Monday, December 06, 2004
To IMU Debaters, you guys rock!!!!
I bet you've read tons and tons of posts on this topic at debaters' blogs ie Sheena, Yee Pei, Adeline, Vasan... but it's time I put my two cents about this topic. Hell, I promised you guys I would update on this topic and here I am.
NHSD stands of National Health Sciences Debate, hosted by IMU, BJ, and in my opinion... let's just keep opinions to myself, eh?
NHSD 2003 was my first ever varsity debate. I could still remember it so clearly. I volunteered to help one day and got dragged into the torrents of the world of debate by Sarah Sheena Toyat, who is by far the best debate trainer I ever had (maybe becos she is like my only one, du-uh). I was floundering in deep waters, and I could still remember that I was to pair with Sheena. My mind was screaming help, I would only be dragging her down into the deep end with me.
And then my partner of NHSD 2003 was also dragged in. He was more kasihan than me. He came into the training room just to speak to me and was shoved in by Vishna. And even worse, we were placed together. 2 idiotic asses trying to swim with the big fishes.
During the debate, we were charted as IMU1 and was placed in the room with the GIANTS of the Malaysian Debater Circle. MMU1, UKM1, UM1!!! We were closing government, and let me just brief you on how big those giants were and how small we were. All three teams made it into the finals of NHSD2003 while we were the only team with a consistent streak of 4th placing in the debates (4th means last). That was how big the gap was.
But this time... its a new year, a new beginning. NHSD2004 was an interesting event for me and Richard. We weren't paired together this time (but we were so damn blardy close of becoming a team, but due to power matching...). I was paired with Michelle (kudos my lassy, you saved me ass all the time), while Richard paired with Vasan. Yup, the information guy. And instead of sending in only 2 teams like last year, we had 4 teams. FOUR!!! That was how much our debate society has grown.
We had unearthed many diamonds in the rough during that one year span.
Song Yee Pei, who joined the debate society to adjudicate, but was asked to debate once when we had not enough debaters, and is a debater ever since. Hot and spicy and always agitated, good speaker overall. A good feeder when in a team. Team to be heavy on her side.
Vasantha Kumar, who joined in Sem2. He was termed secondary school debater by Sheena, but has proved otherwise since then. Cool with dripping sarcasm, it is irritating debating AGAINST him. Excellent whip, gets the big pictures easily. A formidable teammate who can insult the opponents to the ground without being rude. "That was an unnecessary POI."
Adeline Gong, the biggest surprise there. M2/03 rep, she was supposed to be adjudicating. But was asked to debate once to fill in Vasan's place. Is a debater ever since, and still high on debate. Cool and calm, and totally in control of herself. Have her in a team, and you have a teammate with a weird outlook of points which is good when you need extensions. First debate tournament ever.
Michelle Chong, my partner in crime. This hectic girl was like so busy during training as she had so many other things to do. She is treasurer of NHSD, she had to participate in the World Chess Championship, she had to practice Indian Dance, carol singing... tsk tsk... Multitasker. Damn RESPECT!!! Quite in control of self during speech, can easily save your ass if on your team.
And polished some.
Tan Hai Liang, the cute little puppy. Supposedly Best Speaker in Johor. Quite cute, but follows Sheena around during the debate like a cute little puppy. Have I mentioned that he is just like a cute little puppy?
Hai Liang and Sheena. Sheena's giving commands, Hai Liang at her heel listening forlornly. Like a lost cute little puppy.
Richard Lee. This guy had a sudden growth spurt in debate, quickly climbing the ranks to challenge Sheena for the throne. But he is still easily demoralised, which will harm the team, but heck, that demoralisation is a small price to pay for a great teammate who is knowledgable.
Elena How, this bodoh-fied girl who was a burden in the debate team as she got tat 'don care' attitude and likes to be fed. A sad case for Sheena to try to break through with advices like "Don't smile! Plan your speech!" But get her into a tournament, and wahla, a sudden change.
"Shit Elena, why you suddenly change wan? So different from training?" -Michelle Chong, when Elena started giving out orders and using bombastic words.
And of course, can never forget our trainer,
SARAH SHEENA TOYAT, who is - too bad - not really advancing as her only challenges are her own trainees. And the time has come to let the Chinese saying come true "Green comes from blue, but more brilliant than blue." Is a really good trainer, tho a really naggy mother. *shiver* I wonder how her kids can handle her next time. "Elena, put on seatbelts. Elena, seatbelts. Elena, this, Elena that..." But it is thanks to her that I made it this far into debating.
In a way, this blog is dedicated to her, and of course the rest of the debaters, but mostly her... as she is after all my trainer. The best, bcos the only one.
The IMU teams composition for NHSD 2004 :
IMU 1 : Richard & Vasan
IMU 2 : Sheena & Hai Liang
IMU 3 : Yee Pei & Adeline
IMU 4 : Elena & Michelle
Me and me partner.
Pei Pei and A gong.
The team compositions were the hardest decisions to be made thru the training. Richard, Vasan and Adeline formed a love/debate triangle where each wanted the other. Yee Pei & Adeline debated only ONCE before tournament. Elena & Michelle debated TWICE and was supposed to be scapegoats at first. Sheena & Hai Liang was a formidable pair with Richard and Vasan. Both teams predicted to break into quarters.
And to show how much yours truly had grown in debate:
First round: TH would ban hypnotic psychotherapy.
IMU 1 : 2nd place
IMU 2 : 2nd place
IMU 3 : 2nd place
IMU 4 : 1st place (Elena got highest speaker score)
Hmm... impressive no?
I brought my Bible along for that debate, I felt better having God's word with me. That morning, I was just flipping through and I landed on this chapter.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2 : 1-4
And behold, I went upon the podium and spoke, like the Holy Spirit is within me.
Adeline said God gave me the tongues to speak. Amen.
The rest of the tournament flew by in a daze. IMU 4 lost 2 debates, one was because of stupid adjudicating (he gave us last just because we ruined the debate, stupid!), another one was carelessness on my part. *bow deeply* Sorry Michelle. Really!
I could still remember the final prelim on autism, where I went up there with almost a complete speech, written in 2 minutes. Pretty impressive, to me la. (Let me kembang sikit la). But the thing about the speech is that, I did not even give the paper a glance when I spoke. I practically cleared the fog over the whole debate with that one speech. It was one of my best performance ever, other than the first prelim.
We got second.
The diff between those 2 performance is that in the first, I was insulting. In the last round, I was compromising. So in the end, I was satisfied with my performances. I have proved to my teammate that I am actually not what I am during training.
Oh forgot to mention dresscode of the days of the tournament.
Day 1 : Black
Day 2 : Red
Day 3 : Traditional
Black and Red shirts are a necessity in a man's wardrobe, and I am sad to say both Hai Liang (cute little puppy) and my own damn boyfriend do not have both those shirts. Hey, now I know what to get to get Richard for his Christmas present.
The last day, Traditional. I went as Traditional Casual, while Sheena managed to squirrel her way out after demanding Hai Liang to put on a trad chinese.
At the end of the day, I can safely say... NHSD 2004 was actually fun and another real experience that is worthy to be blogged about.
I think developing psychological algorithms might be a job more suited
for psychics...
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