A Southridge student has been named senior runner-up in the world’s oldest and largest essay competition.
Abby Wells’ submission to the Royal Commonwealth Society’s 2013 Commonwealth Essay Competition was described by the judging panel as “a genuine, personal entry offering an original approach to the topic of ‘Are we too risk-conscious these days.’”
According to Wells, 16, the inspiration behind her essay topic stemmed from a prompt she received from her English teacher for an in-class assignment focusing on her childhood.
After reading her essay, her teacher told her to submit her piece for the competition.
In The Little Girl In Me, Wells details her childhood styled like a memoir.
She describes a childhood that is much more care-free than what is common nowadays.
“I think we definitely lose a lot of things by being risk-conscious. I know it’s a part of growing up, but it’s definitely a part of your childhood you lose,” she said.
Upon receiving the news that she had been named the runner-up, Wells said she had almost forgotten about the competition.
“I was just so excited,” she said.
The Grade 12 student also received an invitation to an awards ceremony set for November.
Other winners hailed from New Zealand, Guernsey and Hong Kong.
For more information about the competition, visit www.thercs.org