DEBATE TEAM
10YEAR REVIEW
Debate Team 10 Year Review
In honor of HPCMS’s 10th anniversary, we reached out to our graduates who had participated in the Debate team. It was great to hear what our alumni are up to in 2022.
Our oldest graduates are in the workforce or finishing their undergraduate studies. A few are considering law school, nursing school, or med school. Some are in college, while others are just preparing for that journey. Some joined debate teams in high school, and others moved on to different clubs and activities.
We asked our alumni how the skills they learned during Debate prep impacted their lives after middle school, and what advice they would pass on to current HPCMS Debate Team students. These pages reflect their journeys and pass on their wisdom to students and their gratitude to the HPCMS Debate Coaches.
The HPCMS PTA Executive Board
Nicole, Class of 2020
The skills I learned have allowed me to be outspoken and advocate for myself in school. This allows me to form relationships with my teachers, which is crucial in my big school, and to form meaningful friendships.
Ashanti, Class of 2016
Being on the debate team helped me become more confident in myself and what I have to say, so it enabled me to share ideas and speak up for myself more, along with bettering my public speaking skills.
Chiara, Class of 2022
Class of 2020
Megan, Class of 2020
Every single English and History class that I have uses skills I have learned in debate. Whether it's formatting my opinions in a way that reflects well with others or just using research skills, debate was and continues to be a huge part of my academic life.
Writing speeches and prepping refutations has really helped me craft arguments in my english and history classes and has overall made my writing more clear and articulate. I learned how to research and select credible information, which is a critical skill needed in high school. Debate prep in general has definitely increased my stamina for work and trained me to be a gritty student!
Jennifer, Class of 2016
The debate team at HPCMS was one of the best decisions I made in my youth thanks to the support of my loving parents. Debate is the reason I am able to use my voice in many ways and it has helped me gain confidence, writing skills, and a passion for public speaking. As a Nursing Student, I look forward to graduating and stepping foot into the hospital field to help those in need and use my voice to be a nurse educator, helping patients both mentally and physically. With the confidence of public speaking and communication, I also have a Lash Extension business that I own and have been looking to expand.
Zach, Class of 2021
Its easier to write most essays because I can better move my ideas around and used them.
LJ, Class of 2019
Obviously the public speaking comes in handy, but honestly what had aided me most in my high school experience is my ability to do efficient, extensive research. I'm telling you: skimming a million articles in search of that one perfect quote is going to make every homework assignment easier.
Calvin, Class of 2020
Calvin, Class of 2020 Debate developed my public speaking skills and boosted my confidence in stressful situations like giving presentations for my AP classes.
Maria, Class of 2020
Sophie, Class of 2016
The public speaking and critical thinking skills I learned have been invaluable in my academic and personal life. I have found I am able to separate what a person is saying from how they are saying it so I am able question a statement even if it is being said in a very convincing way. I am also a very quick and efficient researcher (very useful on academic papers and projects) which I'm certain I learned in debate. Salma, Class of 2016
The skills I learned in debate really helped me improve my ELA skills and jump started my love for reading. Being in debate was a highlight of my time at HPCMS. Miss you guys!
Salma, Class of 2016
Debate has helped me refine my skills in writing, text analysis, and public speaking. …Debate allowed me to become more open minded when listening to someone’s opinion on a topic that I may not initially agree with. Most of my college life was spent in seminar style classes which were entirely discussion based. Using the critical thinking and analytical skills I learned from reading different articles when writing debate speeches, as well as from cross examining my opponents made for great in-class discussions and debates.
Mr. Brezina directs the Class of 2020
The Class of 2020 heads to Dallas for Nationals
The Classes of 2020 and 2021 take the stage with Mr. Fine
Class of 2016
Class of 2016 and Mr. Piscitello at the end of a Saturday Tournament
Nicole, Class of 2020
Having fun is the most important part of debate. Everyone is bound to lose a round sometimes regardless of who they are. What’s more important than winning is keeping at it until you’re better informed and better prepared.
