“I have Learned that My Voice Matters” - Addis Arciniega

Imagine how busy Addis must be to skillfully juggle being both a student in college while also working for SVUDL. This blending of worlds is a shining example of the ripple effect SVUDL has on an individual. Addis once said that "what SVUDL has really taught me is that there is community in everything.” She decided to join the staff of SVUDL because of the people involved. “I found one of the best communities at SVUDL and it's one of the best support systems I could've asked for. I believe I can thrive while juggling both school and being on staff because of my community,” she said.

Addis once also said that “another benefit from SVUDL is that I have become more attentive overall. That connection between political science and SVUDL stemmed from my coach’s mentoring that I didn’t make false statements about what was going on politically in the world.”

Political science is still Addis’s focus as she navigates her college career with this subject matter as her intended major. “I have applied what I learned from debate to my education and have shown skills a bit more advanced than other students. Political science requires a lot of research, and I can do that at a more advanced level than my peers because of the skills I learned in debate,” she noted.

Addis also still considers law school to be a major goal. “I hope that with my current role at SVUDL and my education, I can continue to pursue that path! I have networked a lot with folks in SVUDL’s community of support, and am learning about various roles I am potentially interested in,” she recalled.

SVUDL has helped her to uncover and hone the power of her voice, so she can confidently step into her full potential as a professional and community leader. “SVUDL has helped me understand that I belong wherever I land. Whether it be in college, meeting the Attorney General, or in the office, I have learned that my voice matters. In fact, it matters in all of these settings, and it is important that I use that to my full potential. I was able to advocate when I was in high school about school closures to ask questions of the Attorney General with confidence that what I had to say was important. I learned this throughout my debate career with the ability to discover arguments that weren't so popular in the space and used my voice to amplify,” she described.

Addis also remembers how challenging she used to find public speaking. In fact, in a past interview, she said that "SVUDL has changed me as a person in that I’m better at public speaking. I didn’t like it before.” But, with all of these SVUDL experiences, she has started to love public speaking even more. “I can be in front of a group of my peers or students and speak confidently. I love being in front of a classroom and teaching others what I have learned. It has become one of my passions,” she recalled.

SVUDL further expanded her access to new opportunities: she joined an Alumni Retreat with NAUDL; met Attorney General Merrick Garland and asked questions about his experience as a debater; and networked and built connections in Washington D.C. “I wouldn't have been given that opportunity without SVUDL and the connections it allowed me to form,” she described.

It is this diversity of voices that builds a more equitable and brighter world. “It allows for people who are often silenced and ignored to be listened to: every single idea each person has is important – even if people may disagree. It matters to be heard. I believe debate allows for even the smallest arguments to be considered by peers. This space is ideal for students to learn more about the world. It enables more people to speak up about important topics,” Addis.

Addis has acquired multiple tools gleaned from SVUDL to help her advocate for what she feels is important. One of the main skills she took away from SVUDL was the skill to research. She has the ability to think critically as she navigates networking and advocating for students' education. “It's amazing what advocating for someone or something can do to change an environment,” she said.

SVUDL has changed her perspective on her life on so many levels. “I can create what I want to do. I used to believe that spaces were created for people who did not look like me,” she said.

SVUDL has also impacted her goals for the future. “Before I joined SVUDL in high school, I had a completely different career path planned out for myself. I once aimed to become a forensics pathologist. Buw now I am aiming for a path in law and I couldn't have done that without SVUDL. I believe advocating for others is one of the true passions I discovered during my time here,” she said.