Gold Coast student Caleb Cuddihy overcomes speech impediment to achieve top OP score
Unable to even utter a coherent sentence, Caleb Cuddihy faced years of ridicule - now he’s proving all his bullies wrong.
Gold Coast
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UNABLE to utter a coherent sentence until he was aged nine, Caleb Cuddihy was often ridiculed in his first years at school. Now he’s top of his class and hoping for an OP1.
Diagnosed with speech dyspraxia, which impairs the co-ordination of muscles that produce speech, Mr Cuddihy spent most of his early years in silence, unable to communicate with peers, teachers and parents.
But through intensive therapy Mr Cuddihy not only overcame his condition but went on to graduate this year as dux of Merrimac State High School.
Now he is one of 38,000 Year 12 graduates across Queensland who will learn today their Overall Position (OP) score, which ranges from the top score of 1 to 25.
The statewide rank is based on the student’s Year 12 subjects, and is used to determine their university entrance. The class of 2019 is the last to receive an OP, with the new ATAR system starting next year.
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“It would be the best chance I have for a scholarship into uni, and in a way I think it is proving people wrong after going through what I did in primary school,” Mr Cuddihy said of the prospects of an OP1 score.
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“I would get really annoyed (as a child) trying to speak with my parents and teachers – having to repeat and repeat myself.
“It wasn’t easy, there was some bullying.
“I wasn't sure what was going on. Now I understand it a bit more.’’
Mr Cuddihy, who plans to study engineering and computer science, said he still took extra time when in preparing oral presentations.
“Going into high school after I was past it, people thought everything came naturally to me – it didn’t,” he said.
“I am able to write the script and include all the right facts but the actual presenting was really hard for me. I had to take at least a week to be sure I learnt it all.
“Maths was my best subject. I feel like I can visualise the problems in my head.”
He plans to work at IGA part time until he starts university and hopes eventually to work in robotics or artificial intelligence.
“All I can say is if you are struggling with something like that, it can’t get any worse. It can only get better,” Mr Cuddihy said.
“Keep trying, even if it is speech therapy or study, give it your all to give yourself the best chance.”
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The 4978 Gold Coast graduates will be able to access their final marks online, including their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and Overall Positions (OPs), from today ((SAT)).
The OP ranking system has been used in Queensland since 1992.
The 2019 graduating class were also Queensland’s first statewide group of Prep students when that level was introduced in 2007.
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