12-year-old wins essay competition on Hurricane Melissa's impact

Khadijah Wright, a 12-year-old student from Revival Primary and Infant School in Westmoreland, has claimed victory in the Lay Magistrates’ Association of Jamaica (LMAJ) annual essay competition. Her compelling entry explored the significant impact of Hurricane Melissa on primary school children across Jamaica, earning her the top prize.

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I feel really happy that I won the essay competition because, honestly, I thought I wouldn’t really win. I really wasn’t thinking I would win. I was, like, maybe I would be somewhere above average level, so I didn’t really think I was going to win.

Heather Dennisur, secretary of the LMAJ Westmoreland Chapter, noted that the competition received 210 entries from primary and preparatory schools islandwide and was judged blindly in Kingston. Dennisur highlighted the achievement as particularly significant, as it is the first time a student from Westmoreland has won the competition. Khadijah, accompanied by her parents and Westmoreland Custos Hartley Perrin, shared her surprise and happiness at the win.

Wright's winning essay detailed how the hurricane disrupted children's education and daily lives. She described damaged schools, temporary closures, displacement, and the challenges of returning to normal schooling. The essay also touched upon the difficulties faced in emergency shelters, such as overcrowding and limited resources, which hindered rest and concentration on schoolwork.

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When I was writing that essay, I listened to things my teacher and my principal told me. I used intelligent words and I searched up citations and I used them, and I wrote my essay.

Guided by her teachers, including grade-six teacher Nickesha Johnson, and conducting her own research, Khadijah utilized intelligent vocabulary and citations in her essay. Her principal, Franchae Wedderburn, expressed immense pride, noting that Revival Primary had secured second place last year, underscoring the school's focus on academics and holistic development. Khadijah's parents, Nadine and Garth Wright, attested to her diligent work on the essay, confident that her efforts would be rewarded.

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It just goes to show that when we focus on academics and the total child, they can shine and do extremely well.