Dubuisson competes at Nationals

In the world of Speech and Debate, students learn vital skills like critical thinking, persuasive speaking and efficient research. They learn the importance of effective communication, professionalism, and ethics. Michael Dubuisson, a new graduate of Atlanta High School, has mastered all of these and more as he became the first National Qualifier in Atlanta High School history.

Dubuisson competes in the Senate Division of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) and is competing this week at the NSDA Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa against the nation’s top debaters.

His high school instructor, Stuart Drake, has worked hard to build a strong speech and debate program at AHS, coaching several speech and debate events, as well as social studies. He has also built a successful tennis program. Drake has taken different teams to UIL competitions since 2016 and has taken teams to state every year since 2019.

Drake had this to say about the NSDA event and what Dubuisson has done to prepare for it.

“At Congress events, students write their own legislation and are scored on professionalism, how they move and act, and how persuasive they are. The students have to do research both before and during the event. They have to know the law, learn the rules, and write speeches.”

Upon arrival at a Congressional Debate session, students are assigned to chambers, sometimes labeled as a “Senate” or “House (of Representatives),” where they are assigned the appropriate courtesy title (Senator or Representative). They introduce, debate and vote on whether these bills should be passed.

“Michael placed first in NSDA state this year and is honored to be here at this level of competition. He is very intellectual,” Drake added.

Most people don’t know that the benefits of Speech and Debate in high school range from critical-thinking skills to enhanced research skills, improved public speaking, expanded knowledge on diverse topics and improved problem-solving skills. All of the skills that businesses and employers prioritize in employees, like communication, character, critical thinking and analysis, and the ability to collaborate in high-pressure situations are developed through Speech and Debate.

According to Coach Drake, Dubuisson has obtained academic recognition on a global scale and hopes to use everything he’s learned to spring forward in his career goals.

“Michael desires a future in leadership and wants to obtain a law degree, be part of the JAG Marines (lawyers serving in the United States Marine Corps. and deal in foreign affairs,” Drake said. “He’s already received a $200,000 scholarship as part of Baylor University’s Honor Grads program and has been accepted into Baylor’s Global Scholars program where he will travel to England for his first semester.”

To have a line of goals already planned out is astounding for one so young but Dubuisson fits the mold of someone who uses critical-thinking skills and problem-solving skills to handle high-pressure situations.