By: Claude Essomba Minlah (YES 2014-2015, Cameroon, Hosted by PAX in Cordova, TN)

At the beginning, I had joined this club because of advice that Max, one of the Cameroonian alumni, had given me at the pre-departure orientation. He told us how it was a great activity because it improves your English and gives you opportunities to make friends. So when I heard an announcement saying that students interested in clubs should go to the gymnasium, all I had in mind was Debate, Debate, Debate club.

I do not remember when I first went in to that class, but what I remember is that from that day forward I started viewing another aspect of the American life, my exchange experience and my abilities.

It was during an afternoon after class, September 2014, in building V at Germantown High school where it all started. I entered in this class, a quarter full of people I did not know. The teacher wasn’t present yet or maybe was somewhere outside, so I took a seat at the middle column, where there was another guy, who I presumed was nice because he cheerfully answered to my ‘hello’. The teacher came some minutes later with some more students who apparently knew him already. Mr.Collins looked at us from behind his glasses and welcomed us, explaining that he was there to supervise and guide us. He then asked us to present ourselves and at the same time, he surely did not know it, gave me a moment of fame, one of the very few I had at the beginning of the club. It was common since my arrival, right after introducing myself, that there were a whole bunch of people turning around and asking questions, wanting to know more about where I come from etc., but that day was special I guess, because I knew that I was going to meet these people again and they were surely going to be my friends. Plus, I had my first slices of the famous Pepperoni Pizza with them.

As the bell rang on the next Thursday (we met on Tuesdays and Thursdays), I hurried to Mr. Collins’ class, being anxious to discover it all finally. We were having our first practice that day. As I reached the class, I greeted everyone and sat next to Donaven, the ‘hello’ guy, who became one of my very good friends during my stay. The practice had started and our captain Katelyn Speed gave us some advice, particularly to the new-comers, and went on to show us what it is like to debate on a particular topic. She was, and I am sure is still, a very talented girl. She was able to make you say "yes" even if you knew the answer is "no", and she carried a great positive energy with her. But withstanding all of this, I barely understood what she was doing. We were given pamphlets on the theme we were to debate on during the next tournament. 1AC for the first affirmative, 2AC for the second, 1NC and 2NC for the negative were the only things I understood on those papers. Donaven and I did not compete at the first tournament, because like me, he did not understand that much, but the second tournament came and he debated but I was still just as confused. Mr. Collins, my partners, and my host parents encouraged me as much as they could. I watched movies such as The Great Debaters, and many videos online but the ‘understanding’ was really taking its time to come.

I started debating at the third tournament, with a partner Edvontae, who had joined the club just weeks before that tournament. It was just incredible for me seeing him debating so well on his first try, so I worked harder, did research and studied my cases and it’s just from that first experience that I started understanding what was supposed to be done, finally.

January 2015 came and a very big tournament was close: The Shelby County Championship. We practiced more and harder. Mr Collins told us if we passed this stage, we would go to Nashville for the State Championship and after that The Nationals in California. Of course our aim point was California but we had to work hard for that. We all learned so much more about each other and it continued teaching me so many values over time.

I had a new partner for the Championship, Dominique. She was also very talented and did not need to say very much to make a point. It was her second year in the club so she had a lot of experience.

On the first day of the Championship we had an awesome time. With Dominique we won most of our debates against other teams and we were in a very good position for the second day. For the first time after this first day, my name was read during the announcements at first period and it was a pretty good moment.

On the second and last day, things started being more competitive as the remaining teams were very good. We got selected for the Quarter Finals anyway, where Dominique and I had to go against Marissia and Edmonique- the best debaters from Germantown High. It was bizarre going against our own team, plus I knew how good they were, but to my surprise, Dominique and I made it to the Semi-finals, and that is also where we stopped.

I was first sad and then very happy that day. I still could not believe Dominique and I got the highest points from Germantown High at the competition. I think no one imagined that we would make it that far. That night I received my very first speaker award, the ninth Junior Varsity speaker award, Dominique received the second and Marissia the first speaker award. It ended up being a great day and experience. Mr. Collins was very happy for us and me, especially when I was called out for the speaker award.

On May 23rd, Mr. Collins and the other members of the team organized a closing party for our debate season, where many of us received awards. I was given numerous ones for team spirit, perseverance and so on. They also gave me the award of MVB; Most Valuable Debater, plus the gifts I received from them. It was a wonderful day and a beautiful closing.

For many that was the last day we saw each other, but we stayed in touch via messaging and social media after returning to my home country. Indeed that was an awesome experience, which showed to me that anything is possible with hard work, awesome people around and love for what you do.

You think the story is about to end right? I thought so too but no, it continues...

About a year after my return home, I received a message from Dominique, some days after her graduation. She had sent me a picture of an award with a cake close to it. I thought it was an award meant for the both of us as we were partners, and my name was on it so I was very happy. About a year after that, I saw a picture Edmonique posted on Facebook, where she tagged me. It was a picture of an award and this one also had my name on it, so I looked and read carefully. Edmonique and I weren’t partners so what was my name doing there next to hers? I thought, and it is just at that moment that I realized it all. Mr. Collins had honored me with the most unimaginable thing ever, which I still can't believe is true. The award they all received at their graduation for their participation in Debate, was one named after me; The Claude Essomba Minlah Award.