No journey to the big stage is written solely by talent. Behind each debate are days of diligent research, self-challenges, and the companionship of those who share the same goal. For Phuong Linh, School Teen 2026 not only offered the opportunity to perform in front of millions of viewers, but also marked a milestone in the growth of a young person who dared to persevere in their chosen path.
Top 16 – “An answer” to something once missed
Upon receiving the notification that she had made it to the Top 16, Phuong Linh’s first emotion was not just joy. It was also the feeling of having accomplished something that the whole team had regretted.
“I feel very happy and proud that all my efforts, as well as those of the whole team, have yielded good results. The joy is even more complete because we have achieved something that we regretted in School Teen 2025.” After a year of reflecting on what was left unfinished, the team returned with more thorough preparation, greater determination, and maturity.
A year ago, the team had to stop with many things left incomplete. That regret became the motivation for the members to return with greater determination, dedicating more time to practice and preparation. Therefore, the ticket to the Top 16 not only marks the culmination of a season, but also the answer to a persistent journey spanning many months.
What Phuong Linh remembers most is not the tense atmosphere in the studio or the intense debates on stage. It’s the time before the competition, when the team had to balance schoolwork with a packed practice schedule.
The days were filled with classes, tests, and assignments that needed to be completed on time. In the afternoons and evenings, the whole team would research the topic together, read materials, build arguments, debate back and forth, and refine every small detail of their presentation. Some days, the clock would strike midnight, but the debate wouldn’t end. The desks were covered with papers, the laptops still lit, and the members would try one more round of debate before leaving. One day, the whole team was so tired they fell asleep in the library and only woke up after the security guard had locked the doors.
That was perhaps the moment the team understood that their journey to Teen School wasn’t just decided on the stage, but also during those nights when no one could see them.
“I think the biggest challenge the team had to overcome was the intense studying and practicing. Some days we practiced until late at night, even falling asleep and getting locked out of the library by the security guard. However, we couldn’t let our guard down for a single moment because we knew the other teams were also trying their best.” Perhaps, it is precisely these days that represent the first “debate battle” the team must overcome. Not against an opponent, but against fatigue, time pressure, and their own limitations.
In the debate team, Phuong Linh takes on the role of Person 2 – a position likened to “the one who maintains the balance of power.” If Person 1 lays the foundation for the team’s arguments, Person 2 must listen carefully to each point of the opponent, quickly identify inconsistencies, and immediately present counterarguments on stage. This role demands calmness, adaptability, and sharp analytical thinking.
Interestingly, these skills weren’t just developed during debate training sessions. According to Phuong Linh, the most important foundation came from the daily lessons at Hanoi Adelaide School. Reading dozens of documents, verifying sources, and completing academic tasks within a short timeframe has become a familiar learning rhythm for Phuong Linh… This is also what the SACE program helps students develop every day.
This learning method created a clear advantage when entering Teen School.
“When participating in Teen School, we had to prepare our speeches in a very short time, so the skills of searching, selecting, and verifying information became a huge advantage. Thanks to this, our arguments were not only based on personal opinions but also had reliable evidence to increase their persuasiveness.”
Furthermore, the workload of assignments in the SACE program also helped students develop time management skills and the ability to work under pressure. The constant need to research, synthesize information, and complete assignments on time allowed Phuong Linh and her teammates to quickly adapt to the fast-paced rhythm of a national debate competition.
Throughout that journey, the support of the teachers from Hanoi Adelaide School became a crucial pillar. From the moment the team expressed their desire to participate in Teen School, the teachers were always there, providing facilities, professional support, and constant encouragement so that the students could confidently enter this big competition.
“Don’t wait until you feel you’re good enough to start.”
If she had a message for future HASians who dream of participating in Teen School, Phuong Linh would say: “Don’t wait until you feel you’re good enough to start. Be brave, register, practice a lot, and don’t give up.”
“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because every debate is an opportunity to improve. Teen School will certainly be very stressful, but it will also bring amazing friends, memorable lessons, and many experiences that, looking back, you will find completely worthwhile.”
It’s not just a debate arena for students, but also a place where young people learn to persevere in pursuing their goals, dare to push their limits, and understand that behind every achievement are days of silent effort.
And sometimes, those evenings after the library lights have gone out are where dreams big enough to step onto a big stage begin.
Hanoi Adelaide School
Pioneering Competency-Based Education in Vietnam
Pioneering Competency-Based Education in Vietnam
