Optimists boost students with speech competition
How far can optimism take you?
In the case of Grade 9 student Rema Kaston, it will take her to the next level of the Optimist International Oratorical, Essay and Speech Contest after winning her club's competition Sunday.
Kaston, representing the Reaching for the Stars Optimist Club, and Melaya Dahma, representing the South Windsor Optimist Club, will represent their clubs at the zone level.
Kaston spoke on the topic of optimism because she wanted to inspire people. “Look at the situation we have today, we want to make it better, we want to improve,” Kaston said after her speech.
A student at Holy Names Catholic High School in Windsor, Kaston came to Canada with her family from Syria in 2017, fleeing the devastating civil war that started in 2011.
“It was, at first, difficult,” she said of the move. “But I am happy with the outcome because I learned and discovered many things throughout the way,” including a new language, she said.“i even set a goal for myself, that whatever happens to me I will never give up.”
Kaston got involved in the Optimist contest at the encouragement of her English teacher. The lessons she's learned in preparing and performing her speech have been valuable, she said.
“I learned never to give up; how important it is to believe in yourself. You have a power in yourself, you should never be afraid.”
Mallory Dickenson, president of the Reaching for the Stars Optimist Club and a judge in the competition, said the event helps young people discover their abilities.
The competition gives participants a platform with an incentive that helps to drive their passion towards public speaking and writing, she said.
“Who knows, maybe they want to present at a conference, maybe a Ted Talk,” said Dickenson. “This is just the beginning.”