n middle school, Viviana was a self-described failing student. She was not particularly interested in obtaining good grades because she felt as though she lacked the motivation to do anything for herself. When she entered high school, she knew she had a fresh start, one where she could do whatever she wanted.
During the same time, Viviana’s 8th grade teacher, Mr. Munoz, started talking about creating a debate team. Although she was “far from an outstanding student”, Mr. Munoz knew Viviana had a passion for argumentation and being aware of the world around her. He quickly recruited her and began preparations for joining the debate league.
Viviana remembers flooding herself in briefs that were all pertaining to space exploration. She learned about the ethics, the environmental implications, and the potential political outcomes of space exploration. Viviana describes her mind as a sponge that could link together issues from all over the spectrum. After her first debate, she noticed that she was becoming a better reader, speaker and thinker.
Viviana found that school became a breeze. Paying attention became vital for her as topics discussed in the classroom appeared more and more in debate. There were several instances where history, literary works, and even biology knowledge came as an advantage during a round. Viviana became a 4.0 student, a complete turn-around from the student she was in middle school.
In her senior year of high school, debate was an integral feature on Viviana’s resume. From listing her awards, to demonstrating the leadership she exercised because of debate, it all helped her immensely in the college application process. Viviana graduated from Yale in 2018 with a BA in Ethnicity, Race & Migration and is currently 1L at New York University School of Law!
“I can't imagine my high school career without debate, and a large part of my success can be attributed to my involvement with Denver Urban Debate League.”
