Teguh Satria Pendowo, a fifth-semester student from the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FDI), served as one of the speakers for the Abqary debate team, representing FDI in the Semarak Tiga Bahasa competition held by Al-Amien Islamic Boarding School, Prenduan, last September. In the competition, Teguh earned the award for 1st Best Speaker in Arabic Debate. “I feel happy and very grateful for the opportunity to be named Best Speaker, especially since most of the participants were international debaters who had previously competed in global tournaments in Turkey. Some of them were even Best Speakers at various national and ASEAN competitions. I am very grateful that my name is now listed alongside theirs, even in the top position—Alhamdulillah,” he expressed in an interview with FDI journalists last Tuesday.

To earn this award, certain key criteria were evaluated by the judges, including language proficiency, delivery style, strength of arguments, and the ability to engage and captivate the judges. This was not Teguh’s first debate competition. Originally from Brebes, he began participating in Arabic debates in 2017, back when he was still a student at a boarding school in Brebes. In addition to Arabic debate, Teguh has also pursued other public speaking activities, such as speech and event hosting. “I’ve been involved in public speaking since elementary school, but I started working as an MC and moderator around 2018, since at the boarding school I was often chosen for those roles,” he shared.

Achieving his current level of skill took dedication and practice. Teguh typically trains with peers who share his vision, such as his friends in the Abqary team at FDI. Since high school, he has frequently watched international Arabic debate videos on YouTube to improve his skills. He is driven by a desire to spread benefit to those around him, as he believes that effective public speaking plays a vital role in maximizing positive impact. Teguh’s role models in the debate world include international debaters who have also been Best Speakers in global competitions. Additionally, he looks up to Najwa Shihab, Kyai Cholil Nafis, and Gus Baha in the field of public speaking, as he admires their skill in effectively conveying ideas to listeners while adapting to the context of their discussions.

Before concluding the interview, Teguh shared a message for readers, especially those in the same field: “Keep up the spirit and never give up; don’t stop after one competition where you didn’t win, because a true champion is one who learns well from every situation. I’m reminded of Buya Hamka’s words: ‘Don’t be afraid to fall, because only those who never climb will never fall. Don’t be afraid to fail, because only those who never fail are those who never try. Don’t be afraid of mistakes, because from our first mistakes, we gain knowledge to find the right path in our next steps,’” he said. “So, aim to achieve as much as possible from an early age as an investment in spreading benefit across the earth.”

(Author: Adzka Maziya, Editor: Zainudin Nur)