Skirt or Pantsuit? The Great Female Debater Question

Pantsuit VS. Skirt

ARE YOU READY?

FIGHT!

JK.

;P

Are you ready for one of the biggest decisions of your speech and debate career? Mostly joking. There are a lot of Pros and Cons to each side, and a lot of it has to due with your personality. I'll list all the major information here. At the end you should be ready to go (shopping).

Pantsuits

1. Pants are excellent for interpers. Bending down and crouching a skirt is near impossible. You have to be constantly conscious of which way your knees are aimed. Especially if you are doing an active interp, with lots of crazy blocking and moving. Its gives you more room, flexibility, and comfort. Which brings me to point two:
2. Pants are comfy. They may look stiff, but they're really like wearing pajama pants. No joke. 
3. Pants often have pockets, added bonus.
4. No nylons are necessary, unless you're a real stickler for the rules. In that case, footsie or knee-highs are all you will need. 
5. They match nearly any shoes.

Skirts

1. Skirts make you seem confident and precise. Pants are scientifically proven to appear less professional. A fact backed-up by my debate coach.
2. Skirts are more feminine.
3. Skirts rarely have to be re-hemmed for shoes. Pants often have to be hemmed differently for flats or heels
4. Skirts are less "blah" and leave more room for personal style. (Color, length, pockets or peplum?)
5. Skirts significantly reduce the chances of VPL (visible panty line).

There you have it! Narrow down which points are important to you and goooo shopping!

What to Do When You Feel Too Lazy to Do Speech/Debate Work

I know, you don't want to memorize your DI. Sure, there's a tournament next week and you feel like this piece would be really successful if you put some effort into it, but there's an entire internet awaiting you.

Two hours later, you've checked your Facebook and email for the three-hundredth time and Pinned eighty-two new pictures of Doctor Who fanart. You get that annoying feeling you ought to write that brief of Successful ButHumble's case. Because that brief may be the difference between a 3-3 and a 4-2. However, Successful ButHumble probably won't hit you because fate loves you, of course, and they'd beat you anyway so there's no point. Besides, there's Super Smash Bros. to be played.

And food to eat.

And friends to text.

And a ceiling to stare at.

Anything, dear God, anything but working on speech and debate.

All of a sudden you're thinking of the two-hundred extemp articles you need and you need a whole new MHI binder and that gut-wrenching sweat that takes over when you're in-round and you can't remember half your interps is chasing you like a ghost. Not to mention the briefs, and you need to fix your cases, and what were you even thinking signing up for another event?

This is the best advice I've ever received ever on the matter:

"You get out of something what you put into it." -Someone, at some point in my debate career. 

Here's the cold hard truth,

Be ready to receive last place and watch your friends celebrate wins. Be ready to be a nervous, embarrassing wreck when you can't remember most of your speech. Be ready to not know any of the Extemp topics and possibly none of the Mars Hill topics, either.

You are going to reap what you sow.

I'm sorry, I know I'm mean. I've been in that position, all of those positions, too many times myself. I've learned some tough lessons that I just don't want anyone else to have to go through.
Let's face it, we can't stand listening to that person who never practices and just doesn't care about even showing up to club half the time complain and mope about not winning. Let's try not to be that person.

Get excited. Visualize the accomplishment you feel after giving your very best speech ever. Look over any previous accomplishments and even ballots and get yourself psyched. Watch someone else's speech on YouTube. Text a friend and ask them to research with you (and only research).

 Being at peace after getting everything done is one of the greatest satisfactions, and it will increase the pleasure of anticipating and participating a tournie. Don't deny yourself that.

Now I sound like a real geek, but it's the truth.

If you ever need encouragement, advice, or a good beating-over-the-head, shoot me an email or comment.


~Kylie~