by a large portion of our club’s members; the debate circle or “kirkle”. The kirkle is MYDC’s adaptation of the Jubilee game “Surrounded” which often featured political activist Charlie Kirk. To play this game, one member is placed in the middle of a circle of other members while other members are offered the opportunity to challenge them one by one, creating a fast-paced and high-pressure environment for both the person in the middle and the challenger. I found this exercise really fun and found debating multiple members in a short period of time helped me to debate more effectively in front of crowds.
Overall, this meeting reinforced why Marlborough Youth Debate Club is such a valuable experience for me and anyone looking to improve their debating skills, or their general confidence. I would strongly encourage others to get involved too, as the opportunities for growth offered are extensive and incredibly rewarding. I look forward to using the skills I gain through this club in future debates and everyday life.
— Emilia Lower