Debate Became One of the Only Places Where I Felt I Belonged
William Nguyen, a senior at Yerba Buena High School, has discovered powerful tools through SVUDL to advocate for what matters most to him.
"Over the past four years, SVUDL has enriched my knowledge and empowered my voice," he reflected. "Learning about Kritik debate from my team captains transformed Policy Debate into a space where I could explore my identity as a Vietnamese American. As I immersed myself in literature about immigration, nativism, and settler colonialism, I gained the advocacy skills needed to articulate my grievances with the status quo and envision my role in creating a more just world. Without Speech and Debate, I don't think I would have developed these skills. In today's world, the issues we debate feel incredibly relevant to the challenges our society faces."
What strikes William as most impactful is how SVUDL has shaped him into a more caring, thoughtful person. "During my freshman year, I struggled to connect with others and didn't have many friends. Debate became one of the only places where I felt I belonged. Learning from my teammates changed my perspective on what it meant to be a debater—it wasn't just about competing at tournaments, but about enjoying our time together. I saw how much my team cared about my well-being over the years, and I hope they know how much I care about them, too."
He cherishes the memories he's made along the way. "I'll never forget my first SVUDL tournament—the 2022 Sojourner Truth Tournament. After placing 37th out of 37 teams, I questioned whether I wanted to continue. But my team rallied around me, offering strategic advice and sharing their own stories of loss. They showed me I had potential to improve and grow. Now, three years later, having qualified to represent SVUDL at the 2026 Urban Debate National Championship, I can see how far I've come. That first tournament is now the first story I tell new members!"
His favorite part of SVUDL has been the community. "When I joined as a freshman, I was nervous seeing how tight-knit the other debaters were. But they quickly welcomed me, and I made friends I would learn from, grow with, and watch thrive. Practices became venues where we shared stories from our lives. It was always meaningful to connect during both struggles and successes. This debate community is what I'll miss most after graduation."
William recognizes SVUDL's profound influence on his college applications. "Throughout the process, I constantly reflected on my Speech and Debate experiences. Most of my essays related to debate and those that didn’t still drew on lessons from SVUDL. While I've long planned to major in Biology, SVUDL has inspired me to continue exploring my identity by also pursuing Asian American Studies. I plan to bring critical thinking and analytical skills from debate to wherever I attend."
He deeply appreciates SVUDL's mission and its impact on a brighter future. "Having diverse voices is crucial to building a brighter, more equitable world because it empowers students from marginalized communities to express ourselves. Too often, our society suppresses voices critical of the status quo—a problem exacerbated by educational disparities along racial lines. In such a divisive time, it's more important than ever that students can make their voices heard the way SVUDL has enabled me to make mine heard. By creating a platform for diverse voices, SVUDL has empowered the next generation of students in our league to keep fighting for a more fair world."
