NAMPA -- Rebecca Richards had a hard time speaking in front of people, so she joined debate.

And after only two months of competition, the Liberty Charter School sophomore is winning awards. Richards took second out of more than 30 competitors in her category at an Idaho Falls event, and she will represent her school at a national qualifier competition in Jerome, Idaho later this month.

"I pretty much didn't know how to speak," Richards said. "I'm not a very outgoing person."

But debate coach Joanna Hicks said Richards -- a straight-A student -- has changed.

"Every single time she participated in class, I would have to say, 'Becca, I can't hear you,'" Hicks said. "It's been phenomenal growth."

Hicks said it also helps in competition that Richards is a likeable student.

"She has a perpetual smile and such a warm, genuine demeanor," Hicks said. "Judges like her. They believe her, trust her. You can't imagine her lying."

Richards competes in Lincoln-Douglas debate, which requires her to know and be ready to defend either side of an argument. At one competition, she presented her case six times with each debate lasting about an hour.

Richards' topic is environmental preservation vs. economic development. She started the year believing in preservation but said her research has helped her appreciate the merits of development.

"It's good to look at something both ways," Richards said. "It helps you (realize neither side) is always perfect."

Richards said debate is important because you have to be able to present your ideas to people.

"Speech is the way people associate with each other," Richards said, and in her experience, being able to share ideas results in greater courage.

How debate helps

Rebecca Richards, a student at Liberty Charter School, said debate has helped her think and speak more clearly. She said students who compete in forensics and debate will benefit in the following ways:

Learn to present ideas publicly.

Gain confidence.

Practice study of an issue from multiple perspectives.

Find more at the Idaho Press-Tribune.