Mei Wu, a pre-junior economics major from Vancouver, Canada, is the vice president of Drexel Debate. As VP, her job is to help facilitate weekly club meetings as well as to produce ideas and activities to benefit the organization.
At some point in our lives, we all have to get up in front of a crowd to read a speech or give a presentation. It is at that point where we must choose to either let fear choke us up or be strong and shine on. As a member of the debate team, Mei chooses to shine.
With an unconditional passion for public speaking, Mei joined Drexel Debate. She believes that debate helps you become better at public speaking, and that it can also make you think on a higher level. “It emphasizes critical thinking, productive communication, and flexibility in points of view. It is part of what I build my pride upon as a public speaker,” she said. Though Mei can go on about the benefits of Drexel Debate, she would rather show you during one of their weekly meetings. So, she encourages more students to come out and support the club!
As an organization, Drexel Debate participates in local and national competitions. The team’s goal for the year is to focus on the techniques of debate and with the help of ambitious leaders like Mei, the team hopes to represent Drexel in upcoming competitions both nationally and internationally. Though the group is small right now, they accept anyone who is willing to argue their opinions, including those with no experience in public speaking. So, if you are interested, reach out to Mei and the rest of the team to join!
Since she often covers controversial topics such as abortion and gay marriage, Mei has to think critically before she speaks in order to score well on her argument. After giving it much thought and weighing both sides of the spectrum, Mei’s opinion on the matter is fully developed based on logic and she is ready to deliver an insightful argument.
Seeing as the organization deals with speakers of varying levels, Mei’s favorite part of Drexel Debate is watching the members improve their speaking skills and grow as public speakers over time.
Mei said that the most rewarding part of her role is seeing the passion members have about a subject matter build throughout the weeks. When asked what the hardest part of being VP of Drexel Debate is Mei said that, just like any other club on campus, they run into many problems including funding and scheduling conflicts.
After graduation, Mei wants to become an entrepreneur. “I’m passionate [about] creating wealth for our society and bringing a service that will advance and improve our quality of life,” she said. For Mei, debate has influenced both her college career and her co-op experiences. Communication, critical thinking, and working under pressure are just some of the many skills she has developed through her role that have helped her in the business world.
When Mei isn’t debating a controversial topic, she loves to wakeboard, which she considers her “spirit sport.” She also plays piano professionally and loves to ski in her free time. With all her ambitions and strengths, we have a feeling that we’ll be hearing more about Mei and her accomplishments in the future.