FDI students continue to excel in Arabic debate competitions held at various events. In December 2021 alone, FDI students won two championships in Arabic debate competitions. This has raised the profile of FDI’s Arabic debate team, named Abqary, and attracted attention to their success. So, what is the secret behind their success?

“The first thing I did after joining Abqary was to watch several debate competitions on YouTube, both domestic and international. I believe this is an effective way to learn the vocabulary typically used in debates. The second important step is always attending every meeting or training held by Abqary,” said Rian Sugiarta, a third-semester FDI student and member of the Abqary debate club.

Rian Sugiarta was part of the team that won second place in the Arabic debate competition organized by Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. In this competition, which took place from December 11 to 13, 2021, Rian was accompanied by his teammates, Suci Amalia and Ahmad Rifai, who was awarded best speaker.

Not stopping there, Rizka Venusia, a new FDI student, also played a role in Abqary’s success in the Arabic debate competition. She won second place in the Arabic debate at the Nusantara Arab Festival (FAN) organized by the Arabic Literature Department of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, together with her teammates Teguh Satria Pendowo and Komarudin. This competition took place from December 9 to 11, 2021. Rizka shared that her motivation for joining the debate was the words of her teacher during her time in the Islamic boarding school, emphasizing that a student should continuously hone their skills wherever they are.

Despite the numerous championships won by the Abqary team, they do not rest on their laurels. This drives them to encourage those who have yet to participate in competitions and renew the spirit of those who have won, as they identify areas for improvement.

“The first feeling I had was happiness and pride in getting second place in my second debate. But, honestly, the biggest pride I feel is not just about the final result, but about the process I had to go through. I dared to participate in the competition again after my first defeat in a debate. That’s what I really appreciate. Of course, it’s a normal feeling, but it’s important to remain self-aware and evaluate the performance from the competition,” said Rian Sugiarta, the second-place winner of the Arabic debate competition.

To conclude, Rian Sugiarta shared his motivation: “Everyone has their own quota of failures, so it’s best to exhaust that quota as soon as possible. Until you reach a point where there’s nothing left but success. It also requires the belief that failure is a unique way to approach success. The key is not to be afraid to try.” (Journalism Team: Indri Novia Ningrum).