O-Ren Ishii
/orenishii
Link: Printable Resume
Experience & Education
Competitive Background & Highlights:
Events: Lincoln-Douglas, World Schools, Extemp
Academic & Debate Highlights:
Quarterfinalist, East Asia Lincoln-Douglas Invitational
Served as co-captain of the Tokyo School for Strategic Silence debate team
Member of National Honor Society
Speaker at High School Graduation
Education:
Diploma, Tokyo School for Strategic Silence
BA, House of Blue Leaves Academy (in-progress)
About Me
What Debate Means to Me & My Teaching Interests
Debate taught me how to listen before I speak—and how to speak so people listen. I came to it thinking it was about arguing, but I stayed because it gave me a structure for thinking. It helped me stay calm when everything felt chaotic and gave me a way to process the world around me with clarity instead of noise. Some of my best memories aren’t wins, but moments when something finally clicked for a teammate or when I figured out how to explain a complex idea in simple terms.
As an instructor, I care most about helping students find confidence in their own thought process. I especially like working with students who feel overlooked or uncertain, and I try to make sure they leave each session with something solid to build on. Debate doesn’t just teach skills—it gives you a way to walk into any room knowing you can hold your own.
Book me for: Lincoln-Douglas, World Schools, Extemp Speaking
Video Introduction
(Note: If you want to record a video message to potential clients introducing yourself, we can upload it to the Debate Matters YouTube Channel (or you can upload it on one of your platforms) and we’ll embed it on your instructor page.)