Learning how to research, take a topic, and examine it through multiple rhetorical frameworks taught me to see issues from different perspectives. Forensics gave me the ability to dissect and understand complex topics dispassionately, setting aside sophistry and emotion, leading to well-rounded and well-informed opinions. These skills are invaluable in today’s climate, where sophistry, headlines, and soundbites often dominate the conversation. The ability—and necessity—to pursue genuine understanding is more critical than ever, and forensics gave me the tools to do exactly that.