An open letter to the Talkin' Tigers

Last night I judged my first debate tournament since Jr. High Nationals in the summer of 2011. As I spoke with a discouraged freshman between rounds, I realized I had a lot I wanted to share with other high school students, particularly those in debate.

Dear you,

At some point in high school, you will probably need to read this. I needed to hear it, and I hope you share it with a friend who might need it.

There will be moments in your debate career, and in life, when you will wonder how much more you can fake it before you make it. Take a deep breath. You are capable. It's going to be hard. But it's going to be worth it.

Don't let the number of trophies on your shelf or the number of 4s on your ballots discourage you. A dear friend of mine spent much of his debate career earning only participation points. He later lead the team and ended up with a few trophies that surprised everyone. Your time will come.

If it doesn't come in high school, that's OK too.

There's something more important going on in Room D at Mountain Home High School. You're developing an important set of skills. You're learning to think and speak clear and concise. You're developing the ability to look at both sides of an issue and hesitate before jumping to a conclusion. These skills will serve you well as you move the black and orange tassel a few years from now. You're developing political awareness at an earlier age than most. You're learning never to take a politician at his word and to never take "evidence" as fact.

You will develop some confidence, but don't be worried when the nerves don't ever disappear. You need to have a little skepticism toward yourself. It will push you to improve.

Not everyone will understand what you're going through. Many people will find you strange for caring about politics when it "doesn't really affect you." You know that it does. Keep on trucking. As I stood in line to vote in my very first presidential election last year, someone not more than five years older than me said I missed out on my teen years because I was so politically inclined. It didn't change the immense pride I felt casting my first ballot. Turn the other cheek.

You're doing just fine.

When you get to college, this mindset will have you writing papers so good the teacher will grade you harder, because they know what you are capable of. You will have people convinced that you are several years older because no person your age could ever carry on a conversation of that caliber.

In the end, the trophies will collect dust on a shelf in your parent's house, or, in my case, wrapped up in a blanket in a storage tub that may or may not be one I used to carry my evidence in, hiding in a storage cell. Your NFL points will sit on a page no one looks at.

But you will have friends that you've only met once, during some off time at a tournament, that become lifelong friends.

You will keep those memories of triumph, like placing third at a tournament where your partner threw up twice while performing. You will carry those moments of pain, when you openly sobbed because you failed to break at your final state tournament.

You will enter the world with a hunger to know as much as possible before forming an opinion.

Some of you will continue your debate career.

Some of you will not. But you will find many ways to utilize the skills you acquired in debate. You will use them to win scholarships or get that job. You will win people over with your fantastic "business casual" dress and knowledge of a good handshake.

You might find yourself wandering into the judges lounge at a local high school tournament, choking back a small knot in your throat as you realize the freshman you had in your last LD round looked like Coby, or that someone looked like Connor Tuttle (Petti will know those guys, just ask him). You will smile at the girl in the CX round because she reminds you of yourself.

And you will take a moment to encourage them to keep at it, because as crazy as debate made you in high school with its late nights and early mornings and stress and tears, you loved it very much.

Have fun and learn something. I sure did.