ZARA YUSAF

My name is Zara Yusaf and I am 18 years old. I am a senior in high school and I have been debating for eight years. My other passions include theater, singing, dancing, sailing, soccer, and softball.

​

The debater who almost wasn't

I participated in my first debate when I was in the Fifth Grade.  My team of three fifth graders sat across from another team of three fifth graders.  In front of us were a group of imposing adults who were to judge us.  There was also an audience of parents and other adults.  I, and I imagine, all the other 5th graders were nervous about standing up and speaking in front of others.  It was our first time, after all.  After I spoke, I sat down in tears.  I thought I was terrible.  I didn't want to do this.  I would have quit after that very first debate.  One of the Judges, a stern looking female teacher from an all-girls school in N.Y. City, asked all the debaters to leave the room while she discussed the round with the other Judges.

My parents remained in the room during the critique period.  I don't know if they were supposed to do this, but later they told me what that female judge said.  She gave the most wonderful and supportive comments after the debate.  She was critical but she was complimentary.  She was constructive.  She spoke in glowing terms about me. Hearing those kind words helped build up my self esteem.

A single act of kindness

It was those words of encouragement that convinced me to continue.  I saw her several times again over the years, but never told her that I only continued debating because of her.  It was poetic justice that it took a female teacher from an all-girls school to inspire me.  She was a strong, intelligent and well spoken woman. 

My focus at Pass The Gavel is helping young women succeed.  I recently started Public Forum Debate.  In the PF world, there are almost no debaters from traditional minority groups.  In addition, female debaters are underrepresented at the highest levels and at the most elite tournaments.  And there are almost no female debaters from traditional minority groups who participate.  Over the next few years, I would like to help change this.

Some of the other projects I envision are:

-helping young women with public speaking;

-helping young women (especially underprivileged women) with interview skills;

-collecting clothing for young women to wear to debates, job interviews, college interviews, interviews for internships, etc.

Zara Yusaf.  June, 2019