Fayetteville poet lasted 17 days as a ‘Survivor’ contestant. Here’s what he did next.

Fayetteville native Keith Edward Sowell might be the ultimate jack-of-all-trades.

In the last few years, the 25-year-old has done a 17-day stint on reality show “Survivor,” become a first-generation college graduate, published a book, traveled all over the country for poetry competitions and helped high school students get accepted to college.

It sounds like a crazy twist of events, but Sowell said the explanation is simple.

“You have to do what feeds your soul,” he said.

Here’s a look at Sowell’s life thus far, and what he plans to do next:

Appearance in ‘Survivor’ season 38 in 2019

The youngest of four siblings born to an Army veteran and a bus driver in the Gray’s Creek area of Cumberland County, Sowell said he grew up watching reality and game shows and dreamed of competing on “Survivor.”

“I was like, ‘I'm going to go on there one day, even though I don't like camping and being outside,’” he said.

In late 2017, he submitted his second audition tape, and after a four-month audition process, got the call that he would be part of the season 28 cast. A few weeks later, he got on a plane to Fiji to film the reality show.

He lasted 17 days and appeared in episodes one, two and six of the season, which aired in 2019.

First in his family to attend college

After graduating from Gray's Creek High School in 2016, Sowell went on to earn a degree in African American Studies and a minor in chemistry at Duke University, making him the first in his family to attend and graduate college, he said.

Out of about 4,500 high school and early college applicants, Sowell was selected to be one of 63 Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship recipients. The honor awarded him $28,000 toward college tuition and an extensive peer and alumni network. The prestigious program supports minority students who excel in academics and community service.

In the three years after he graduated from college, Sowell helped kids like himself as a college adviser at Midway High School in Dunn. He said he helped students navigate financial aid, scholarship and college applications.

Member of an award-winning Fayetteville poetry team

Sowell said he grew up a shy kid, but joining the poetry club in his last year of high school helped him find his voice. Even his graduation speech as the salutatorian of Gray’s Creek High School was delivered in poetry form.

In his junior year of college, Sowell said, writing poetry helped pull him out of a depressive spiral. His journey was the inspiration for his self-published book, “Deep Press On,” a collection of 30 poems about mental health, anxiety and faith.

“I felt that though what I was going through was deep, I needed to press on,” he explained. “I was called to write a book.”

Since he published the book in November 2022, Sowell said, he’s been asked to speak at colleges and perform at spoken word events all around the country.

Last year, Sowell brought his talent to the Detour Slam Team in Fayetteville. He said the team won fourth place at a national poetry competition in Pompano Beach, Florida in June.

“This year, we’re going for first place,” Sowell said.

What’s next?

Now, Sowell works at Food Lion and as a tutor, leads worship at Changing Your Life Ministries on Angel Drive, travels for book signings and speaking engagements and is active in the local arts scene — he recently performed in his first play, "In the Blood" at Gilbert Theater. The poet shows no signs of slowing down.

He said his next stop is medical school; Sowell will begin applying later this year. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is his top choice.

Taylor Shook writes about food, dining and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. She can be reached at tshook@gannett.com or on Facebook.  

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville's Keith Sowell on ‘Survivor,’ his book and what’s next