UNAIR NEWS – As one of the best universities in Indonesia, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to make achievements in various fields. This time, two UNAIR students made achievement in 2019 Student English Activity Debate Competition. The two students won the second place.
Being held at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta on April 12-14, Devi Salsabila from Faculty of Law (FH) and Olivia Firsta from Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNAIR competed with 40 other teams from various universities. Devi Salsabila shared her experience with UNAIR NEWS.
“This competition uses the british parliamentary debate system, where in one session we fight three other teams. All debate motions are impromptu, so they have only been informed 15 minutes before, “Devi said.
Devi said, the debate motions presented in the competition were very diverse, from the legitimacy of white group (abstentions), diplomacy, to the philosophy of life and religion. Devi was grateful to be able to get a motion on diplomatic immunity.
“As a law student, I tend to be bias towards opposition. Fortunately, at that time I was acting as an opposition, so it did not conflict with what I learned while studying, “Devi explained.
Devi admitted that she had no idea that she would be runner-up in the competition. Moreover, the competitions were also the best representatives from various universities.
“I did not expect to be second. Even in final, I felt that my position was at the lowest two,” said Devi.
The most memorable thing in this competition according to Devi is her effort to continue to believe in herself. Trust and hard work helped her to become the second winner.
Devi also gave advice to other friends who also want to take part in the debate competition. She encouraged students to keep practicing and enriching information.
“In addition to practicing, we also need to get more information by reading news, reading about fundamental things like philosophy and basic theories. Also, we must remain confident, ” she concluded. (*)
Author: Sukma Cindra Pratiwi
Editor: Binti Q Masruroh
