Congress first timer

Andrew Shum is a student member from the Outer South East London Branch. He’s attended Congress for the last three years but hasn’t had the courage to speak during debates. This year has been different and he’s used his new found confidence to the full. Here he explains what encouraged him to get his voice heard and what advice he would give those new to Congress.

What urged you to get up and speak for the first time?

This is the first year I have had voting rights and I made the decision before arriving at Congress that I wanted to be more involved. The debate about pensions caught my attention because it is something I feel passionate about. I know a fair bit about it too so figured what I had to say might contribute to the debate.

What went through your mind when your turn at the lectern arrived?

Well my heart rate went crazy. I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to get my words out and the adrenaline kicking in scrambled my brain a bit. I had to force myself to take deep breaths and that seemed to help.

How did you feel afterwards?

I felt proud of myself for overcoming my fears and having the courage to do it. I also got really positive feedback and encouragement from experienced Congress speakers so that boosted my confidence and spurred me on to try it again.

Do you think the experience will have any lasting benefits for you?

I think it’s really important to challenge yourself and learn how to overcome obstacles. I’m sure this experience will help me to cope with similar situations in the future and prepare me well for expressing my point of view.

Would you encourage others new to debating to have a go?

Most definitely. My pulse hasn’t stopped racing each time I go up to speak but the overall experience has been really valuable. Plus there are loads of members who are eager to help and guide you through the whole process. That support means there really isn’t anything to be afraid of.

What are your top tips for speaking at Congress?

I think you need to feel passionate about what you’re talking about and have personal experiences that you can use to demonstrate your argument. Make it short, sweet and straight to the point. That way you can’t go wrong.