We The People
In the spring of my sophomore year, I applied and was accepted to my high school’s “We The People” team, a competitive constitutional debate program run by the Center for Civic Education. The format of the competition, where students present prepared statements and then field follow-up questions from a panel of judges, is modeled after congressional testimony, necessitating months of research and preparation. Our team placed 2nd in the state and 8th at nationals, the highest our school has ever finished in traditional in-person competition. The experience strengthened my public speaking, critical thinking, and understanding of the Constitution, and the connections I made there remain some of my most meaningful in high school.
State Competition
The first round of competition (February 2025) would see my subgroup — primarily concerned with the confederation period and the drafting of the Constitution — asked about the sustainability of America’s first constitution (the Articles of Confederation) and the framers' intentions behind the Electoral College.
For the first question, my group swiftly concluded that the Articles of Confederation — for numerous reasons — were insufficient to govern a nation of America’s size and therefore unsustainable in the long term (you can read our prepared response on the matter by clicking the link on the left).
The second question, on the intention and degree of success of the Electoral College, spurred far more deliberation within the group. After all, how can you fairly assess an election system across the vast array of political climates and cultures in its 240-year existence? After months of research and debate, we produced a nuanced, balanced analysis that helped our subgroup place first in its category.
National Competition
For the second round of competition (mid-April 2025), our team made the 5-hour train ride to Washington, DC, for the “We The People” national competition.
In addition to three more rounds of intense competition — coupled with the corresponding preparation — our team had the immense privilege of touring several monuments and historical sites. Some highlights of the trip included touring the Capitol building, meeting with Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, and exploring the African American History Museum.
Again, my teammates and I were asked a series of complex questions surrounding the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. With a shorter amount of time to draft our prepared responses and equip ourselves to answer any follow-up questions, we leveraged our experience from the prior round of competition. Ultimately, we would finish 8th in the nation, our school’s highest finish in the competition’s traditional in person format.
Awards ceremoney
State competition
Capitol rotunda
First day of competition at nationals
The Capitol