When Joyce Huang (12) tried speech and debate for the first time in sixth grade, she hated it. But ever since she specialized in solely debate in seventh grade, it gradually became one of her greatest passions.

“I love going to debate tournaments,” she said. “It is so fun, but there is so much work and missed classes. However, I still love it because it is really worth it when you get to the tournament. You get to compete against all these different people from all over the country with different perspectives. You get to really immerse yourself in the debate community.”

To Joyce, debate provides an avenue for the exchange of ideas. Out of the four types of debate offered at Harker, she favors public forum.

“I like that fact that [public forum debate] is based on the community because anyone can listen in on a public forum round and understand what is happening,” she said. “We get judged by judges who are parents, teachers, or anyone from your community. I like the fact that it is so universal and inclusive.”

During the past four years, Joyce has concentrated her efforts on schoolwork on top of debate and science research, a result of the work ethic that she learned from her parents.

“My parents came here when I was three, and they worked really hard to get where we are now,” Joyce said. “That is inspiring that they did not know what was ahead, but they worked for a better future for me.”

Motivated by her own positive experiences at school, Joyce strives to bring education to developing countries. She wishes to close the ever-growing gap between first-world and third-world countries through the power of education, even going to Nepal last summer to volunteer. She cites activist Malala Yousafzai as an inspiration.

“Education nurtures your beliefs; it shapes your ideologies, your viewpoints, and everything,” Joyce said. “Without education, we would be completely different people.”

Joyce also believes in bouncing back from tough situations with a smile on her face.

“To be able to be lighthearted about everything is important,” she said. “If you take everything too seriously, ultimately, it is going to affect you in a negative way. If you are able to look at everything in a funny or a fun perspective, it makes everything seem better.”