“I was asked to give a brief description on what debate has done for me, a seemingly simple task, yet it has been one of the most difficult for me. The problem I was having was that: what hasn't debate done for me?”
Brandon believes that while school provides him with the general learning that “somebody somewhere has determined that I ‘need’”, debate provided him with the intellectual vitality to explore and discover the things that he is passionate about. Very rarely do students get to explore controversial topics, but Brandon believes debate was the perfect forum to experiment and discover what he believes in.
The greatest idea that Brandon feels he was able to discover is the feminist movement. The debate camp that he was given the opportunity to attend through DUDL showed him how some of our actions in debate rounds and in our daily lives can be very exclusive and force out our female counterparts. Brandon was so intrigued at changing parts of himself to be more inclusive and respectful, along with discovering a deep intellectual passion that gave him the base to write a 23 page research paper about social norms and how they affect women entering business, politics, and law.
“The debate community also gives me the space to let my voice be heard on items like feminism that are not often heard, and pursue the passions that each individual has.”
