Western-Star.com

Monroe Junior High School student David Irwin, 11, is one of three students vying for a $3,000 college scholarship in the Optimist oratorical district finals in Columbus on May 17.

Irwin, a seventh-grader, recently won The Optimist Club of the Monroe-Area oratorical contest. He also won the club's Zone 15 level and regional contests, both conducted in April.

His regional win qualifies him to move onto the Ohio District Optimist 3rd Quarter District (State) Conference and Oratorical Contest finals May 17 at the Ramada Conference Center.

David and his competitors all must speak four to five minutes maximum on an assigned topic titled, "Why Me? Why Not?" They will be judged on poise, content of speech, delivery and presentation and overall effectiveness.

David said he chose to take the speech, which could be considered a negative topic, and turn it into a positive tone.

"Let me ask each of you," he says in his speech, "Have you ever heard a person say the questions, 'Why Me, Why Not,' in a positive way? I think not! I don't ever remember asking 'Why Me' when I was happy."

"I believe the question Why Me should not represent a negative or suggest a personal struggle. Rather, it should trigger a self-awareness of my ability to do positive things. So, the answer to the first question, Why Me?, is simple — Because I can!"

David said the assigned topic was hard for him to write about, taking eight drafts and three weeks to perfect, with help of editing from his parents.

"I'm not use to writing a speech. I didn't like the topic because it's very challenging," said David, who has competed in the oratorical contest since second grade.

Nevertheless, Davis said he thinks his chances are good to win the district competition because he has been practicing an hour daily.

When he is not practicing speech writing or public speaking, David said he likes to do animated drawings on his computer, read history and science fiction books, play tennis and run track. He runs the 200-yard dash as a member of the Monroe Junior High track team.

David is the son of Arni and Mike Irwin, who is a member of Monroe Local Schools Board of Education.

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