Do you love a challenge? Don’t miss the chance to win great prizes by taking part in our next writing contest! Click here and fill out the online form to apply. The entry question is: If you could live in any fictional world, which one would you choose? The deadline is at 11.59pm on Monday, February 23. We will notify the new contestants chosen on Friday, February 27.
Hear from this season’s Write to Win champion: Adrian Yau Ho-yin, 16, HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College
It was an honour to participate in Young Post’s Write to Win competition. This exhilarating experience allowed me to re-examine my potential in ways I never expected.
Unlike typical school assignments confined by guidelines and rubrics, this competition felt like a creative marathon. It was not just about language and organisation; it was a platform to showcase the most outlandish yet profound ideas residing in our minds.
It all began with my English teacher, who always kept an eye on the competition. When she asked if I would like to join, I lacked the confidence to believe I would even be picked, let alone win.
However, after her relentless encouragement, I submitted a simple paragraph, never imagining that I would receive a response. When the results arrived, I was shocked to find out that I had made it into Round Two.
As I progressed, each round became more challenging. We moved from simple prompts, such as proposing a business idea, to complex twists on everyday activities that people often overlook. At that point, I began to lose faith. I had barely submitted my entry in the previous round, and now I was faced with topics in social science and philosophy?
To make matters worse, reading the other participants’ work made me realise I was competing against formidable opponents with insightful ideas. Compared to them, I felt like I kept coming up short.
To stand out, I realised I couldn’t simply provide a standard answer; I had to offer my unique perspective. I began to look at the mundane world through a different lens, searching for the extraordinary within the ordinary. This shift proved to be the real turning point.
I stopped writing to please a “ghost rubric” and began writing to challenge myself. The competition became less about the fear of elimination and more about the joy of the moment – that brief instant when a complex thought crystallises into a perfect sentence.
I learned to embrace the discomfort of difficult topics, discovering that my voice has value, even when measured against others. Looking back, the most significant lesson I learned was about creative resilience. I discovered that even when you feel outmatched, you can bridge the gap with curiosity.
My teacher’s persuasion didn’t just get me into a competition; it pushed me to uncover a bolder, more observant version of myself. Whether I win or lose, I have gained a sharper mind – a prize that doesn’t require a trophy.
Congratulations to the first and second runners-up: Seagull, Rex Leung Wai-um from Christ College, and Owl, Kwan Ngai-wang from HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College.
We have prepared some exciting prizes for our top three contestants:
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Winner: Kindle, City’super voucher and a YP certificate
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First runner-up: Instax camera and a YP certificate
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Second runner-up: City’super voucher and a YP certificate
