Adran Kumar is thankful for his mother’s encouragement to participate in the New Zealand-Fiji Secondary School Essay Competition 2024. The Year 12 student from Sabeto College in Nadi emerged as the overall winner of the 16th edition of the competition.
At just 17 years old, Kumar was one of two students from the Western Division honored for having the best essay. He admitted that he nearly gave up while writing. “Halfway through, I told my parents I couldn’t continue because I believed many other students wrote better than me,” he said. “I thought it would be pointless to put in my best effort only to be unsuccessful.”
Thanks to his mother’s persistent support, he persevered. “I am grateful I listened to her,” Kumar stated.
More than 100 secondary schools participated, with 600 essays submitted on the topic of the Pacific Way, highlighting the unique ways the Pacific region approaches different issues.
Kumar expressed gratitude for his teachers, who played a significant role in his achievement. His essay focused on eco-tourism and the preservation of the vanua, illustrating how these concepts reflect Fijian culture, tradition, and land.
He aims to pursue a career in medicine and was awarded $500 in cash, a laptop, and a certificate of recognition. Dr. Satendra Singh, one of the judges, commended the high caliber of writing in the competition, stating, “A good essay does not only attract but touches the hearts of the readers.”
Alex Shahryar-Davies, Deputy High Commissioner of the New Zealand High Commission, expressed pride in supporting the essay competition for 16 years. “This initiative allows students across Fiji to showcase their thinking and writing skills in an informative and enjoyable manner, fostering idea exchange between New Zealand and Fiji,” he remarked.
Other recipients of certificates of recognition included Shresti Devi (Year 11), Kristina Kavita (Year 13), Shakshi Chand (Year 13), and Nitish Chand (Year 13).