Maridel’s Journey: A Story of Bananas and Emails
Yerba Buena High School student Maridel De Los Reyes holds many leadership roles at her school. Not only is she Debate Society Varsity Captain, but she is also Mock Trial President, Knitting Club Co-President, Rising Phoenix Lion Dance Club Co-President, and Filipino Student Union Co-President.
“I have a 4.0 and although I’m in so many leadership roles, I don’t think I’m the smartest person there, but I do think that I’m one of the hardest working,” reflected Maridel. “I wanted to join Speech and Debate in freshman year. I signed up at club rush but I never got an email back. I thought I had gotten rejected!”
It is funny how things turn out. Maridel did end up joining Speech and Debate in her junior year.
“That is a bit late for some people, but though late, I think it’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me. My whole journey to finding the debate team was very long and complicated,” said Maridel. “ I joined the Santa Clara County Court online event Color of Justice that my school announced through email and SVUDL had a part in organizing it. At the end of the event, Rolland talked about how SVUDL had Speech and Debate programs across high schools in Silicon Valley and Yerba Buena High School came up. They left their email in the chat, so I emailed SVUDL that same day. There was a long line of emails that ensued but each one left out a piece of information. Luckily, I was able to ask my friend where Ms. La’s classroom was and the rest is history.”
“I joined and was immediately introduced to a group of people who were compassionate yet strong. I learned a lot from our seniors (now alumni). They taught me the basics of debate and pushed me to do better. They also made debate feel like a home,” shared Maridel.
Bananas play a huge part in Maridel’s debate prep. “I have a pre-round ceremony. I really love bananas and how reliable they are, so I eat a banana before each debate round. Sometimes I eat two. I have never lost a single round after eating a banana, so I will keep doing it. Eating bananas also keeps me full and my mind alert so that I can think properly. I would describe myself as a banana. A resilient plant that sprouts back up and is ready to face the world any season: a fruit that grows from its heart,” said Maridel.
Maridel’s journey to join the debate team itself was a long and winding one, involving lots of communication errors, but it taught her that if she can communicate well, she can achieve what she wants.
When she finally joined the debate team, she found a community of people who were driven but warm. She had little confidence in her voice, but they reminded her that her voice is something she can work on and deserves to be heard.
Debate helped Maridel gain the confidence to stand up to the teacher that gave her a grade she did not feel she deserved, and her Impromptu Speech rounds have made writing timed English essays easier. Most of all, debate has taught her about the importance of caring. It hurts when her opponents ruthlessly attack arguments she holds dear in debate. Even so, she keeps going. She highlights the stories she cares about; she has come to find that her opponents’ arguments are lessons.
“I’ve started to see losses as opportunities to learn and grow. Talks with my fellow debaters helped me realize what I cared about, and with less fear of failure, I found myself forming clubs and participating in activities I cared about in my community,” said Maridel.
The partnership with SVUDL brings new perspectives to students. “At my school, I think lots of kids don’t think they’re cut out for doing bigger things, or that they should aim higher. I think a lot of them are stuck in an ‘I’m not good enough’ mentality and take less time to dream. I felt that way too at one point, but Speech and Debate has helped me improve my confidence,” shared Maridel. Recently, Maridel and her partner earned the privilege of traveling to Dallas to compete in a national championship tournament. She notes, “I'm excited to see Texas! I’ve never been to another state, and have always wondered just how different America is across state borders. I can’t wait to see Texas for myself and represent SVUDL! Of course, I’m also excited to meet some of the best debaters in the country and anxious to debate against them, but I’m grateful for the opportunity, so I am going to give it my all!
“Through debate, I’ve met students from schools from outside of my district, who I probably would not have met otherwise. Debate taught me how to manage my time and set goals for myself, as making files for arguments involves so much time and research. I think that will translate well into the future,” said Maridel.
She thinks the only way to make proper positive change is for citizens to be critical thinkers, resilient, and passionate. SVUDL is a great way to foster those skills, as by nature, every debate round leaves someone with a loss. Before debate, she was really afraid of failure. She has learned that failure is natural and really a stepping stone for moving forward.
Yerba Buena Speech and Debate Team
“Debate rewards passion and critical thinking about issues across our communities and the world. I’ve learned a lot about the world through debate, which has been invaluable for changing how I view it. SVUDL also hones your voice! It taught me that when I speak, I deserve someone who listens, so when you help students become good orators and thinkers who can take failure and keep going, people will listen, and that’s always a step toward change,” shared Maridel.
She has hopes and dreams for the students participating in Speech and Debate. “The warmth I’ve felt in debate is something I want to share with others, so when I see our novice debaters working hard, improving, and winning, I always try to show them how proud we are. I hope I help them see debate as a safe space to learn, have fun, and come home to, just as it has become for me. The warm community of debate has given me the confidence to stand up for myself and act on the things I love,” said Maridel.
Our society is facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty. Learning to tolerate and navigate this uncertainty is top of mind. Speech and Debate helps to build resiliency in students, which in turn shores up their ability to cope. “Half of the teams in any debate round leave with a loss. Failure is unpleasant but normal, but improvement is always possible. Knowing that no one can take away that ability to improve is great. So, knowing that even when the world is scary, you still have that agency and the ability to speak up if you want to and people who will listen is key. It is so important and helps students cope with any fears they may have,” said Maridel.
The relentless cadence of headlines are a constant backdrop to our lives and issues often arise about Speech and Debate and the pandemic, distance learning equity issues, and protests against systemic and racial inequality. SVUDL provides a space to talk about these issues and think about them critically.
“If you feel very passionately about it, or your opponent does, a lot of research goes into crafting those arguments, so you learn a lot from your rounds. It’s always educational when we go against opponents who bring up issues like these or when my partner and I form our own because we’re able to test possible solutions and possibilities in the future. When I debate about scenarios I’m afraid of, opponents often help ground me in reality by offering counterarguments and stopping me from spiraling into a fear-mongering crisis!” said Maridel.
There is a saying: goals are like bananas – they come in bunches. Maridel clearly has a love for bananas and for achieving goals. We can’t wait to see what her potassium-fueled adventures add to her life goals next.
