Natasa Micovic (Head Coach)
Hi, I'm Nataša, and I am the head coach for the NRP debate club. I founded this debate club in August of 2014, with the first practice happening in November of the same year. My goal was simple: spread my passion with those younger than me and hopefully inspire a little passion in them.
I started debating when I was in grade 7, thanks to a substitute teacher who felt like sharing her love for public speaking with us. Immediately, I knew that I liked debate, but unfortunately would not have the chance to exercise my talent in public speaking until the next year in high school.
In grade 8, a chance occurrence to join the high school debate team at Eric Hamber School presented itself. I was lucky enough to have a great coach, who taught me the very basis of what I know about debate, and who actually used to be a national champion. I attended my first tournament (UBC High School Debate 2011), ranking well despite my inexperience. That was the moment that I knew wanted to debate for many years to come.
In grade 9, I changed schools, making my way to University Hill. I joined the debate team there and kept on going with competitive tourneys, consistently bettering myself as a debater. Eventually, I won and ranked very highly in some tournaments (St. George's, Hamber, UBC, Byng, BC Regionals etc.). Moreover, I advanced last year from the Lower Mainland West Regional competition to the Provincial Championships in Victoria.
In grade 10, my love of debating continued and compelled me to compete in more tournaments, but it was all getting a little repetitive. I wasn't very good with redundant routines, nor had I ever been: Apart from debating, I have an interest in politics, current events, sociology, ceramics, movies, music and biology. I have also been swimming for 8 years, and DJ-ing for 4. I started to wish that I could could pass along my knowledge and inspire those around me to debate. Eventually, an idea came to mind: Why not teach those younger than me how to debate? After all, I had been fortunate enough to have had great coaches by my side for the entirety of my public speaking career. In hindsight, if there was one thing that I could change about my debating career, it would be starting earlier. Realizing my passion and talent years earlier would have not only given me a head-start in the debating community, but also made me a more well-rounded individual, which is so vital in today's educational system that puts tremendous value on route memory and logic.
So, when Norma Rose Point School was finally completed and opened, I was in grade 11, and decided to contact the principal with my club initiative. It was welcomed with open arms, and with the kind support of sponsor teacher Ms. Karen Noel-Bentley, the Norma Rose Point Debate Club was born. Now I finally get to give back to the debating community, which has given me so much, by sharing my knowledge with future champions! Along with attending practices at my own school, I dedicate an hour every Thursday to passing along tips and skills to the bright, excited and young debaters of Norma Rose Point. I am now very excited to be competing in tourneys side-by-side with my own pupils. I can't wait for the day that the students surpass the teacher - surely, that day is not far away! I see so much potential in this club and am so excited to be contributing to this great community in the best way I can!
I started debating when I was in grade 7, thanks to a substitute teacher who felt like sharing her love for public speaking with us. Immediately, I knew that I liked debate, but unfortunately would not have the chance to exercise my talent in public speaking until the next year in high school.
In grade 8, a chance occurrence to join the high school debate team at Eric Hamber School presented itself. I was lucky enough to have a great coach, who taught me the very basis of what I know about debate, and who actually used to be a national champion. I attended my first tournament (UBC High School Debate 2011), ranking well despite my inexperience. That was the moment that I knew wanted to debate for many years to come.
In grade 9, I changed schools, making my way to University Hill. I joined the debate team there and kept on going with competitive tourneys, consistently bettering myself as a debater. Eventually, I won and ranked very highly in some tournaments (St. George's, Hamber, UBC, Byng, BC Regionals etc.). Moreover, I advanced last year from the Lower Mainland West Regional competition to the Provincial Championships in Victoria.
In grade 10, my love of debating continued and compelled me to compete in more tournaments, but it was all getting a little repetitive. I wasn't very good with redundant routines, nor had I ever been: Apart from debating, I have an interest in politics, current events, sociology, ceramics, movies, music and biology. I have also been swimming for 8 years, and DJ-ing for 4. I started to wish that I could could pass along my knowledge and inspire those around me to debate. Eventually, an idea came to mind: Why not teach those younger than me how to debate? After all, I had been fortunate enough to have had great coaches by my side for the entirety of my public speaking career. In hindsight, if there was one thing that I could change about my debating career, it would be starting earlier. Realizing my passion and talent years earlier would have not only given me a head-start in the debating community, but also made me a more well-rounded individual, which is so vital in today's educational system that puts tremendous value on route memory and logic.
So, when Norma Rose Point School was finally completed and opened, I was in grade 11, and decided to contact the principal with my club initiative. It was welcomed with open arms, and with the kind support of sponsor teacher Ms. Karen Noel-Bentley, the Norma Rose Point Debate Club was born. Now I finally get to give back to the debating community, which has given me so much, by sharing my knowledge with future champions! Along with attending practices at my own school, I dedicate an hour every Thursday to passing along tips and skills to the bright, excited and young debaters of Norma Rose Point. I am now very excited to be competing in tourneys side-by-side with my own pupils. I can't wait for the day that the students surpass the teacher - surely, that day is not far away! I see so much potential in this club and am so excited to be contributing to this great community in the best way I can!