“Well…I guess they sit in a circle and hold hands and sing Kum ba yah. But the program doesn’t work because the government needs more money to sing Kum ba yah…and drug dealers and immigration violators don’t even get to sing!” This is a quote from my favorite ballot of last year. It is a vivid description of my team policy case (and it’s not far off either.)
There is a uniqueness to speech and debate leagues that didn’t become fully clear to me until this past weekend. I walked into the competition room, taking deep breaths to relax my nerves. Only this time, I wasn’t competing. I was a judge…
There were two main struggles with judging as a former competitor that I learned to overcome.
- Imposter Syndrome
I had spent a decade competing. But nothing prepares you for the unique experience of judging more than just experiencing it. At no point did I feel qualified to be sitting in my chair, filling out a ballot. As I listened to eight fantastic speeches, I realized what my judges had meant when they said “This was a really hard round to judge.” And I simultaneously understood that I really had no right to be judging.
Who was I to decide which was the best speaker? I had experience, yes, but I didn’t feel like it was my place. In that moment of questioning, I brought myself back to two things: the purpose and the permission.
First, we have a purpose in judging. We use our knowledge and experience as a litmus test for the competitor’s ability to communicate. There are no prerequisites to judges because there are no prerequisites in communication as a whole. The measure of success for competitors is when they learn to connect with all types of people. You are qualified to judge because of your unique perspective on the speech before you.
Second, we have permission to judge. Going into the room, the competitors know they are about to be judged. They’ve made peace with and embraced that, knowing that it’s for their betterment. As a judge, we have to remind ourselves that we are doing a service to the speakers at their request. You are qualified to judge because of your willingness to do so.
But there is another stumbling block for new judges:
- Fear of Failure
Throughout my time competing, I had gone through many, many ballots. My friends and I would read through them together at club. Often, we would make comments about the judges; their style, rankings, maybe even a funny statement they had written. And sometimes, we would pick those judges apart. In our frustration over a rank, we would dismiss a judge as ignorant or rude. While that may have been true at times, those comments spread quickly and judges would develop reputations in our minds.
Sitting on the other side of the table, I was terrified by that thought. What if I said something wrong on a ballot? Should I give her a higher rank because she’s friends with my sister? Questions like those distracted me. But I reminded myself once again of the purpose and permission, attempting to fill out my ballot the best I could.
My judging strategy was short and simple: read the ballot and decide if they followed it or not. I took notes on each speech so I could remember it how it was. And I tried my best to give detailed comments. Then I submitted the ballot, hoping I hadn’t offended anyone too much.
My fears were completely unfounded. After the tournament, two of the contestants I judged came up to me to thank me for my ballot. Their comments made me realize that my initial thoughts were true but narrow. Judging is hard and these kids are phenomenal speakers. No judge is truly qualified to be judging. But we have been given permission from the kids to compare and contrast for their benefit. This is not because we are ancient wells of all-knowing wisdom but rather because we are outside observers.
When I think about judging, I am reminded of a passage in Ephesians 6 that sums up what I learned through this experience. It is originally addressed to servants and it exhorts them to do their work, “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:” (Eph 6:6-7 KJV) As you go out and judge this season, focus on doing so for the glory of God and all earthly fears will be removed.
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A special shout out to the Birthday Girl, Chloe Peters! We are so blessed to have her a part of the Lasting Impact! Team!