Silver-tongued student
Speaking up — Rossland Secondary School student Braedan Zanussi has done his school proud at the national debate seminar.
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Updated: November 03, 2009 3:49 PM
A Rossland Secondary School student has taken his debating skills to the 2009 national debating seminar in Winnipeg.
He was up against the best high school debaters in the country.
Braedan Zanussi, a Grade 12 student at the school was representing the Kootenays as one of four students from the province who travelled to Manitoba Oct. 14 to 18.
“I learned a lot of things. It improved my speaking and helped me think better on my feet. It was awesome,” said Zanussi.
“It also increased my confidence to not back down when you’re on the floor.”
Zanussi debated two topics, the government funding for the arts and an impromptu debate on abolishing copyright in Canada.
He prepared well for the first showdown and fared well during both in the debating ring.
“He’s an amazing young fellow. I’m sure he’ll do well in whatever he chooses in life,” said Marilyn Lunde, co-ordinator of the Kootenay region of the Debate and Speech Association of B.C.
“He has a great ability to speak in clear terms while being very believable, he’s very personable and people really listen to him.”
Around 40-60 other students from every province and territory participated in the competition.
Zanussi said it was an experience he won’t soon forget and will look back on it pleased with his performance and all he learned during the trip.
His current plans are to pursue post-secondary education next year as a history major somewhere in B.C. and maybe become a teacher in the future.
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