Local students get to live a dream and went to Japan for World Debate Championships.
A trio of Cedartown High students and a pair of teachers came back with fond memories and having learned big lessons in their return from Japan.
The group - which participated in the first ever World debates in Japan a few weeks back - made it three rounds before being knocked out of competition short of the semifinals by the team from Nigeria.
Yet the debates ended up being the backdrop for an experience allowing students from around the globe to foster new friendships.
Seniors Callie McDonald, Holly Robinson and Elizabeth Arencibia all said they worked hard running up to departure to Japan, but even up until heading off on a jet across the Pacific they were still amazed they were going.
“It really didn’t hit us that we were going until the final days,” Arencibia said.
Once there, the trio said it marks one of life’s big memories. Skiing, a trip to Mt. Fuji and touring around Tokyo were among those experiences they’ll never forget, but it was new friendships they cherished more than sightseeing.
“I didn’t think people would be so understanding of each other, coming from different cultures like we did,” Robinson said.
“We all learned a lot about other people,” McDonald added.
Cedartown’s debate team gained friends from all across the globe, having been separated at night into different rooms with teammates from other countries. Among those were Great Britain, Vietnam, Israel and Nigeria.
The trio said they had no problem finding common ground with their bunkmates. In fact, the three reported students from across the globe all were alike in that they encountered the same issues in school.
“I was taling with my roommates about how their school system is set up, because it’s something we all have in common being in school,” Arencibia said. “Compared to us, they take school so seriously. They believe they are fortunate to go to school. Sometimes here we take what we have for granted… for instance we talked about the iPads and they were amazed, and about how many days we got to take off for holidays.”
The same went for teachers Jennifer Cupp and Heather Rogers, chaperones for the trip.
As the students debated, the teachers who helped their teams prepare ahead of the first competition got time to mingle together.
Cupp and Rogers both said they were thankful for the opportunity to connect with other educators, and were not surprised at all that each faced the same problems as teachers right here at home.
“Whether it was the love of students or grading, we all had something in common,” Cupp said.
“It was interesting to see that across so much space, everyone’s heart was the same as far as being educators go,” Rogers said.
The group had high praise for the competition’s hosts, and for Kimoto Tech who funded the trip from Cedartown to Japan.
“I feel like and I’m sure girls will agree that we can never repay everyone who helped us here and there,” Cupp said. “It was just awesome to get to experience something like that.”