Suen Hui and her school principal Chong Fook Yu holding the Gold Finalist certificate she received for her Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 entry.
CHEN Suen Hui took a creative approach in her essay for an international competition, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in preserving the environment.
The Form One student at Penang Chinese Girls’ High School wrote about how sea creatures complained about ongoing pollution.
Suen Hui’s work titled “A Bubbling Talk By The Beach” earned her a Gold Finalist award in the junior category of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) 2024.
She was among 120 finalists worldwide in the competition, which saw a record-breaking 34,939 entries from Commonwealth countries this year.
Suen Hui said her essay was light-hearted but carried a serious message about sea pollution.
“To me, everyone is responsible for taking care of the environment, especially our seas, which makes up 70% of the Earth’s surface,” she said.
“We need to create more awareness and put in more efforts for a cleaner ocean.
“This is the message that I hope to bring to the Commonwealth community.”
Suen Hui expressed gratitude to her English teachers for their guidance and encouragement.
She said reading and writing has been her passion since she read her first storybook, a Geronimo Stilton title, when she was four.
“I was also inspired by JK Rowling (author of the popular Harry Potter series).
“My fondness for reading helped me acquire a rich vocabulary, which enables me to express myself through my short stories,” said Suen Hui.
The 13-year-old hopes her success would inspire others to read more and to begin their own storytelling journeys, as she believes these can be powerful ways for individuals to develop their self-expression and creativity.
She also hopes to raise awareness of societal issues and the need for mutual respect through her writings.
Suen Hui had previously won other international competitions such as the Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa, where she clinched the grand prix prize, and was a South-East Asia regional qualifier in the Hippo English Olympiad 2023.
The avid reader also won the Penang Jaguh Nilam award in the English category last year as a Year Six pupil.
The QCEC was established by the Royal Commonwealth Society in 1883.
It aims to encourage young people to engage with pressing issues of the day, such as the environment, gender equality and youth leadership.
The theme for this year’s competition was “Our Common Wealth”.
Evangeline Khoo Ke Ying, 15, and Erynn Liew, 13, both Malaysians, were named the Senior Winner and Junior Winner respectively in QCEC 2024.
They were feted at a reception hosted by Queen Camilla in the United Kingdom.
