09/12/2025
FROM SHY STUDENT TO VOICE OF CHANGE: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ALPHA ZONE DEBATE SOCIETY
“The Voices of Change.”
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow youth, thinkers, dreamers, and future leaders —
Today marks a special moment. Not just for me, and not just for you, but for all of us who believe in the power of ideas, the strength of communication, and the beauty of a confident voice.
I was once a shy young man — afraid to stand in front of people, afraid of being judged, afraid that my voice didn’t matter. I knew I had ideas, but fear kept them locked inside me.
But life has a way of teaching us that your voice is your power.
There was a time when I, Giir Riiny Thuch, dreaded the classroom. I used to avoid eye contact with the teacher, pretending to write or read, just to escape being called upon.
Every time the teacher asked a question, my heart would race, my hands would sweat, I would pray that my name would not be mentioned, I would immediately lower my eyes to my desk, pretend to flip pages in my exercise book, or act completely absorbed in writing—even when my pen wasn’t moving.
All of this was to avoid the one thing I feared most:
being called upon to answer a question.
The fear wasn’t because I didn’t want to learn.
The fear came from something many students secretly struggle with:
the anxiety of being wrong in front of others.
I feared being wrong, being judged, or disappointing anyone.
I thought silence was safer.
I used to think that giving a wrong answer would make everyone laugh at me, or that the teacher would think I wasn’t smart enough. So I avoided eye contact as if my future depended on it. If the teacher's eyes swept across the room, I would instantly shrink into my seat, silently praying that my name wouldn’t be called.
But what I didn’t understand then is something so simple, yet so powerful:
School is not a place for perfection.
It is a place for learning.
School is not a place to hide—it is a place to learn. It is a place to make mistakes, ask questions, and grow.
Looking back, I now realize that avoiding eye contact never protected me—it only held me back. Every missed question was a missed opportunity to grow. Every moment I chose silence over participation was a moment I denied myself a chance to build confidence.
And slowly, I realized that every question I avoided was a missed opportunity to build my confidence and my voice.
The truth is this:
School is where mistakes are expected.
It is where questions are more important than answers.
It is where trying is more valuable than being right.
The classroom is the safest environment to fail, because failure there is part of the process. Teachers don’t ask questions to expose us—they ask to help us learn, think, and discover what we don’t yet know.
What I once feared is now what I embrace.
The same student who avoided eye contact is now someone who stands in front of crowds, teaches, debates, judges in competitions, and speaks with confidence. And it all started with understanding that making mistakes is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of growth.
THE JOURNEY TO CONFIDENCE
My transformation began when I stepped into teaching, learning to guide students while discovering my own voice. I joined the University of Juba Debate Society, where debates challenged me to think critically and speak with purpose. I enrolled in public speaking courses at SMOOTH STAR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, refining my voice and presence. Eventually, I even had the honor of judging at the Juba Schools Debate and Speech Championship, witnessing other young voices grow and realizing just how far I had come.
Each step pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Each step taught me that confidence is not something we are born with — it is something we build.
And today, because of everything I have learned and everything I have become, I am proud to introduce a new platform where many more young people can discover their voice.
From a student who hid behind lowered eyes, I became someone who could stand tall, speak confidently, and inspire others. This journey taught me that fear and shyness can be overcome—but it takes courage, practice, and the right environment.
INTRODUCING THE ALPHA ZONE DEBATE SOCIETY
Today, I am proud to announce the establishment of the Alpha Zone Debate Society, a platform dedicated to empowering youth, nurturing critical thinkers, and developing confident leaders.
OUR MISSIONS
To cultivate articulate, confident, and critically minded individuals by promoting debate, public speaking, and intellectual engagement.
OUR VISIONS:
To become a leading debate society that inspires future leaders, fosters critical thinking, and encourages meaningful dialogue.
Our objectives:
✔️ Train members in debate, argumentation, and public speaking
✔️ Promote critical thinking and intellectual curiosity
✔️ Organize debates, workshops, and competitions
✔️ Foster leadership, teamwork, and confidence
✔️ Create a safe and inclusive environment for idea exchange
WHY THIS SOCIETY MATTER
Just as I once feared standing in front of my classmates, many young people today are held back by shyness, fear, or doubt. The Alpha Zone Debate Society exists to change that. It is a space where mistakes are opportunities, where voices are nurtured, and where leaders are made.
Here, shy students will grow brave. Silent thinkers will become bold speakers. Every member will have the chance to discover their voice, shape their mind, and inspire change.
A MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE
To every young person reading this today:
Do not fear your voice.
Do not fear mistakes.
Do not fear the eyes watching you.
Fear only one thing — staying silent when your ideas could change the world.
The Alpha Zone Debate Society is your home.
A home for growth.
A home for confidence.
A home for transformation.
A NEW BEGINNING
Today, we are planting a seed.
A seed of change.
A seed of courage.
A seed of leadership.
In the days, months, and years to come, Alpha Zone Debate Society will raise confident speakers, inspiring thinkers, and powerful leaders.
And I am honored to be part of this beginning — a beginning that grows from my own journey from shyness to strength.
This is more than a society.
This is a platform of voices.
Your voices.
The Voices of Change.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
To every young person who has ever felt afraid to speak, remember: your voice matters.
The Alpha Zone Debate Society is your platform, your home, and your launchpad. Together, we will raise a generation of thinkers, speakers, and leaders who will shape the future.
The Voices of Change begin here. The voices of tomorrow start today.
Alpha zone debate society -The Voices Of Change
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