Debate first started in around 500 B.C. in Greece. It was used as a way to solve arguments. Now in the year 2025, it has found its way to Lee’s Summit High School through our debate team.  

Debate gives students a chance to learn how to speak more eloquently and better vocalize their opinions.

“It just means having structure and responsibility in your life as well as accountability whenever it comes to your teamwork and the people that you have on the team, especially when it comes to tournaments and having responsibility with your own cases,” sophomore Amerika Gonzalez said. 

The teamwork aspect can be seen in many different ways. For the debate team’s Vice President, senior Maddie Pressnell, it’s teaching her teammates.

“I also play a big role in teaching other people to be good at it and to enjoy it. So for me, it’s about learning,” Pressnell said.

Debate can play a vital role in teaching students skills for college or, in some cases, future jobs.

“Even just being the Vice President of the debate team has already boosted me up a whole lot. It’s taught me a lot about communication and being able to talk to people and being able to present myself really well, and people take note of that. The chairman of my major at UCM was talking to me about it and all of my communication skills and being able to public speak, especially, when a lot of people my age can’t really do that. I definitely think that it helps. Even if you don’t want to be a lawyer, being able to just talk to people is a huge skill that will just affect you all the time,” Pressnell said.

Debate is beneficial for many reasons. For instance, it leads students to become more comfortable with researching. 

“When you do debate, you have to have an argument for affirmative and negative, so you have to know both sides of one issue,” sophomore Samantha Graham said.

Being good at debate is not just a talent, but something you have to grow into. Advancing and winning awards are great, but it can take a lot of hard work and intelligence. 

“I think my favorite is just collaborating with a bunch of people and gaining more knowledge and education whenever it comes to ways to create my arguments and also having my debate partner with me all the time at my tournaments,” Gonzalez said. 

As students continue to participate in debate tournaments and practices, they can start advancing in debate and even win an award. 

“I’ve won an award for the most progress shown in a debate member at our school. But I didn’t always start off that way. In fact, for a long time—my sophomore year—I kind of sucked really bad. But I put in a lot of work and a lot of practice and, you know, failed a lot to be able to succeed,” Pressnell said.

Many students on the debate team are working hard and getting better. There is a lot of potential for this student-run organization. Two students in particular have stood out more than others. 

“Samantha Graham and her debate partner, Amerika Gonzalez, are fantastic. I think that they will do amazing things after I graduate. They’re great people and they work so well together and they’re putting in a lot of hard work this year,” Pressnell said.

There are a lot of great things coming from our debate team and amazing students on the team.