August 15, 2023 | By Catharine Denning
A Summer Internship with the BDL
Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began my summer internship at the Boston Debate League. I’m about to graduate from University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Legal Studies degree, but entering the “real world” feels intimidating.
My mom used to read me the Lupine Lady by Barbara Coony. It’s about a little girl named Alice growing up in New England. She aspires to be like her grandfather, with his fantastical stories of far away places and his home by the sea. He tells her that this is all very good, but she must also make the world a more beautiful place. After Alice travels the world, she settles by the sea and plants Lupines all over the countryside.
That book stuck with me, and I know I want to make the world a little better and a little more beautiful. But it turns out it’s a very big world with endless corners to plant flowers. The Boston Debate League has found their own corner to make the world a more beautiful place, and it has been wonderful to watch and participate in the process. I’ve been amazed at how welcoming, supportive and passionate everyone is. The family style table in the office serves as a space to discuss work and catch up. Coworkers gave meaningful feedback, and listened when I contributed. I can’t express how validating it was to have my superiors truly consider my opinion.
In a conversation about BDL’s summer Debate Camp, staff members enthusiastically shared their plans to create engaging activities for the children. Their dedication to volunteering their time and skills to make the camp a memorable experience for the debaters was truly inspiring. It was evident that their commitment extended beyond the confines of their job descriptions, showcasing their genuine desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young individuals.
I still don’t know exactly what I want to do with my life and that is okay because I’m 22! But I am so thankful for my experience at BDL. They have successfully found their little pocket in the world and continue to make it more beautiful through creating debate camps, classes, programs and tournaments. I saw with my own eyes how important BDL is to students and I can’t wait to see how they grow.
Catharine Denning, BDL External Affairs Associate, Summer 2023