In an uncertain world, students are taught to face issues through the lenses of anxiety, stress, bullying, and violence. Empathy is regarded as a weakness instead of strength. High school students are exposed to negativity on a daily basis through television, social media, and at home. They’re taught to choose a side instead of having compassion for the plights of others. Debate is a unique way to teach students, “civil discourse in the classroom and facts to support opinions.” Too often, high school students enter school extremely opinionated with little to no research backing up their beliefs.

Matt Presser, a Harvard English Professor, states. “Too rarely in our schools do we give our students a chance to prepare for the leadership roles we need them to take on someday. Empathy isn’t only about social-emotional skill building. It’s also a way to envision yourself in another person’s position—in a leadership position.”

It’s not surprising that high school debate students go on to participate in active leadership positions throughout their lives. Debaters are trained to look at current issues critically at every angle, and to explore all options, reasoning, and logical constructions. Debate students are taught to lead with a moral compass, knowing the information they are presenting is thoroughly researched, and factual. Debaters know honesty is a key component to debating, because their opponent will immediately call out anything deemed to be non-factual. Most importantly, they are taught to view an issue through their opponent’s eyes. When a debater advocates for her side of an argument, she knows there is someone just as passionate arguing on the other end of the spectrum. This creates a sense of camaraderie, as both parties understand they are advocating for a common good. The ability to be empathetic, to understand another person’s feelings on a current issue, is what creates great leaders.

Debaters stand up for oppressed individuals, and as leaders, they find a way to work with their opponents through constructive argumentation, logical reasoning, and critical thinking.