Competitive Debate (2023-present)

I’ll Believe in Anything

on finding home in borrowed spaces, on resentment, discipline, and leaps of faith, and on scaffoldings that may never become buildings.

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My debate partner and I became the first team from the University of Waterloo since 1991 to reach elimination rounds at the Worlds Universities Debating Championships 2026 — finishing 48th globally and marking a historic milestone for our society. Before this, in high school, I won the Frank Anthony Memorial Inter-School Debate as national champion across 1,600+ schools in India, earning 2nd Best Speaker overall.

You can see some of the vlogs our club shot across tournaments I was at below, or view my full debating CV by clicking here!

Waterloo Debate Vlog — McGill Central Canadian Novice Championship 2023

The UW Debate Society went to McGill Canadian Central Novice Championship 2023 and had a great time! I, Alex Zhu, woke up at 5 AM and thought to myself "vlogging this trip would be cool", and so now this video exists. Hope you enjoy this inside look at Waterloo's tournament experience! Please share w/ others in the debate community! Created by Alex Zhu Editing Assistance by Advait Filming Assistance by Alice and Saad 0:00 Waterloo to Montreal 4:13 Tournament Day 1 6:42 Tournament Day 2 8:05 Exploring Montreal 9:54 Tournament Day 3 10:30 Break Announcement 10:57 Outrounds 13:27 Awards Ceremony 14:31 Outro

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INTERVIEWING Debaters On The CANADIAN Circuit — Chancellor's Cup 2023 (UW Debate Vlog)

All the way back in early November, we sent 4 teams and 2 judges to Kingston, Ontario to take part in the Chancellor's Cup! For this vlog, we decided to switch it up - interviewing teams from institutions such as uOttawa, Hart House, Queen's, and MDU while also vlogging documenting our own adventures. 0:00 - travel shenanigans 2:14 - reaching tournament, day 1 5:45 - day 2 11:00 - social and break announcements 13:56 - outrounds, awards, day 3

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UW Debate Vlog — Panama WUDC 2025

The University of Waterloo Debate Society had the incredible opportunity of competing at the Panama World Universities Debating Championship 2025. Just as last time for Vietnam, we also filmed a vlog for it! It was an incredibly fun and enjoyable trip; enjoy the REALLY LONG but REALLY GREAT vlog/movie at this point! A note from Alex: Sorry that this came out late, it was a lot of footage and I couldn't find time during my school term to finish it, but I have edited it now in one sitting as soon as I could before the next term begins. Even though it may be slightly unpolished, I think this vlog features a lot of amazing moments of the debate community, especially within CUSID, and I'm super excited to share it with everyone at last. The debate community would benefit greatly from more recording and treasuring of its moments; I'm not even sure if I've seen other recordings of the break announcement or grand finals walkouts. Hopefully this vlog is a contribution to the community that highlights the value of recording these great times. Please share w/ others, like, and subscribe to UW Debating Society, and follow us on Instagram @uwdebate! 0:00 Travel to Panama City 3:06 Pre-Tournament 3:18 Advait Turns Into Tejas 7:10 Opening Day 10:39 Day 1 13:22 Day 2 15:00 Making Yakka 15:19 Day 3 16:28 Waterloo Waterlympics Track and Field 18:52 Break Night 21:13 MSUDG B Final ESL Team Break 23:01 New Year's Day 24:45 CUSID White Elephant! (Banger) 27:35 Adam and Arpi's Double Octofinal 29:09 Checking Out Old Town 30:43 Watching Open Semis and Masters Final 31:30 Closing Ceremony Preparation 32:36 Bea and Luigi's Endorsement of the Waterloo Vlog 33:15 Grand Final 36:20 Awards Ceremony 37:30 Tourism Montage

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