The Golden State Academy: School of Speech and Debate

Here is something a lot of competitors forget. Judges remember how you end. You can deliver a sharp case or a moving piece, but if you rush the last line, mumble your tagline, or let your energy drop in the final ten seconds, that is the taste you leave in the room. The close is not the place to relax. It is the place to land the plane. Plant your feet, slow down, and hit your final line like you mean every word. Then hold the silence for a beat before you sit.

That pause is powerful. It tells the judge you were in control the whole time, and it gives your words room to settle. Practice your last sentence as much as you practice your first. A strong finish is the difference between a good round and a round people remember. 💪

Every competitor has that one thing. The song that gets the blood pumping. The lap around the building. The deep breath and the same few words you whisper to yourself before you walk in. Pre round rituals are real, and they are a little bit magic.

So we have to know. What gets you locked in before a big tournament or an elimination round? One song on repeat? A whole hype playlist? A snack you swear by? A superstition you will never admit out loud until right now? 👀 Drop your thoughts below 👇

Today is the day. NSDA Nationals is officially here, and our GSA students are stepping onto the biggest stage in the country. 🎉 We could not be prouder of every single one of you. All the early mornings, the late night drills, the rewrites and the reps, it all led to this moment. Now go soak it in. Compete with heart, lift each other up, and remember why you fell in love with this activity in the first place. Win or lose, you already did the hard part by getting here. Have fun, do your best, and leave it all in the room. We are cheering you on from California every step of the way. Go get it, GSA. 🧡

Behind every clean round and every trophy is this. Laptops open, cases pulled up, one last look at the evidence before the round gets called. These are the moments that never make the highlight reel, but they are exactly where the work happens. Heads down, focused, leaning on each other in the in between.

We love catching our students in their element, doing the unglamorous part that makes the big moments possible. So proud of this crew and the grind they put in when nobody is watching. 🤎

Our Summer Newsletter is officially out. 📰 If you have not read it yet, go check your inbox. It is packed with tournament highlights, student wins, summer program updates, and everything happening around the GSA community. Not subscribed yet? Now is the time to get on the list so you never miss one. ☀️

Speech and Debate Tip #429 is one that every competitor needs to hear:

Know. Your. Opening. Cold. 🔥 Your first lines are not just an introduction. They are your handshake, your first impression, and your chance to immediately tell the judge, "I belong here." When you stumble through your opening or rely on memory in those first ten seconds, it signals nerves before you have even made a single argument.

But when you walk in and deliver those first lines with total confidence and zero hesitation? The entire energy of the room shifts in your favor. Practice your opening so many times that you could deliver it half asleep, mid-sneeze, or right after someone slams a door.

When competition day nerves hit, your muscle memory will carry you through. The rest of your speech will thank you for it. 💙

Here is a question that might just make you think about your whole approach to competing 👇🐾 If your speaking or debating style was an animal, what would it be and why?

Are you a lion who commands the room the second you walk in? A fox who outsmarts every argument? Maybe a golden retriever who wins everyone over with pure enthusiasm? 🦁🦊🐶 There are no wrong answers here, only very revealing ones.

Drop your animal and your reasoning in the comments. We genuinely want to know! 👇

We have all been there. You walked in, made your arguments, handled every rebuttal, and LEFT that round feeling unstoppable. Then Tabroom loads and suddenly reality has a completely different opinion. 😭😂

Tag a debater who has lived this experience. It is basically a rite of passage at this point.

At GSA, we believe debate changes lives. That is why we are so proud to stand behind the Junub Debate Academy and their mission to send South Sudan's very first national debate team to the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) in Nairobi, Kenya. 🌍🏆

This is not just a competition. This is history in the making.

Mach Riak Garang started this movement from scratch after spending 12 years as a refugee in Uganda, where he discovered the power of debate to unite people across division and conflict. He returned to South Sudan with a mission, and what began with just 4 schools in 2023 has grown to 34 teams nationwide. Last year, Junub Debate Academy won South Sudan's first-ever international debate trophy. Now they are one step away from the world stage.

GSA has already made a donation, and we are calling on our community, our fellow programs, and anyone who believes in the power of student voice to help get them there. 💙🧡

Every dollar counts. The link to donate is on our story.

[Donation link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/empower-south-sudan-first-debate-team-at-world-championship]

Tournament hallways hit different when you're locked in and ready to compete. 🎯 This is what the grind looks like behind the scenes, and we are here for every single moment of it. From the prep sessions to the waiting rooms, GSA students bring focus, dedication, and a whole lot of heart wherever they go. We love capturing these real, unfiltered snapshots of our community in action. Keep showing up and doing the work. It never goes unnoticed. 💙🧡