Advice for the Second Semester

To the girl/gender minority with a cishet male partner- you aren't being "carried." Your partner wouldn't be able to achieve the same amount of success without the essential work that you do.

From, Anonymous

In terms of motivation, I find that it's a lot easier to structure your prep. You're never going to be able to prep everyone in the pool, but it makes it easier to start with teams who have many entries into the tournament (you're more likely to hit them) or schools that you think are most threatening. Start with a list, and just tell yourself that you're going to spend a little bit of time every day on debate (it doesn't matter how much time). Whether its giving a practice speech or cutting cards for a while, just try to do something each day to try and get better! People may say that "doing more" is what gets you to be successful but really it's just about consistency. If you haven't had the most successful first semester, just know that the second semester is a fresh start! There are still tournaments to break at, grow at, etc. Wishing you luck!

From, WGM executive board member

don't let others define you

From, Anonymous

I'll list the advice, not really in any particular order and then end with generic advice. 1. Think about files that you want for the end of the year tournaments - especially new Affs - and have meetings with your coaches to iron these out (State, TOC, NDCA, NSDA)

2. Thoroughly scout the wiki (high school and college)

3. Have other team members organize and highlight backfiles

4. Follow what is happening at Emory, Berkeley, Harvard, Pine Crest

5. Think about strengths and weaknesses of teams you know you can beat but haven't yet

6. Do work! Work work work!

7. Try to have all of your major files done in March

8. Give practice speeches after practice speeches on new arguments and arguments that you've struggled with during the season. Have practice debates

9. Think about possible folks you're planning to hire for the end of season tournaments

10. Take away distractions as you set goals for ending the season

11. Think about prefs a bit more --Pref people based more on how smart they are as opposed to how ideologically aligned to my squad --Pick people who are hard-headed (won’t vote on rep) --People who take high school debate seriously --People who you have an equally good chance on the aff and the neg --Save strikes only for elim judges --Know how prefs work at each of the final tournaments

12. Start sleeping a little bit more. Rest is important!!

13. Arrive to the TOC a day early if possible so you can mentally prepare.

General advice - Know that you belong! Being a young woman/gender minority in a white, male dominated activity can be tough. However, know that you can be just as, if not more than, successful than any of them! Always stay in the moment because that's all that matters at the end of the day. When you think things have gotten bad, for whatever reason, know there is tomorrow and it does get better even if it doesn't seem like it will or can. Be confident in yourself and your abilities; if you don't believe in you, then why should anyone else? Lastly, kick ass!

From, Shuntá Jordan (UGA)

Being a woman and a person of color in debate has made me doubt my debate abilities several times. Whenever I start having thoughts about me not putting in enough, being good enough at debate, or others thinking I'm bad, I try to remind myself that perceptions are always going to be skewed. For example, I may think that I have a long way to go in being successful, but there may be other people who think I am very good at the activity. You are never going to be able to "impress" everyone in the community because people are always going to try to hurt your confidence. At the end of the day, you really want to minimize how much of an effect other peoples' words have on you because the reason you're in this activity is for your own personal growth. Even if "other people" may say hurtful things, they don't determine the type of success you are going to have (how you place, how you grow, etc). Also, it definitely says more about another person if they go out of their way to say bad things about you. Prove them wrong! If you face some form of discrimination, try to talk to a teammate, a friend outside of debate, or a coach. Sometimes just letting out how you're feeling is enough to make things better. You shouldn't be afraid of letting someone know what's going on if you are having a bad experience in debate.

From, WGM executive board member