Shireen Ali Fahed Qassem Abu Nejra

“What is done in love is done well.” I have always kept these words by Vincent van Gogh close to me as I navigate life in university and eventually the adult world. Debate is a huge part of my life, and it has given me so much: life-long relationships, confidence in myself, a love for learning, and so on. Van Gogh’s words serve as a reminder not only for me to seek fulfilment in whatever I do; they remind me if there is someone else out there who might share the same love for something as I do, I have a duty to make sure they have an opportunity for it.

I've always been aware of privilege. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunities and platforms I've received, and I try my best to use my luck and privilege to help those who haven't been as lucky. Having some previous experience, I felt I had a responsibility to impart it onto the next generation of debaters who may not have had strong debating backgrounds, or strong public speaking confidence, or even a strong sense of community. I started out my debating career offering free online coaching to high school students during the pandemic. So, once I was in university, I took on the presidential role in Sunway Debate Club to fulfil a promise I had made: not to waste the passion and experience I have, and instead use it for others discover the same. I think all of us are not bounded by differences in talent or skill; the only thing separating us is opportunity. I have worked in Sunway Debate Club to make sure as many people in my community are not deprived of it. 

I have taught debate to a diverse group of secondary school students even prior to starting my life in Sunway University. I will never forget watching my students mature in the sport and as individuals. They always seem to find the time to thank me for the guidance I’ve offered as a mentor, and even though I am fully aware a lot of the progress they have made was due to my students’ own hard work, they serve as a reminder for me to continue giving to the community I hold on to so dearly, as it is the members of our community who will carry it on after us.

One of my personal highlights was when I came home as amongst the Top 10 speakers in Asia after the annual 2022 Asian Championships. It was a culmination of all the countless days and nights I have put into the sport and my club. The award only gave me the motivation to strive for higher and continue to contribute to our club members, as they were instrumental in giving me the platform in the first place. 

As sitting president of Sunway Debate Club, I dedicate my time to ensuring a fair and open space for our members to develop not just skills for debate on a competitive level, but to also develop the self-confidence needed to translate into real-world interactions. Above all, I have done my best to foster a strong sense of community in the club, where our members feel safe to talk about anything and everything, and to trust one another as equals. To do so, my wonderful team and I have successfully done multiple workshops, training series, and mini-events for our members. Furthermore, as tournaments can sometimes cost a high registration fee, I place focus on increasing our members’ accessibility to competitive opportunities as much as I can, whether it is through subsidizing the teams using the club’s funding, seeking sponsorships, or raising funds on our own. I can’t take all the credit and owe a great deal to my fellow club committee as well. Through our teamwork, I am proud to say we have built a strong community where our friendships triumph over any other competitive achievement we have brought home. 

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