My name is Siddharth Gowthaman, and I’m a rising sophomore who has been competing in Public Forum debate for the past two years. Through debate, I’ve developed a strong interest in critical thinking, especially when exploring current events and understanding issues from multiple perspectives. Debate has taught me to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and consider viewpoints that may differ from my own. Outside of debate, I’m deeply interested in STEM, particularly science, technology, and engineering. STEM gives me another outlet for my curiosity and problem-solving, allowing me to explore how ideas can be applied to better understand and improve the world around me.