Adran Kumar is thankful for his mother’s encouragement that led him to participate in the New Zealand-Fiji Secondary School Essay Competition 2024. The Year 12 student from Sabeto College in Nadi was announced as the supreme winner of the 16th edition of the competition.
At just 17 years old, Adran was one of two students from the Western Division honored for submitting the best essay. He shared that halfway through the writing process, he became discouraged and expressed to his parents that he felt incapable. “I was considering many students across the nation who are better writers than I am. I thought it would be futile to invest my effort into the essay if it wouldn’t lead to success,” he explained. However, his mother motivated him to persist and complete the essay, for which he is now grateful.
The competition saw participation from over 100 secondary schools, with a total of 600 essays submitted. The theme centered on the unique perspectives of the Pacific Way. Adran acknowledged the support from his teachers, which he believes was instrumental in his achievement. He focused his essay on eco-tourism and the preservation of the vanua, stating, “I expressed my thoughts in writing. I believe eco-tourism is important as it showcases our identity to both the Pacific and the world while preserving Fijian culture, traditions, and land.”
Adran plans to continue his education in medicine and received prizes including $500 in cash, a laptop, and a certificate of recognition. Dr. Satendra Singh, one of the judges, remarked on the impressive quality of the essays submitted. He noted, “An excellent essay doesn’t just attract attention; it resonates with the readers.”
Alex Shahryar-Davies, Deputy High Commissioner of the New Zealand High Commission, expressed pride in supporting the essay competition for 16 years. He said, “This initiative has provided students across Fiji with a valuable opportunity to express their ideas in writing, enhancing their thinking and writing skills in a delightful and informative way. This essay competition facilitates the exchange of ideas between New Zealand and Fiji for the mutual benefit of our communities.”
The recipients of certificates of recognition included Shresti Devi from Year 11, and Kristina Kavita, Shakshi Chand, and Nitish Chand, all from Year 13.