UTALK 2020’s WINNER

Walking into UTALK 2020 (an English presentation and debate contest) with little to no debate experience, I had little expectation, yet, in the end I was the one who gained the most.

The final round!

Under the spotlight

In many ways, participating in and becoming the winner of UTALK 2020 was a remarkable accomplishment in my high school career, one that I take great pride in. In one sense, it was one of the most well known events organized by arguably the most popular club in HNUE: SAGS with the attendance of the most qualified English teachers in school, and I was able to make my mark at such an occasion with nothing but pure hard work and determination. In another sense, it was one of the earliest and most successful attempts of my conscious battle to overcome shyness, as I willingly put myself under the spotlight, at a public speaking and debating contest no less!

Here's me presenting our debate!

Where our voices were heard

Lastly, I am also appreciative of the opportunity because it was an invaluable experience, where I got to interact and compete with a great number of talented and skilled individuals from both in and out of HNUE, from schools such as Foreign Language Specialized School and Amsterdam Highschool for the Gifted who all shared a passion for debate. UTALK 2020 was a free environment where we were allowed to express our opinions and views to the fullest through intense yet at the same time eye-opening debates.

Life lesson

From my competitors, I learned a great deal, not just about debate, but also about life as well, since the main theme of the contest was based on “Resilience” and its importance when facing major struggles and pitfalls in life. I was able to understand how resilience will determine our fate, how it is crucial that we pick ourselves up after suffering defeat, to keep moving forward. For that lesson, I am forever grateful to the experience.

“It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward”

-Rocky Balboa

Huge thanks to my parents for always supporting me!