West Ashley teen Caleb Smith wins 2018 Optimist International Oratorical World title
It truly has left me speechless. I cannot express enough how much of an accomplishment this was to my family and I,” says West Ashley resident Caleb Smith. Ironic that someone who just won a prestigious oratory award would be without words, but that’s how Smith describes his feelings after wining the Optimist International Oratorical World Championships in St. Louis.
“The West Ashley Optimist Club is very proud of Caleb and all of this accomplishments,” says club president Joddi Collins-Gray. “This is the first time that our local winner won the world competition. We were very impressed with his hard work and dedication and can’t wait to see what the future holds for him!”
The two-day competition, which was based on a theme of “Where Are My Roots of Optimist?,” was held June 28-29 at Saint Louis University’s Center for Global Citizenship. The competition featured 54 students from a total of eight different countries, with nine regional contests: Global Region, Northeast and Great Lakes Region, Great Plains Region, Mid-Atlantic Region, Southeast Region, Southwest Region, Middle America Region, West Coast Region, and Saint Lawrence Region. Smith bested six other students in the regional round to advance to the next stage. The Southeast Region was one of the most competitive groups of this year’s event, according to an official with Optimist International.
On the morning of the second day, the Region Championship winners were announced; 40 minutes later, the speaking order for the World Championship was determined. Once again, Smith delivered an impressive speech, and for only the second time since the renewal of the International portion of the contest, someone from South Carolina won a regional title. It is the first time ever South Carolina has had an international winner.
“The topic that was provided was ‘Where Are My Roots of Optimism,’ and I chose to take a different route and write more of a poetic piece, comparing the roots of a flower to the people and things that keep us optimistic in our lives. The people and things that keep us stable, confident, and motivated to always impact the world in a positive way,” says Smith. “We are all in a garden and it’s our job to keep the roots of the flower next to us, just as healthy as our own through the power of Optimism; And it is my hope that my roots of optimism only helps to cultivate someone else’s”
S.C. Optimist International District Governor Danny Grice of Spartanburg says he was proud to send Caleb to represent our district, in St. Louis. “All who heard him speak have no doubt that he has a bright future ahead of him,” says Grice.
According to Smith, he learned a lot about himself and others in the process of competing for this title. “It has only motivated me to achieve and inspire more,” he says.
Smith won a total of $22,500 from all the competition levels that offered scholarship winnings as a prize. As the winner of the international contest, Smith received a $15,000 scholarship in addition to the $5,000 scholarship at the regional contest and a $2,500 scholarship at the District Oratorical contest held in Sumter, SC this past May.
“I plan to put it towards my college education,” says Smith who, beginning next month, will be a freshman at Oglethorpe University just outside of Atlanta. Smith, who has always been involved in filmmaking and acting, says he hopes to one day be professional on-screen actor and to direct movies. He believes the competition helped him develop effective communication skills, which can help anyone in any career field they plan to pursue. But he sees it especially helpful in pursuing a career as a film director.
“I really want to thank the Optimist Club for providing this opportunity to the youth. I also would like anyone my age, younger, or even older, to know that you do not need to wait on anyone’s validation to pursue greatness,” says Smith. “Always stay in touch with who you are and continue to achieve your goals and be the best you that you can be.”
