Alison's Hidden (or maybe not-so-hidden) Talent

When Alison was registering for Davis High School, she had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to do as an extra curricular activity.  She had dabbled in show choir and drama in Jr. high, but she wasn't really committed to either.  Sports were also of no interest to her. I suggested that she give debate a try.  I said, "Al - I know nothing at all about debate, but I'm pretty sure you've got a gift for it.  You've been debating with me since before you turned two years old."  So, we took a blind leap of faith and signed her up for a debate class.

I should mention real quick that Alison was not happy at Davis High School.  The move to high school split up her group of friends - with most of them going to Layton High School.  Of the three girls that went to Davis, one became really involved in drama and just naturally drifted away from the other two. If one was sick or needed to take a test at lunch, etc. the other one was all alone. Also, there is a very different feel at Davis HS.  It is comprised of mostly wealthy families. Many of Alison's Davis friends went out of the country for fall break, Christmas break, spring break, etc. Davis is also known for having high standards. I went to a scholarship interview with Alison once, and the counselor told her not to be too discouraged with her GPA because colleges also look at other things (her GPA was 3.95).  I was floored!  Ali said no one would talk to each other as they walked down the halls.  Even people who knew each other in Jr. high would not make eye contact with each other.  Her friends at Layton HS would see her on the weekends and tell her all about how fun school was and how they talked to so-and-so in the hall, met new friends, etc.  Anyway...I told Ali I would apply for a variance for the following year.

But I digress.  The reason I tell you this is because the Davis High debate team was Alison's saving grace.  She loved it from the first day of class. The kids in debate became like a second family to her.  And, as I suspected, she discovered that she definitely had a talent for it.  I was so nervous for her when she went to her first tournament (you can't really attend and watch.  It's not an audience sport, and having people in there could be distracting). I texted her multiple times for updates.  Debate tournaments go very late into the night. Finally she texted me back saying that the awards ceremony was over and she had taken 2nd place in her event.  What?!?!?

One of the many trophies she and her partner, Malani won.

For those of you that know anything about debate, Alison usually does Public Forum.  It is a two person team event.  Her partner was exceptional.  They won several times.  Davis's debate team was very good and I really liked the coach.  One thing I liked is that she made each speech person try a debate event at one tournament, and each debater try speech.  I think it was good for them to try something different.  I NEVER was allowed to see Alison in action, but I took the opportunity to volunteer as a judge at three or four tournaments so that I could learn what it was even about.  I had never seen anything debate-ish in my life.  But I do have a degree in communications and I know a thing or two about public speaking. So after a nightmare of a first tournament where I tried to judge Public Forum, I stuck to the speech side of things.

You see that since I couldn't get pictures of her debating, I had to steal these from her Instagram.

Debate is a pretty impressive extra curricular activity. It requires some serious skills and a brain to match.  I think it's a great way to prepare kids for college and beyond with critical thinking and communication skills. I kinda wish I'd have done it.