Beyond the Podium: Damon Tam’s Journey of Self-Discovery Through Debate

“It’s through these activities that I managed to learn more about the world and about myself.”

For Damon Tam, Editorial & Media Officer, public speaking is far more than about standing behind a podium or winning a trophy. His experiences prior to Inkoders have been a journey of understanding the world around us and self-discovery of his passions for public speaking and debate.

Damon’s enthusiasm for his interests was forged from his experience in competitive and intellectually stimulating debating environments. He presented his views against some of the toughest opponents in Hong Kong, earning commendation and awards in prestigious tournaments such as the Sing Tao Interschool Debating Competition, Asia Schools OPEN (ASNAP), and the Hong Kong Parliamentary Debate Society (HKPDS). But beyond collecting accolades and awards, debate has taught him the ability to dissect complex arguments, to anticipate opposing viewpoints, and to speak with persuasion under different circumstances.

Damon’s passion for public speaking extends past debate. For the past five years, he has served as a dedicated emcee, representing his school alongside various Hong Kong government initiatives. Coupled with his active involvement in Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, these platform roles have given Damon a deeper lens through which to explore pressing global and social issues that impact our daily lives.

As Damon reflects on his public speaking journey, he emphasizes how every debate competition, MUN conference, and hosting opportunity is one step closer towards personal growth and development. In his words, public speaking is about: “making sense of other people’s point of view, understanding the power of language and realizing that the best way to express yourself comes from brevity.”