SPEAK OUT WHEN YOU THINK SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT”

Oliver Halverstam and David Stiefel are both thoughtful, focused, and caring young men. The friends both say they have benefited from being part of the Debate Team for four years, and they take on tech endeavors outside of school—Oliver created and manages the website for the Mecklenburg County Chapter of the NC Democratic Party Jewish Caucus; David, along with his father, developed and markets an athletics recruitment app called Academic Ballers. They also created the Upper School Shalom Club as a means for students to discuss issues of religious freedom and democratic values. They worked collaboratively with school administration to develop a mission that aligns with the goals of the Diversity Awareness Forum and were instrumental in educating the Country Day community about antisemitism. Shalom means peace.

Curiosity

“The teachers I’ve had along the way have always been so helpful and supportive. They've broadened my perspective and piqued my curiosity. --Oliver

Right and Wrong

“Ever since I’ve been a little kid, I’ve been interested in the idea of right and wrong, the law, and the justice system. I hope to be a lawyer someday, and the Debate Club has given me an opportunity to develop my skills in research and articulation. It’s fun taking a position and defending it, especially with a friend."--David

Skills to Carry Forward

“Debate Club has helped me learn so many things that I can carry into the future—how to think on my feet, how to research credible sources, how to see multiple perspectives, and how to convey an argument succinctly. And the public speaking side taught me how to be more comfortable looking people in the eye, staying relaxed, and speaking in a steady voice.” –Oliver

You Can Do It

“Country Day has taught me resilience. My junior year, I didn’t make the Varsity Soccer team, which hurt at the time, but I put in the work and effort on the JV team and made varsity this year. The same goes for getting the Shalom Club approved—if you put your mind to something, you can do it.” –David

Speak Out

“I am grateful to Mrs. (Becca) Stern, our Shalom Club advisor. She has really shown me how to speak out when you think something is important. It was a bit of a struggle to get the Shalom Club created to ensure we were focused on Judaism as a culture, and she helped us learn how to communicate our ideas and persevere."--Oliver

Spreading Peace

“ Through Shalom Club, I felt we had a responsibility to take the initiative and educate students and teachers about the events taking place in the Middle East after the October 7 attack on Israel in an objective and fact-based manner. The goal of our club is to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate and spread peace. A lot of people showed up for our forum and it felt good to be so supported by the school community.” –David