First-Year Writing Competition

The Most Authentic Student Voices: A First-Year Writing Competition

In 2023, CEC launched the "Most Authentic Student Voices" competition to celebrate the best student writing about issues that matter the most to our youths.

The competition aims to encourage students to explore and articulate their concerns more critically and passionately so they can be the authentic voices for the change they want to see happening in their world.

Winner are selected from a shortlist of entries submitted by the instructors of the Writing & Reasoning module.

These are the winners of AY2025-26 Term 1, who impressed us with their originality, creativity, and clarity of expression:

● First Prize: Kang Pei Zhen Daphne for "Hustle Culture is a Trap!"

● Second Prize: Kenzie Li Zhixian for "Smooth Work, Smooth Brains: The Cost of Letting GenAI Think for You"

● Third Prize: Syaza Batrisyia Binti Mohammad Zulkiflee for "They Gave Me Grades, Not Guidance: Why Universities Must Prioritise Skills and Practical Exposure"

● Merit award: Phang Sze Ting for "The Hidden Cost of Phone Notifications"

● Merit award: Evangeline Loh Qi Hui for "My Favourite Public Holidays and Why it is a Problem"

Here are the winning essays.