woohoo!!

*click to enlarge if you cannot read*

ok so you're wondering what the heck is that. i joined the commonwealth essay competition early this year. i actually decided to join only at the last minute and came up with the essay in three hours. anyway, each school can only send in 4 entries from each class (i'm in class b - born 1992-1993) and ms leong selected mine, jolene's, esther's and the other girl i dunno who. so then, our essays were sent far far away to um..dunno where la..

the results were supposed to be out in july. but they could at least mention it was end of july? gahh. anyway, i checked on monday. nothing. then this morning when i came to school, first thing i saw was a very happy jolene. she told me that esther went to the website and we won something. jolene and i got commended and esther got highly commended. waa..heheh. but..but..don't ask me what commended is la. i also dunno eh. =D

so i was kinda happy the whole day but then now i checked the website and saw that so many people win also. er kinda burst my happy bubble already la. the certificates are only coming in october for people in the southern hemisphere..but come to think of it, we're at the equator right??...

a little about the competition..
The Commonwealth Essay Competition is an international education project open to all young Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or under. Every year, more than 6,000 essays pour into the London office of the Royal Commonwealth Society in time for the Competition deadline of 1 March. When the essays have been registered, they are distributed to twenty-four examiners for judging and the results are announced in July.
Winning an award or commendation is a considerable achievement and something of which the entrants can be justifiably proud. However, the Competition is about more than winning a prize. As one Canadian teacher has commented:

“We are from a very small community on Vancouver Island. The Competition has shown our students that they can compete in a bigger world, that they can do great things!”

The Competition reaches into people’s hearts and generates a lot of good will, loyalty and enthusiasm. It is a unique and invaluable education project because it brings together young people from all around the world and encourages them to interact on subjects that matter to them. As one participant says:

“I am of Indian origin. Both my parents were born in India and much of my family live in India or Great Britain. I enjoy taking part in the Commonwealth Essay Competition as it has allowed me to learn more about my country and its history.”

In its own quiet way, the Commonwealth Essay Competition may be an agent for local and international social change, as it encourages literacy and reflective thought.