The Clements debate team is one of the most prestigious debate programs in the state of Texas. Consisting of over 30 state-ranked and national debaters, debate is an award-winning and ever-increasing program with more and more achievements each day. 

“Clements debate is honestly really fun but really pressuring for anyone whose never done anything close to debate,” sophomore and previous first-place winner Trisha Sahu said. “But once you really commit, it’s a worth it experience.”

The debate program is extremely vast, with a variety of different experiences within the team. There are many different forms of debate within the program, with champions and podium placers in each category. Furthermore, debate allows students to experience a structured debate, learn to think critically in short time settings, and further develop communication skills to be successful in life and future careers.

“My second choice after being an engineer is to be a lawyer, so debate would help, and learning politics is law-related so I decided to do debate,” Sahu said. 

Anyone currently in debate 1, 2, or 3 can join the debate team no matter what experience the student may or may not have. Debate can range from beginners learning to debate in novice categories at competitions, to experienced students placing in national debates across the country. Whatever the case may be, the debate team and program allows students the opportunity to learn and grow as a student and debater. Just last week, Sahu placed first at the Spring Branch Houston competition in the Congress category.

“It felt great, it was honestly really surprising,” Sahu said. “I did not expect that at all, but it was a fun experience and I enjoyed it.”

Students join debate for various reasons. 

“I became interested in debate because I have extreme stage fright in most things, especially when playing an instrument,” Isabella Weems, a first year debater, said. “I wanted to debate to try and conquer this fear.”

Weems is just one of the many students who joined to learn new things and try a different experience. The debate team has already achieved many accomplishments and is striving to achieve more awards and invite more people to expand this program, which offers new skills and more experiences to be learned. 

“Debate is an effective way to connect and communicate, while learning and getting new points across in a whole new matter,” Weems said.