Controlled chaos – that’s how Dave Childers describes his typical day.

“When I get up depends on what day it is, how late I was up the night before researching my extemp files, or what city I have found myself in. One thing about debate —” says Childers, a two-year veteran on the MHCC forensics team — “you never know what next week is going to look like, or where you’re going to be.”

Two weeks ago, Childers happened to be in Philadelphia, and on April 17, he returned home a gold medalist from the Phi Ro Pi national forensics tournament, commonly referred to as Nationals – the largest tournament of its kind in the United States.

“I competed in impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking and debate. I chose these events because they are some of the most competitive, and at the same time they are the most challenging. ”

Challenges are something Childers is very familiar with.

David has a brother and three sisters he hasn’t seen in years and hails from a home he “would not consider to be nurturing in any way,” Childers “got out of that place pretty quick.” Since then, he says, “It’s been about surviving on [my] own.

“I have always had to struggle to get what I want. I am one of those ghetto kids who are labeled as throwaways, and in a lot of ways that has given me the experience in life to see things from all angles.”

Shannon Valdivia, Childers’ forensics coach, said, “When you are a gold medal winner, you are the cream of the crop.” And of just-rewards, Valdivia said, “Dave deserves all the kudos in the world for what he accomplished.”

When he came into debate, Childers says he “thought he knew it all . . . thought he had it all figured out.” But by the second debate of his career, he said he quickly found out he had no idea what the hell he was doing. “Somewhere between there and now, I became a champion.”

Recalling the last night of Nationals, Childers said, “There are quite often massive parties that happen all throughout the hotel.” It was on the last night of the tournament Dave “found himself on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Philadelphia, discussing the problems of the world with two students from Florida, one student from Texas, and two more form California.” One four-hour conversation later, Childers said he realized what Nationals had to offer.

“You see, it’s not about the medals, although it’s nice to bring something home. I really think it’s about getting some of the brightest individuals from around the country together, giving them a topic of conversation, and letting them beat it out.”
Forensics, in general, holds a broad appeal to Childers.

“I guess I love the idea that we can take the Social Security reform plan, dissect it, and come up with a real solution that ensures the survival of the program, and also guarantees that no one will be out on the streets at 65. Even though I know it’s a game, it’s nice to be able to find answers that our elected officials can’t, or won’t.”

He said it’s really easy for people to lose sight of what’s important. “I think that once you have a place to live, and heat in your house, it becomes much easier to forget those people who sleep in doorways downtown. Above it all, when you get to a place where you’re comfortable in your life, I think it’s very easy to forget where you came from and what made you who you are.”

Childers started school as a pre-med student, seeking his associates of science degree, intending to transfer as a Biology major to the University of Oregon in Eugene. But when he discovered he couldn’t major in medicine “due to an ethical conflict,” Childers shifted to political science – studies he hopes will lead to political office, though he says “that may just be a pipedream for now.”

Valdivia feels that Childers’ dreams are attainable.

“I think David is a pure example of, ‘When you dream it – want it – you can achieve it.’ I’m really going to miss him when he’s gone,” said Valdivia.

And Childers knows how to stand apart from the crowd. He said his key “is to remember that the difference between me and those who have nothing is a little bit of hard work, a little bit of luck, and a few better days.”

Even with Childers outlook, coach Valdivia does still have some qualms with him.
“One of the things most of my students have told me is I give them just enough rope to hang themselves,” said Valdivia, “which they definitely take advantage of. But I think that through that freedom they have found their creativity.”

Valdivia said Childers came to Mt. Hood with the sole purpose of competing for her.
“He actually started off his career at Columbia Basin College in the Tri-Cities, and one of the things that I thought was quite interesting was that David had met a couple of my students at the Clackamas Tournament...and they got along – next thing I know, he turns up at my door the next year and says, ‘hey, I was talking to your girls and I was wondering about forensics.’”

Valdivia said she’s been “really proud of David, watching him grow as a speaker and seeing him meet his goals... I think the pinnacle was, of course, his performance at Nationals this year.”

Childers said, “Fear was probably the single emotion that took over when I made it into the Semifinals round. I mean, you’re there representing your school, and you think about how much money the school has invested in just sending you to nationals, and the pressure really comes on for you to succeed. It was 10 days of stress compounded with moments of elation that I am sure will be with me for a while,” he said. “It was probably one of the best times I have had in the last two years.”

The team sticks together, but it is not always easy, according to Valdivia.

“The challenge with this group is we’re all strong, pig-headed – you got to have a thick skin to survive on this team,” said Valdivia.

But teamwork shows in their success.

“We show up to a tournament with between four and six debaters,” said Childers, “and we always finish in the top. This is quite a significant accomplishment when you consider that a school like Willamette will show up with around 20-30 kids. As Shannon puts it, we’ve always been small, but we’re mighty.”

“I don’t feel as though there is an expectation for me to succeed now, but I do think that the bar has risen, and I just hope I have the talent and dedication to be able to reach that next goal,” Childers said, a hope Valdivia feels is a reality.

“I mean, he’s got so, so, so much talent,” Valdivia said, adding that she thinks he’s only just begun to scratch the surface of his potential. “I think there comes a point in time where I can stop guiding and they just do.

Childers said, "I guess in a lot of ways I went to Philadelphia with a job to do, and I did the best I could with it. With that said, would I trade those medals for anything? Nah, I think I’ll keep them around for a bit.”