The Dallas Urban Debate alliance is wonderful! I have learned so much from this organization. The coordinator Nicole Serano is amazing. I as a member and user of this nonprofit would recommend it to everyone. Debate has opened so many door for me. Some things I never thought possible. But because I had a place, such as the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance. I was able to achieve my goals. I am very thankful.
After a successful novice year, I felt that making progress would be my main goal. Seeing that there was going to be a regime change, I knew that it was going to be difficult getting used to the new director, but the league and the its participants made it easier to be successful. With the better opportunities to have experienced coaches and debaters at the SMU Debate Centers and a Gold Star Approved Director, my partner and I made it to the octafinals at NAUDL Debate Tournament.
In school people have always told me "College is important... You need to go. Without college you don't have much of a future." I always heard about how important college was in the role of life, but I never truly imagined myself attending college. I always hated school. I was really shy, barely getting by in all of my classes, a big procrastinator. That changed once I got to high school and I heard about the debate team. So one day I decided to stop by the debate room to see how it worked. I thought it could be a really fun extra curricular to do in my free time. "One tournament," I thought to myself, "And if you don't like it, hey you didn't lose anything from giving it a try." So I prepared for about a month before the first tournament. Once the first tournament rolled around I was so nervous. Being as I was a shy person and I would have to go up and speak in-front of people, I didn't know if I was really going to go through with it. As soon as I got up there to the podium, I just started going care free, I knew I was ready so I was no longer worried. Throughout the debate I used all the strategies my team taught me. At the end of the round when the judge announced that I won, I can't even begin to explain what I felt. It was incredible. Ever since that day, I have been fully committed to my debate career. I owe all my thanks to DUDA and everyone who has supported our tournaments, and made all my dreams come true.