HoFlo

Homewood Flossmoore (affectionately dubbed HoFlo) is a high school located in the south side of Chicago. Saturday, it is where I ended a four year commitment to debate.

Now, the year is not over and I still have responsibilities to my other teammates; however, I myself will never have another debate round. High school feels like it's ending already.

Freshman year I had enrolled in "Argumentation and Debate 101" not knowing the grip it would hold on me. I used to do gymnastics for ten years, but I decided against joining the high school team because of the conflicts it had with something I was in for just a few months. High school seemed like it was full of making decisions and commitments. Now that my Model UN responsibilities are also quieting down with our last conference finished, it seems the end is in sight.

As cheesy as it sounds, I want to remind my readers that the end isn't "the end."

I had debate coaches approach me and apologize to me for my 4-2 showing, just missing having one more debate, and leaving on a slightly sour note.

If I didn't say it then, I'd like to say thank you to all of those coaches. Regardless of if I was on their team, they supported and helped me as I tried to be the best debater I could. I truly felt like part of the community that I loved so much, and with those ending remarks, I realized it won't ever be the end. I can choose to judge a tournament here or there, I can choose to visit. And, lastly, debate has been such a part of my life that it has helped change who I am. Although it may be subconsciously, debate will continue to influence my life even when I'm in college (although - thank goodness I won't be debating there!) :]