Thursday, December 23, 2021

December 23, 2021: Wishes for the AMST Elves: A Developing Debater

[As ever, a holiday week series of wishes for the AmericanStudies Elves—this time focused on some of the communities and folks I love most. Leading up to a special post on a holiday wish for us all!]

One of the most fun parts of parenting—a very competitive list!—is watching your children develop and pursue interests and passions. Sometimes they take you by surprise, as was the case with my older son’s volunteering for Boston mayoral candidate (and now mayor-elect) Michelle Wu this past year. But sometimes they are clear and perfect fits, and that’s the case with my younger son and his evolving successes as a new (9th grade) member of his high school’s debate team. I recommended he try debate because I’ve never known anyone who is more passionate about, nor more talented at, argumentation (and I say this as a relatively argumentative chap myself). And I knew how much he was taking to it when, in the midst of his second day-long tournament, he showed me a handwritten spreadsheet with all sorts of info about claims, counterclaims, responses, and other categories he was already well on his way to mastering. Who knows where it will take him, but in any case, AmericanStudies Elves, today’s wish is that he keeps finding challenge and joy in this new activity, and all that he gets to experience and do in high school.

Last wish tomorrow,

Ben

PS. What wishes would you beam out to the Elves?

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