11/07/2026
WSDC Bangladesh 2026 Intro Series (5/5):
Samarah's path to Team Bangladesh was not exactly the dramatic origin story you'd expect. In fact, it started in the most mundane way imaginable with two painfully obedient kids refusing to skip library class while the rest of the class bunked to play football. Little did we know that on that same afternoon, we would stumble upon a WDA recruitment notice. I didn’t know it back then, but that wasn’t just another ordinary afternoon; it was the afternoon that changed everything for Samarah. It definitely wasn’t our coolest moment by any means, but I’m pretty sure “that library class” was one of the best things that ever happened to the debate circuit. And ever since that fateful day, I’ve had front-row seats to watching Samarah become the incredible debater she is today.
From the moment Samarah started debating, you could just tell that there was something that made her stand out from the rest. She has always had this uncanny ability to break down a debate in seconds. Finding arguments and debate-winning framing before the rest of us have even finished reading the motion is simply second nature to her. But what has always stood out to me even more is her killer mentality. Debate has a way of humbling everyone eventually, yet somehow Samarah always gets back up, works even harder, and comes back stronger no matter how harrowing the road is. Watching her resilience over the past few years has been just as inspiring as watching her dominate in a debate room on any given day.
For as incredible a debater as Samarah is, she is an even better human being and one of my favourite people on this entire planet. I've debated with her more times than I can count, and I genuinely wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Over the years, she has become so much more than just a teammate. Through every heartbreaking loss and every unforgettable win, she has always been the person who made this journey so much more special. Whether it’s calming me down before a round or reminding me that one bad result does not define us, I know I can always count on her. I truly don’t know, nor do I want to imagine, what my debate journey would have looked like without her by my side.
Some of my favourite memories of Samarah are the ones that you’ll never find on the Tabbycat website. I still remember the nights we would go through DebateData.io looking for the most creative and ridiculous motions we could find, only to spend hours debating them and doing motion drills. What always amazed me was how much she genuinely cared about getting better. She never wanted to just find a decent argument that worked; she wanted to understand every nuance in a motion and keep pushing herself further. Those moments showed me the kind of debater Samarah truly is. She was not just someone with incredible talent, but someone with the passion and dedication to keep growing.
With WSDC right around the corner, there is no doubt in my mind that Samarah is exactly where she is meant to be. I have watched her give so much of herself to debate, and seeing her reach this moment feels incredibly surreal. I could not be prouder of the person she has become, and I cannot wait for the world to finally see the Samarah I have known for years. To everyone who finds themselves across the bench from Samarah at WSDC - good luck, because you’re going to need it.
(Excerpt authored by Shehreen Hussain)
Samarah Azad from Sir John Wilson School, is one of the 5 individuals representing Bangladesh at the Kenya World Schools Debating Championship 2026!
WSDC Bangladesh 2026 is proudly sponsored by Dove!
