Ask any speech and debate alum, young or old, about their experience in the activity, and they are nearly guaranteed to tell you that it changed their life. This was no different for William & Mary alum, Phyl Demetriou. As someone who was profoundly impacted by speech and debate, Phyl began Richmond Debate Institute in 2018 with a clear objective: to bring accessible and high-quality speech and debate programs to central Virginia.
Now, hundreds of middle school and high school students participate in RDI’s one-week summer camps, where they dive into complicated topics and prepare for a camp-wide tournament hosted at the end of the week. Held at VCU School of Business, RDI’s camp gives students the chance to learn from brilliant instructors, make friends with peers from across the country, and develop skills that will serve them for life.
Igniting Passions for Learning
Given today’s youth is constantly exposed to media and news outlets, speech and debate creates a space of understanding and research that helps children learn and grow. Parents and students alike sing praises for the profound impact RDI has had on their lives. Radhika, a parent whose daughter joined RDI two years ago, marvels at the transformation she’s witnessed.
“After registering my daughter for RDI, she’s become so enthusiastic about government, political science, and global affairs. It’s remarkable to hear our 13-year-old listening to the news. She joined her school’s speech and debate team, and has been an active member since I first registered her for RDI two years ago.”
At RDI, students are not just learning to argue; they are uncovering passions and interests that guide their academic and career aspirations.
Varun Mandgi was once a student participating in the RDI programs and his school’s speech and debate team. Now a student at Columbia University, Varun continues to serve as a beloved instructor at RDI’s weekend programs and annual summer camp.
“I don’t think I would have explored my passions for law, politics, and philosophy if not for debate, and I really can’t imagine my life without those things now. Debate is the reason I know that I want to pursue a career in law, and it’s the reason I can pursue it successfully.”
Beyond Debate: Building Skills for Life
The benefits of RDI extend far beyond the debate floor. Rachelle, a teacher and parent of an RDI alum, explains why she values the activity, saying “I think debate is important, especially nowadays, because it requires students to think about issues from multiple lenses. That’s one of the big aspects of debate that I’ve always been a big proponent of.”
Nimi, a parent of a high school junior, praises the institute for its role in her daughter’s intellectual and personal development. “RDI has been instrumental in fostering Riya’s intellectual growth with their rigorous classes and thought-provoking debates.”
“I registered my daughter for RDI because I really wanted her to get a good experience of what debate’s about and what it can bring to the world.”
Paige, a parent with two daughters in RDI’s programs, highlights the growth her girls have had through their involvement. “RDI helped my daughters develop their research skills and public speaking skills at a level that is way beyond their ages.”
Home school, public school, and private school students from across the state and country join RDI’s summer camp every year to create an incredibly diverse student body. Nimi shares, “The supportive and diverse community at RDI has provided my daughter with a network of peers and mentors from across the state who share her passion for speech and debate, giving her a deeper appreciation for different perspectives.”
A Beacon of Hope for the Future
Varun Mandgi distinctly recalls the first time he felt the transformative power of engaging with complex topics through debate. “There’s something magical about seeing kids realize how thrilling it can be to become a temporary expert on a subject, by researching it nonstop for a month. Watching them then debate and turn their hard work into a beautiful presentation of reason and rhetoric makes everyone, including the parents, the instructors, and the coaches, feel like there is hope for the future. Knowing that these students can feel such unqualified joy at engaging with extraordinarily difficult questions about politics and morality should assure us that, despite all odds, despite a pandemic interrupting critical opportunities to socialize, the kids really are alright.”
His observations underscore the resilience and adaptability of today’s students, even in the face of challenges like the pandemic, demonstrating that the future can be bright as long as young minds are nurtured and given the space to explore.
Enroll in RDI’s Speech and Debate Community
The Richmond Debate Institute stands as a testament to the power of community in speech and debate. Founder Phyl Demetriou is thrilled with the success of these growing programs. “Seeing our former RDI alumni go on to pursue graduate degrees, accept prestigious job offers, and continue to serve as active volunteers in our speech and debate community is an incredible feeling. We hope our alumni go on to achieve their greatest ambitions and create a community that can engage in civil discussion and high quality debate.”
Every year, the Richmond Debate Institute reaffirms its commitment to developing articulate, informed, and empathetic leaders. Through fostering intellectual curiosity, enhancing critical thinking and research skills, and building a supportive community, RDI empowers students to find their voices and pursue their passions with confidence.
