Senior Giselle Vazquez wins KAC’s first-ever debate trophy
October, 2023
By Liliana Castillo and Emily Chalambaga, Editors-at-Large
“No one’s going to listen to you if you’re not talking well.”
Debate is an intense competition involving formal discourses and well-thought-out discussions between opponents with differing viewpoints. KAC’s Speech and Debate team was formed last year, and until this month, had never won a debate competition. But on Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23, KAC senior Giselle Vazquez won first place in the TFA Westwood Bowl championship, bringing both pride and exhilaration to both the school.
Her victory was especially noteworthy because Vazquez almost didn’t attend the competition because, the day of the debate, she was sick and lost her voice. Even so, she still showed up since they could not find a replacement in time for the tournament. Although she worried that losing her voice would put her at a disadvantage in the debate, that did not stop her from trying her absolute best to win the competition.
Vazquez says it was an unforgettable experience because not only was she sick during the rounds, but she her performance actually improved during the debate. The debate topic was whether the U.S. government ought to guarantee the right to housing, and Vazque was able to fully combat all of her opponents’ arguments with her previous planning. Several judges noticed how much she had improved from her last debate and even from her last rounds, pulling Vazquez aside to praise her argumentative voice and to encourage her in the finals. This is especially remarkable because, in addition to Vazquez being sick, she was able to, in her words, stated, “distinguish my opponents’ arguments and pick them apart.”
“It really taught me that I had learned over the years,” she said. “That night, I feel like I was able to really see the work put into debates.”
Although Vazquez had struggled projecting her voice throughout the weekend, she persevered and was able to not only walk out with first place in that debate but also with the pleasant memories she made. During the debate, she said, “I … was able to make those connections, which I wasn’t able to last year. I feel that was more important to me than winning.” Although Vazquez was there for the debate, she emphasized that it was much more than a mere discussion; she made great friends and learned so much about her opponents, showing that she cares about this extracurricular that has become a part of daily life and has led a way into her future.
For Vazquez, debate is not simply an extracurricular but an additional step towards her future career as an immigration lawyer. Since she is planning on majoring in political science and attending law school, debate is not only something she enjoys but something she pursues with a remarkable amount of passion. “That is why this is very important to me:, it wasn’t just an extracurricular, but it was something I want to do in the future and something I want to get good at for my future career.”
After her victory, Speech and Debate coach Amber Corral proudly stated, “It made me really proud of and proud of the hard work that she put in all this summer.”
Vazquez encouraged anyone interested in the art of debating to join the new Public Speaking class to “[practice] your speech, just like trying to do any activities to get over the fear of like publicly speaking.” Her victory demonstrates courage and perseverance through her dedication and hard work, despite the odds. And Vazquez has a message of encouragement for anyone trying a new thing. “Just have a growth mindset,” she said. “Go in there learning it’s okay to lose. We can grow from our mistakes.”
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