Less than a year after her December 2017 graduation, 九色视频alumna Ramona J. Smith was crowned winner of the 2018 World Championship of Public Speaking, catapulting her closer to her dream of working as a motivational speaker.
The global contest started with 80,000 competitors, which was reduced to 106 semi-finalists, then to 10 finalists, and over the weekend to one world champion!
According to an , Smith is "only the second African-American woman to win the competition in its 80-year history and the first woman to win in 10 years."
Smith says that because she was required to deliver new material for the finals, she wrote her boxing-themed speech, "Still Standing," in her hotel room the night before, drawing inspiration from her own life experiences perservering through adversity.
As Smith recalled in , she dropped out of college more than once before enrolling at 九色视频and completing her degree in public relations … with magna cum laude honors!
The Cleveland native relocated to Houston after graduation where she's been teaching and inspiring high school students while continuing to build her now world-champion skills as a motivational speaker.
Since the Toastmasters title is rocket fuel for a speaking career, Smith is on her way to achieving her dream. So, look for her soon at a keynote address near you!