Are you looking for a challenge or a way to express yourself?
Then look no further than Arundel High School’s Speech and Debate Team! This team is the only competitive Speech and Debate team in Anne Arundel County, competing in the Baltimore Catholic Forensics League (BCFL) and National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) tournaments, going up against schools all over Maryland. The Speech and Debate team offers a wide range of events, from dramatic performances to academic debate. If you’re looking for a club, this is a great opportunity to get involved and make your time at Arundel special.
I spoke with Teresa Dimka, the coach for Arundel High School’s Speech and Debate Team, to gain more insight into what this club offers prospective students:
Q: Can you provide a brief overview of the Speech and Debate Team and its mission?
A: “The Speech and Debate team provides opportunities for students to develop quick and critical thinking, argumentation, writing, and public speaking skills in a competitive environment. Our mission is to support students in developing these skills.”
Q: Could you highlight some of the team’s most significant accomplishments in recent years?
A: “We have some outstanding and talented students, and we have had the opportunity to take some of them to national championship tournaments (National Catholic Forensics League).”
Q: What makes this team unique compared to other academic or extracurricular activities?
A: “It is competitive academics and performance-based. No other team contributes directly to increased academic performance.”
Q: What has been your most rewarding experience leading this team?
A: “I have had several rewarding experiences coaching this team, not the least of which has been the opportunity to take several students to national competitions. However, I think the most rewarding experience involved a student who really struggled and didn’t experience much success. Finally, in her senior year, she won a medal in her event. She was so thrilled that she was practically in tears. It was really a recognition of how hard and long she had worked, and it was great to see her experience success after struggling for so long.”
Q: How do you approach coaching and mentoring students with varying experience levels in Speech and Debate?
A: “What I try to do is give the more experienced students some initiative and guidance, allowing them to work independently as much as possible while offering assistance when needed. This way, I can take the novices from the ground up, building their skills to the point where they can start helping and mentoring one another. The assistance of Ms. Campbell is just invaluable.”
Q: How does the team foster a sense of community among its members?
A: “The only times we get together as a team are at tournaments or during Monday meetings. Before COVID, there were a lot of social interactions between the team members, which really fostered a sense of community. Since COVID, participation in the team has declined, and we haven’t had as much opportunity to develop the social aspects of the team. But now that the team is growing and COVID is behind us, I’m hopeful that our team will develop a much stronger sense of camaraderie and community.”
Q: What skills do students develop by participating in Speech and Debate?
A: “Obviously, they develop public speaking skills, but that goes without saying. They also develop the ability to think quickly, analyze problems efficiently, and build skills in argumentation.”
Q: What impact do you think Speech and Debate will have on students outside of competition settings?
A: “I think it has a couple of impacts. First, for many students, Speech and Debate is ‘their thing.’ It gives them a group to belong to that gets them involved in the school, especially if there might not be another activity that connects them to the school or their peers. Second, there’s a long-term impact because the skills they develop aren’t just for Speech and Debate—they’re lifelong, adult skills. When will you not need to analyze a situation? When will you not need to communicate with an employer or someone you want to influence? These are essential life skills. The more adept you become at these, the more success you’ll achieve in various areas.”
Joining Arundel High’s Speech and Debate Team might be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make.
With countless opportunities to grow, make friends, and be yourself, there’s something for everyone. If you are interested in joining, you can talk to Mrs. Dimka or visit the Arundel Speech and Debate Team Instagram page for more information.
Contact information:
Teresa Dimka
tdimka@aacps.org
Alex Gallo
Student Reporter Intern, Arundel High School