Salma, Class of 2016
Don’t let debate just be a one time thing you did in middle school. Your journey doesn’t end here. Great debaters make great future lawyers, business people, doctors, & pharmacists, Use the skills you’ve learned, make connections, and always keep an open mind.
Ashanti, Class of 2016
Jennifer, Class of 2016
Keep going! As you all are in middle school you have room to find yourself. Do as best as you can in every tournament and be sure to make friends along the way. You will all be amazing in the future. Do not rush your youth as well, enjoy it!
It's important to take breaks and to put yourself first. I think a lot of people get scared of taking gap semesters and gap years, but I say that if you feel like you need one and have the ability to take one, 100% go for it. Ask for help when needed, take time to oneself when needed, and try new things, even if you are scared.
Jack, Class of 2022
Debate has had a beneficial impact on my writing and research skills. I feel like I'm ahead of most of the students in my grade, due to the fact that my writing is more advanced from doing debate. It's much easier for me to construct argumentative essays, and find evidence from reliable sources because of my experience doing public forum debate for 3 years.
Sophie, Class of 2016 Debate has allowed me to be able to empathize with both sides of an argument, while forming my own well spoken opinion. In my adult life, I was shocked to find that many people don't have the confidence to do this just because they never had the practice.
Keturah, Class of 2020
I could write a debate format essay in under 40 minutes and I’m really good at writing from either side of a situation.
Destin, Class of 2021
I did a lesson in ELA on making an argumentative essay and I excelled because of debate. Class of 2020
Chiara, Class of 2022
Even if you have to hit pause on debate for a little, you should always get back to some sort of academic team like debate. Either mock trial, Model UN, or even just other forms of debate. It can be surprising how much it helps for making friends and becoming more confident with yourself.
Salma, Class of 2016
Your team and your coaches are your family, so treasure these moments and always let them know that you appreciate them.
Megan, Class of 2020
Debate is hard work and won't come easy, but you'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish. Take a chance and join the team! Thank you for supporting me in debate and in class! Debate had a big part in making me who I am today and I'm so grateful.
Class of 2016
Keturah, Class of 2020
Chiara, Class of 2022
Keep your head up because there’s gonna be setbacks but you can definitely get back on your feet, you’re never too young/old.
Ev
For the coaches: Thank you so much for everything that you guys have done to get me to where I am.
Zoja, Class of 2016
....Being confident in your arguments, mentoring others about debate and learning how to be good speakers. Speaking on behalf or your club, school, job, and self is something people struggle with....Being able to present research is a skill I indirectly learned in debate.
Jack, Class of 2022
Thank you do much for introducing me to debate and making my middle school experience so much more interesting and enjoyable. I've learned so much beyond writing refutation, summaries, constructive speeches, like valuable time management skills and what it means to argue, that without the HPCMS public forum debate team, I would've never learned.
Winners of a tournament in 2014, including Salma, class of 2016
Chiara, Class of 2022
Atticus, Class of 2021
Debate taught me to be able to form arguments more precisely, be more convincing, write better essays.
Class of 2020 Team Members with HPCMS Alumni Judges
Class
2017
The current HPCMS Debate Team in November 2022, with Coaches Mr. Piscitello, Mr. Brezina, Mr. Molitor and Ms. Miao.
of 2016 and
“The world is yours, go conquer it.”-Mr. Piscitello
THANK YOU HUGE THANK YOU TO HPCMS DEBATE TEAM MEMBERS THAT GRADUATED BETWEEN 2013 AND 2022 FOR CONTRBUTING TO THIS PROJECT. TO ADD YOUR PHOTOS OR MEMORIES TO THIS PROJECT, EMAIL HPCMSPTA@GMAIL.COM TO MAKE A GIFT IN SUPPORT OF THE CURENT HPCMS DEBATE TEAM, PLEASE VISIT THE PTA WEBSITE AT HTTPS://HPCMSPTA.SQUARE.SITE/