On October 17, 2025, I stood in front of more than 250 students at Agarwal Siksha Samiti High School in Hyderabad, Telangana, and talked about debate. They were in grades 8 to 10. It was the largest group I have ever spoken to, and I enjoyed it more than I expected.
What I talked about
I competed in Public Forum debate for two years. Debate taught me how to research a topic, build a case for either side, and speak in front of people without freezing. Those skills are useful well beyond a tournament, and that was the point of the seminar.
I covered three things:
- Debate skills for the classroom. How to make a claim, back it with a reason, and respond to someone who disagrees. These help in any class discussion.
- Public speaking. How to structure what you want to say and how to deliver it.
- Academic success strategies. Habits that helped me in school.
Two languages
The school has both English-medium and Hindi-medium students, so I could not give the talk in one language. I switched back and forth between English and Hindi so that everyone in the room could follow.
Talking with the students
The part I liked best was talking with the students directly. They were curious and full of energy, and speaking with them one group at a time was a lot more fun than speaking from the front of the room.
Why it mattered to me
Many of these students come from impoverished backgrounds, and the school teaches them for free. Debate is not something most of them have had the chance to try. Being able to share something that shaped me, with students who were so ready to listen and ask questions, meant a lot.
I also learned something about teaching. Explaining an idea to 250 people who are meeting it for the first time forces you to find the simplest true version of it. That is harder than winning a round.
The school gave me a plaque at the end, which I did not expect. Thank you to the teachers and staff who hosted me, and to every student who came.
