“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think,” a sentiment widely attributed to Albert Einstein, emphasizes the idea that the primary goal of education is to cultivate the capacity for critical thinking, logical reasoning, analysis, and creativity. Einstein is the perfect exemplar of this through his renowned curiosity and independent thinking, which truly reshaped science and made him one of history’s greatest minds. Similarly, this idea feels almost unrecognizable and underserved among debaters across the United States. Speech and Debate is one of the most obvious spaces for high schoolers where thinking is not a side effect of learning, but rather the entire activity. Furthermore, debaters are often taught from the very beginning of their competitive careers by either their coaches or friends to participate in the activity for the true benefits, including developing intellectual curiosity, research skills, and confidence in public speaking, qualities that extend far beyond the round. Yet, just as in education, the longer someone stays in the system, the easier it becomes to confuse measurable outcomes with meaningful growth. 

A debater at their first tournament is drastically different from one at their last. Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, explains that humans begin life seeking only basic trust and understanding (level 1 of his 8 developmental stages), but gradually shift over time towards chasing validation and external measures of success in competition with others, often realizing what truly mattered only after it is too late. Debate mirrors this same progression. Early on, the activity revolves around exploration and learning. Yet, over time, and for most people, records, speaker points, standings, and trophies begin to replace curiosity as the main metric for success. It is essential to remember that most of us did not join Speech and Debate with the pure intention of winning national titles, but rather because our friends did, either our parents encouraged us, or because we thought, “why not?”

That is simply what is most important: the pure intentions and memories. In fact, this past summer, I had a conversation with a former National Champion who told me that the only thing they truly valued after participating in Speech and Debate in high school was not the silver trophy that stood tall in their bedroom, but rather the pictures and memories that took them back to when they first had the opportunity to hang out with their friends every weekend, speak about the most random topics, and have a safe space in high school away from all of their studies and stress. They advised that debate is a limited opportunity that does not exist for everyone, so if you are able to take control of it, do so, and in a good way. And if your only goal is to win, just remember one thing: the most successful debaters are the ones who do it out of love and not desperation. 

Let’s step aside from just remembering debate as an opportunity to have fun, but also one to grow in everlasting skills such as public speaking, research, curiosity, and more. The National Speech and Debate Association has long emphasized to its community that its value lies not only in national competition, but in preparation for life beyond the room, through the development of recurring skills. While some alumni have gone on to become well-known actors, celebrities, educators, and public leaders, ranging from Zac Efron to Pope Leo XIV, what often goes unnoticed is how debate has shaped the way they think and perform in a room of people rather than where they have ended up. It’s obvious that the ability to speak in a room while under public pressure, research niche and complex issues, listen critically and responsibly, as well as respond thoughtfully about specific topics and stories, are not skills to be reserved for a ballot or podium, but rather tools and expertise to be carried into classrooms, careers, and future opportunities long after the final rounds end. Confidence is not handed out through

trophies, but earned through repetition, failure, and growth. Debate is not just an activity, but the perfect example of how a few years of development will lead to lasting skills of a lifetime. 

In that sense, debate makes Einstein’s vision of education evident, and trains the mind to think in almost every aspect. But one thing to remember is that wins will be forgotten, records will disappear, and trophies will gather dust, while the habits and memories gained will remain prevalent for a lifetime. And when debate is approached as a space for exploration and connection, it becomes what it was always meant to be, not a stage to stand on, but a process to enjoy growth. 

This is not to say that enjoyment cannot exist in the same room as success in debate. In fact, evidence from similar skill-based activities consistently shows the opposite. Psychologists studying motivation have found that individuals driven by intense motivation and enjoyment in a particular activity tend to persist longer and improve more steadily than those motivated primarily by external rewards. A 2024 study by Hugh Riddell and colleagues in The Journal of Social Psychology furthered this by noting how learners with higher levels of autonomous motivation demonstrate greater persistence and positive outcomes than peers driven by external and temporary incentives. Debate is no exception, as individuals who approach rounds as opportunities for skill-building are more likely to take risks, absorb feedback, and refine their thinking over time. And those behaviors are what produce competitive success in the long run. 

Ironically, debaters who chase enjoyment and growth often end up achieving the very outcomes others pursue directly, whether it means having their face posted nationally as a champion or standing on a stage. When they stay in

the activity longer, burn out less, and remain open to learning, their skills compound. This is to say that no matter what you may be going through in debate, whether it is low success rates or enjoyment, take your focus back to when you first joined. Explore how debate can truly change your perspective in many ways by chasing after what truly matters. In the end, maybe your previous desires will come back to you, but this time accomplished.