Many Chinese youngsters invite foreign mentors, such as US debate coach Eric Lanning, to help them master debating skills. Provided To China Daily

Liang Xiao says debate changed her life.

"If I had not participated in debates, I would probably be a biology major just like my parents, which would be fascinating in its own right but a necessarily different path," says the 20-year-old sophomore at Wellesley College in the United States.

Three years ago, Liang studied in a high school in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province. She views herself as a well-rounded student, who was good at most of the subjects but didn't feel passion for any one in particular.

By getting involved in public debate for the first time, she delved into some of the most important topics in economics, political science and international relations, "none of which were offered as courses in my school".

Debate helped her to find a new possibility for future academic learning and career planning.

She aspires to attend law school and become a lawyer.

"This idea was first inspired by a professional lawyer, who was one of the judges I had at the final round of a debate tournament held at Harvard Law School," says Liang.

The form of debate Liang participates in is called public forum debate. It was created by the National Speech & Debate Association 90 years ago in the US and is a style adopted by many competitions across the country.

Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and politicians, including the late Antonin Scalia, who was an associate justice of the Supreme Court, are all NSDA alumni.