Adran Kumar is thankful for his mother’s encouragement to participate in the New Zealand-Fiji Secondary School Essay Competition 2024. The 17-year-old Year 12 student from Sabeto College in Nadi emerged as the supreme winner of the 16th edition of the contest.
Despite initially feeling overwhelmed and contemplating giving up on his essay, Adran persevered thanks to his mother’s support. “Halfway through writing my essay, I told my parents that I couldn’t do it. I thought about other students who write better than me and felt it would be pointless to try,” he shared. “My mother encouraged me to keep going and complete it. I am grateful I listened to her.”
The competition featured participation from over 100 secondary schools, with a total of 600 essays submitted. The theme focused on “The Pacific Way,” emphasizing the unique approaches of the Pacific region.
Adran expressed his gratitude to his teachers for their support and revealed that his essay addressed topics such as eco-tourism and the importance of preserving the vanua. He emphasized, “The significance of eco-tourism is that it showcases who we are in the Pacific and the world while helping to preserve Fijian culture, traditions, and land.”
He intends to pursue a career in medicine and received several prizes, including $500 in cash, a laptop, and a certificate of recognition. Judge Dr. Satendra Singh praised the high standards of writing displayed in the competition, stating, “A good essay or article does not only attract but touches the hearts of the readers.”
Alex Shahryar-Davies, the Deputy High Commissioner of the New Zealand High Commission, expressed pride in supporting the essay competition for 16 years, highlighting its importance for students across Fiji. He noted, “This has been a wonderful opportunity for students to combine their thinking and writing skills in a way that is informative and hopefully enjoyable.”
Certifications of recognition were awarded to Shresti Devi (Year 11), Kristina Kavita (Year 13), Shakshi Chand (Year 13), and Nitish Chand (Year 13).