British
Debate.
Fifteen minutes to build a case from nothing. CISDAC Team Champion. U14 Best Speaker, Shanghai IT 2026. Schools outrounds finalist. Yale Global Rounds qualifier. British Parliamentary format.
The
Format.
My first BP round, I froze during prep: blank page, timer running. Three years later, fifteen minutes is all I need. British Parliamentary debate: four teams of two, 7-minute speeches, no motion knowledge until 15 minutes before.
You get the motion, your brain splits three ways: strongest argument, opponent pre-empt, framing for the judge. Hold all three threads or lose.
"Debate didn't teach me to talk. It taught me to listen, really listen, for the gap between what someone claims and what they've actually proven."
The core skill is structural reasoning under time pressure: building a three-part argument while anticipating rebuttals you haven't heard. Then your partner opens a case you didn't plan, and you extend it live.
The
Approach.
First year, I couldn't fill seven minutes. Now I run out of time. Five years reshaped how I think:
The
Record.
Started with public speaking, moved into Public Forum, and reached the TOC Octofinals in 2022. Then CISDAC taught me to compete at the top. The World Scholar's Cup showed me the global stage. Yale became the goal.
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Public Speaking · Foundation TrainingPublic SpeakingPublic Speaking FoundationFormal public speaking training before entering competitive debate: developed delivery, poise, and persuasive communication skills that underpin all competitive formats that followed.
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Public Forum Debate · Competitive CircuitPF FormatPF Competitive DebaterTrained and competed in Public Forum debate format: evidence-based argumentation, crossfire exchanges, and rapid case construction under time pressure. Competed before transitioning to British Parliamentary style.
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Public Forum · Tournament of Champions · 2022TOC OctofinalsTOC OctofinalsQualified and reached the Octofinals at the Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Public Forum debate format, one of the most competitive high school debate tournaments in North America.
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CISDAC · Open DivisionTeam ChampionTeam ChampionHighest bracket: veteran debaters from schools across China. First time debate felt like something I was genuinely good at.
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World Scholar's Cup · Regional · National · Yale GlobalAll 3 LevelsAll Three Levels: Gold & Silver MedalsCompeted and medalled across all three WSC stages: Regional (Shanghai), National (Xiamen), and Yale Global Rounds. Multiple gold and silver medals at each level across Team Debate, Collaborative Writing, and Scholar's Challenge.
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World Scholar's Cup · Regional (Shanghai) & National (Xiamen)Gold & SilverMultiple Gold & Silver MedalsGold and silver medals at both Regional and National stages across all three WSC disciplines: Team Debate (argumentation & rebuttals), Collaborative Writing (speed essay under time pressure), and Scholar's Challenge (trivia & general knowledge).
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SIDO · Shanghai International Debate OpenSIDO 2024-20263× Competitor: 2024, 2025, 2026Competed in the Shanghai International Debate Open across three consecutive years. British Parliamentary format, one of the most competitive high-school debate tournaments in Shanghai.
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GDC 2026 · GuangDong Debate ChampionshipsGDC 2026 · 5/6 Rounds5/6 Qualification Rounds WonWon 5 out of 6 qualification rounds at the GuangDong Debate Championships 2026, one of the strongest individual round records at this international BP invitational. Multiple gold medals across competition rounds.
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Shanghai IT 2026 · Schools Division · May 2026U14 Best SpeakerU14 Best Speaker · Schools Outrounds FinalistAwarded U14 Best Speaker, the individual speaker recognition awarded across all preliminary rounds at the full-field invitational. The team broke to Schools outrounds and reached the elimination bracket as finalist.
At the
podium.
Build a
case.
Pick a motion, choose your bench, and draft your HOLA in under 15 minutes. British Parliamentary prep, the way it actually runs in competition.
Debate feeds
everything
else.
Robotics, rowing, and debate look like separate things; they're not. The framework behind a BP case is the same one I use to design an autonomous routine or plan a race strategy. Debate didn't just make me a better speaker. It rewired how I think about every problem.
Also Explore
Structural argument under time pressure transfers directly to code. Four years, Finalist Alliance Captain at the World Championship Premier Event, five judged awards.
Debate rewards acknowledging the strongest counter before you dismantle it. Rowing rewards trusting the system you built. Same discipline.
Every award, ranking and score, in full.