The Essington School: Samuel Ricketts competes in World Schools Debating Championship 2024

Hearty debate is at the centre of today’s society, but few get to take their flair for argument to the world stage. Find out why this Darwin student is taking his talent worldwide.

The Essington School Year 12 student Samuel Ricketts is travelling to Serbia in July for the world debate championships. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Hearty debate is often at the centre of today’s society, but few participants get to take their flair for argument to the world stage.

The Essington School Year 12 student Samuel Ricketts has been selected to join the Australian debate team at the World Schools Debating Championship in July.

Mr Ricketts will be the only Territory student on the national team travelling to Belgrade, Serbia – as well as Prague for a few pre-tournament rounds.

The Essington School Year 12 student Samuel Ricketts is travelling to Serbia in July for the world debate championships. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“To get someone in from the NT is a really good change, because normally it’s dominated exclusively by southern states,” he said.

“Down south, they have a lot of resources, they have paid debating coaches for instance – we really don’t have that kind of structure.”

Mr Ricketts said training for a debate competition fell into three categories: case preparation, matter sessions where teams study a broad range of topics for general knowledge, or a full mock debate.

He said the world championships were an “exciting opportunity” after five years of competing locally.

“I’ve been doing the national competition for four years – I was selected for reserves in year nine and up from there,” Mr Ricketts said.

“This is my first year on the Australia team.”

With university on the horizon, Mr Ricketts said a law or politics degree was the “obvious answer” given his hobby, but his heart was set on engineering or international relations.

No matter what he studies, he said he’s sure he’ll put his hand up for his university’s debate team.