Students speak about the power of debate

Two TDL debaters, Raeleigh Pulliam and Brian Cain, spoke about how debate has impacted their lives at the May 2nd Tulsa Public Schools School Board meeting. The two students were greeted with applause from the School Board members and the audience as they talked about their paths. According to Brian, "[debate] has boosted my confidence in myself and how I view my community." While Brian and his partner were "too short for basketball and too slow for football," debate has become a place where he can shine. His peers and friends at Central High School shared his pride in competing - and winning - against schools Central "had no business beating." For Raeleigh, who also qualified to Speech and Debate Nationals in Dramatic Interpretation, the urban debate league is an "environment to grow and to learn and to become the person that I am." And equally important, she is learning that "there is a group of people that will always be there for me." Watch their inspiring stories on our YouTube channel.

See Raeleigh's speech here.

See Brian's speech here.

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