My life took a meaningful turn when I decided to transfer to the University of La Verne during my sophomore year of college. I was initially drawn in by the university’s debate team, which seemed like a natural fit given my passion for forensics. Once I arrived, I learned that the team focused exclusively on debate, while most of my background was in speech. I still remember advocating for the opportunity to compete in speech as a solo participant. Although that path didn’t materialize at the time, it planted a seed that never left me.
Now, seven years later, I have the incredible privilege of serving as the Director of Forensics for the Lordsburg Speech Team at the University of La Verne. In many ways, it feels like life has come full circle, and it’s more rewarding than I ever imagined.
I have been involved in forensics for 16 years, and it changed my life as a young kid. I learned how to think critically about the world, formulate my thoughts more constructively, and use my voice for something much larger than just myself. Having the opportunity to teach this to the students of the Lordsburg Speech Team means everything to me, because they carry on the tradition of curiosity and life-long learning. They are exposed to what is happening to other people and communities by going to tournaments and listening to other speeches. This then teaches our students how to care about other people and issues, and once you’re exposed to that, it never stops. The students on the team are learning to always seek information and listen to other people, something that everyone in the world should experience. Members of the team this past year have advocated about misogyny in the LGBTQ+ community, the conflated identities of being Arab American, fighting for women’s rights through the battle of historical amnesia, the history of Black conservatism and its setbacks for liberation, and so much more. Their fervor for knowledge is something they will carry on with them for the rest of their lives.
Beyond just the students on the team, I can see how this activity is impacting the campus and surrounding community. When team members perform their speeches in showcases each semester, the student body is exposed to topics that they may not have previously researched or even known about. I have heard from students in my classes and showcase attendees that listening to these speeches inspired them to dig deeper and become more knowledgeable about those topics. This creates a new level of eagerness for life-long learning that is not found in a traditional classroom.
While I have been a part of the forensics community for such a long time, becoming the director of a brand-new team has come with incredible learning opportunities. I have the unique privilege as a coach to learn about what my students are passionate about and continually learn about what is going on in the world. To have taken part in the opportunity to create a space that encourages critical thinking, advocacy, and community in a world that is challenging those very things is so important. Through this experience I believe that I am a better person, professor, and coach, and I owe it all to the University of La Verne for affording me this opportunity to continue the tradition of life-long learning.