Parkway North’s Debate Club is just getting started, but has already begun discussing exciting topics, such as which debating genres they prefer and current events.

“In speech and debate, we explore local, national, and international issues,” said English teacher Megan McCorkle, the sponsor of the debate club. 

McCorkle herself, in her own high school days, was a member of her alma mater’s debate club. Already knowing what the Debate Club entails, she hopes now, in this generation, to persuade and motivate current high school students to join the Debate Club and appreciate its importance.

“I hope the Debate Club will help me become a better communicator, thinker, and problem solver. I believe these skills will help me in school and college,” said Aastha Vig, a ninth grader in the club. 

As a result, students have already begun to learn to love debate, realizing how beneficial it can be for not only college applications but also to improve communication skills between their peers, and studies show that joining the club boosts self-confidence.

“I want to be heard as someone who listens carefully and shares thoughtful ideas. I hope to contribute to discussions respectfully while expressing my point of view confidently,” said Vig.

Having a diverse debate team can increase a student’s sense of belonging, engagement, and potentially overcome racial barriers when learning about different people’s backgrounds and beliefs. 

“It’s important to understand other cultures, beliefs, and stances. Especially in a club made for sharing opinions,” said Olivia Werner, a twelfth-grade member at North.

A way to apply the educational experience you learned from the club to then share it with the modern world comes in a variety of ways, such as real-world problems like society and what it has come to now in 2025, now that there’s AI involved, which is constantly changing the world, for better or for worse; politically, too. 

“Students learn to look at real-world problems from many different vantage points. They learn to persuade real audiences. They become active listeners. They will be able to voice their opinions while also carefully considering others,” said McCorkle.