A Reflection on 4 Years of MIST

My friends and I are huddled in a group of seats in the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit, Michigan. My head was down as I heard them announce the third place award for debate. I couldn't make out a name amidst all the cheering but I didn't really care who got third. I was dying to hear the second place award, praying my name wouldn't be called. I had already won a first place trophy today, for extemporaneous speech, but the last time I won that award I lost debate, and I wasn't looking for a repeat of last year. The announcer calmly announced that second place was "from New York..." and, to be honest, I never heard the rest of it,as the entire section around me starting cheering and I walked up knowing that I had won my final Mist debate tournament.

Throughout my four years of regional and national tournaments I've had a roller coaster experience with winning. Before my first competition in 2010 my coach told me "a white guy always wins debate, goodluck" and left. I walked in unprepared for some of the topics and to top it all off my first debate ended with the judge telling me that I completely skipped the cross examination portion of the debate. Despite this I somehow managed to reach the final round and, with a lot of help from an experienced lawyer, managed to take home 1st place. The sweet taste of victory was short lived however, as my next two tournaments both ended in the semi-finals rounds. I took 3rd in Nationals 2010, and a dismal 4th in the following year's regional tournament. Then I picked it up in what was probably the best tournament I've competed in, and won 1st Place at Mist Nationals in Atlanta. The following year I redeemed myself and reclaimed first place at  Regionals (2012) only to lose in the final round of the national tournament. Every year something went wrong, either in Regionals or Nationals, but finally, it all came together this year and I ended my time as a competitor by winning both Regionals and Nationals. I've also dabbled in some another competitions such as extemp. speaking (2 consecutive first place nationals finishes), improv, short film and community service but debate has always been my forte. So is this my reflection? The master debater completes his legacy in Detroit and then lavishes to the interwebs about it? No, this part was just to make me feel good and to give a little background to the level of competition at Mist.

In these competitions I've seen so many different people doing so many different things. Some were masters of quranic recitation and memorization, others were extremely retentive readers, some poets here, spoken word and nasheed artists there, some athletic basketball players who on the side are experts of tafseer, some artists who can draw and paint to the point you forget you're looking at a drawing...I could go on endlessly. The thing I'm trying to get at is that everyone has something. Did I win debate because I practiced day-in and day-out? I'd like to say that I worked hard and diligently prepared with the work ethic of a champion but I didn't. I was lazy and researched my topics always at the last minute and never did anything to hone my skills outside of the competition. Despite this I still managed to win, because I'm great? No. Because I have a God-given talent. I can speak, I can think logically and quickly (most of the time) and I can articulate the thoughts in my head. I didn't "earn" this, I just got it, it's nothing to be proud of.

 Everyone has something, that kid who can't catch a football and holds a baseball bat the wrong way is the smartest kid in the classroom. The kid who fails his science classes in school is an amazing artist. The kid who's failing his structured business class has the street smarts to out-earn Bill Gates. The thing I learned from Mist is that everyone has some talent. Just because your trophy case sits in your room, empty and collecting dust because you never won a debate tournament doesn't mean you're a bad debater. (You know who you are. #Shots) The talent we have isn't what makes us great. It's not even honing that talent that makes us great. It's how we use it that defines who we are and defines our legacy. Sounds a bit extreme for some high school kids but that's just it, we're high school kids. The fact is most of us haven't had the chance to actually do anything significant yet, winning a competition is nothing. Going out and using my speaking talents to change the world for the better, making someone's life better be it through giving a speech, or convincing a judge that the Patriot Act is unconstitutional is an actual accomplishment. It sounds a bit extreme and very idealistic or what have you, but using your talents for 'good' doesn't have to mean changing the world. You see a sad child on the street and draw him a small picture and make his day, doesn't sound like much but you're literally making the world a happier place by doing so.

In short, through all the fun, excitement, sadness, joy, camaraderie, brotherhood, sisterhood, work, sleeplessness, chanting and intermingling (just kidding of course) I've set some pretty lofty expectations to the all my fellow seniors who's last Mist was two days ago: "Step up and stay humble". You have talents, you are all blessed in many ways, shapes and forms; use your talents to make your life better, to make the people around you better, to make the image of Islam and Muslims around the world better. And at the same time remember where your gift came from, self-confidence is great, arrogance is not. To all competitors who still have more Mists ahead, work hard and enjoy them! It's up to you guys to carry the team now, New York should have nothing to smile about next year!

I also just wanted to acknowledge all the organizers and coaches at D.C. Mist for all the hard work they've put into organizing both the regional tournament and all the logistics for the tournament. Special shout outs to my boy Ehson Kashfipour for getting team D.C. three gorgeous Maryland motor coaches, to ex-Regional Director Adam Kareem for helping elevate D.C. Mist to what it is today, to current Regional Director Tara Mohammed for carrying the torch without missing a beat finally to ER's fantastic coach and D.C. Coach of the year Rashad Mulla for being the most supportive, helpful and chill coach there is. Thank you coaches, thank you organizers, thank you competitors, it's been a fun ride.