Winning Essay to Create Peace
Iwant peace in this world. This was the statement made by Year-13 Natabua High School student, Justin Kumar, in an interview with the Fiji Sun yesterday.
The 18-year-old lad was among the 171 students in the world to have scooped a gold medal for the
Queen’s Commonwealth
Essay Competition 2021.
Globally, a total of 25,648 participants took part in the competition.
He said aiming to receive a gold medal was far from what he wanted to achieve – getting his message out to the world to make peace.
Justin, who aspires to be either in the medical or civil engineering field, said his interest to take part in the competition drew from the support of his parents.
Background
He is the youngest child of two siblings.
“Life growing up was good for me because I had support from my parents. They ensured that I had a fun childhood although I had some ups and downs in life, they made sure that I was happy most of the time,” he said.
“I have always been interested in creative writing, since this is my last year at high school I wanted to do as many things as I could before I leave.”
Essay
His essay was based on the topic - It has been 30 years since the departure of COVID-19, what does the world look like now?
“Things that seem idealistic right now but it could be a possibility like in the 90s, did anyone think we would have touchscreen phones, we did not expect that, we thought the world would stay with button phones, so I wrote in 30 years from now we would have driverless cars or probably someone may invent flying cars but it might be reckless,” he said.
“People would have to work harder in order to meet their needs since it will be replaced by automation.
“I also wrote that I hoped there would be peace within communities, races, sexual orientation and also many communities are discriminated against in this day and age so I am hoping in 30 years’ time this would change, I want peace.
“I am thankful for where I am right now. I hope I have a bright future.”
His parents, Angeline and Navindra were grateful to Justin for making their family proud.