VOICES

In a remarkable display of academic prowess, two of our Grade 7 students, Noelle Fonacier and Sydney Crudo, participated in the prestigious Oxford Royale Essay Competition last January. The competition, known for challenging young minds with thought-provoking topics, provided our students with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their writing talents on an international stage.

Meet Noelle Fonacier (L) and Sydney Crudo (R), our talented featured student writers!

The Oxford Royale Essay Competition stands out as more than just a writing contest. It offers students the chance to explore complex, future-facing questions that extend beyond traditional curriculum boundaries. Participants develop crucial academic writing and argumentation skills while honing their research abilities – essential competencies for future undergraduate studies. Perhaps most valuably, students receive expert feedback from academic professionals, providing them with insights to further develop their writing craft.

For Noelle, the competition represented more than just an academic challenge. "The Oxford Royale Essay Competition is an opportunity that I would like to wish upon many others, and one that I would like to experience again. The competition was definitely a challenge, as we had to write about multi-dimensional topics in only 600 words, but it tested my perseverance, resilience, and overall craft in writing. I think the hardships were able to develop my style to be more versatile, and yet still uniquely ‘me.’ The essay not only made me improve my writing skills, but also my knowledge on topics crucial to shaping the society of tomorrow. The result of the Oxford Royale Competition is no longer only an essay, but a wonderful chance to better my passion of writing, something that I hope to continue in the future.”

Sydney approached the competition as an opportunity for personal growth. "For me, joining Oxford Royale was a challenging yet exciting experience. It was an amazing opportunity for me to be able to enhance not only my informative writing strategies, but also my time management and research skills. Although I wasn't able to make it into the top ten winners, I take it as a win in itself that I was able to craft an essay complying to the word count of 600 words, which is usually quite difficult for me. Writing the essay helped me sharpen my revision skills and make every word count. I think the questions are incredibly relevant to our current society and I would love to join again as a young voice of reason.”

Both students emphasized how the competition's questions resonated with current social issues, allowing them to contribute their perspectives as young voices of reason. Their participation demonstrates not just individual talent, but also their commitment to engaging with important global conversations through academic writing.

At Keys, we take pride in providing our students with opportunities that challenge them to grow beyond classroom boundaries. The Oxford Royale Essay Competition participation exemplifies our commitment to nurturing young writers and thinkers. Through such international academic competitions, our students develop not only their writing abilities but also critical thinking skills essential for their future academic pursuits.

Our participation in prestigious competitions reflects Keys' dedication to creating pathways for students to explore their talents and interests at the highest levels. We continue to encourage and support our students in pursuing such challenging opportunities, knowing that each experience contributes to their growth as scholars and future leaders.

Click here to read Noelle’s and Sydney’s essays!