Snohomish High School Speech and Debate

MONDAY: Debate (LD and PF) 2:20-4:00 unless otherwise noted

TUESDAY: Congress 2:20-4:00, individual practices in the evening by signup

WEDNESDAY: Impromptu/Extemp 2:20-4:00, practices evenings by signup

THURSDAY: We go to CMS for the middle school program

For the returning members, it's that time of year again, and I can hardly wait for the big tournaments.  For me, there is debate and there is everything else, and I know a lot of you feel the same way.  It's time for debate.  I think most coaches would agree that we have the most talented team in the state this year, but we have a long way to go before we win another 4-A state championship, and we have a big target on our back.  It's going to take time, commitment, and a lot of patience, but we'll get there.  Veterans, you are now the warhorses of the group, and one of your biggest obligations is to teach the newer members the discipline and work ethic you have developed.  Teach them the love you have for the activity and for your teamates.  If they have that, they'll be as successful and impressive as you have been.

For the newer members, it's really difficult to explain to you why the veterans and I look forward to the season so much. If you can make it through three tournaments, you will begin to understand.  Most of you will never love anything in school as much as you love speech and debate, nor will you hate anything as much.  There will be at least three times in your first year and at least that many in your second in which you think of quitting.  Your friends and your family may even tell you to quit. And some of you will.  But most of you will work through that and stick it out, and eventually you will wonder why more people don't do it, because you'll begin to understand the beauty involved in the sacrifices you make and the level of talent you achieve.  Not everyone can do what you are going to do.  It's not easy.  But few things inlife worth doing are easy.  These are lessons that carry on far beyond high school, and there is no comparison between those who have competed at that level and those who have not.  Speech and Debate gets into your blood and it changes you.  It makes you better, faster, stronger, and far more aware of the larger world around you.  You have to trust me that in a few months, what I am telling you now will make sense because your world will have altered dramatically.

My last thought is for both veterans and newcomers.  You all arrive here for different reasons.  Some of you want to compete on a higher plane.  Trust me, you'll see that.  Some of you are very competitive and want to win bling.  Yes, we have bling.  You may be here for travel, and we offer that.  For others, it is scholarship opportunities, and yes, we have those.  Some of you come because it's a team, and you want to belong to something.  We have that too.  Some of you come because public speech terrifies you and trust me, you come for the best reason, and you have likely found the best teacher around to help you deal with that, because if you are terrified, know that I was you at your age.  These are all good reasons, but the very best reason, and I speak from the experience of half a century of kicking around this planet, is this: So far as I know, you get one shot at this life.  You have  your life, and you have been given a gift that is beyond measure.  You are talented people, all of you, or we would not have recruited you. Your obligation and your privilege is to develop your life, your gift, your promise, to the greatest degree possible. At this point in your develoment, Speech and Debate will do that far faster than anything else.  I believe in the value of Speech and Debate wth all my heart, because I see it develop students every day.  I think you will come to believe it too.  And I think you will emerge a better, faster, stronger, and more confident  person for placing your trust in what we do.