Friday 29 March 2024

Bishop’s Conservatory student wins essay writing competition

Marie Georgette Spiteri, 14, who attends the Bishop’s Conservatory Secondary School in Victoria, Gozo, has won the My Magna Carta international creative essay writing competition for 11- to 14-year-olds from Europe, to mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta that protected the rights of people against tyranny.

Organised by the English-Speaking Union and Royal Holloway, University of London, the competition was open to participants from the UK, ESU member countries and the Commonwealth, and was split into two, the first for juniors (11-14) and the second for seniors (15-18).
She will be proceeding to London between 13 and 17 October to take part in the grand final. After receiving public speaking training, she will have the opportunity to present her Magna Carta in competition with other continental finalists in her age category and will also experience a wide range of cultural activities in London.

Marie Georgette was one of two entries from Malta and Gozo competing with entries from 21 other countries in Europe with ESUs. Her essay, on her own Magna Carta, is intended to reflect the world today in one document that safeguards the rights, privileges and liberties of her own country or the whole world. What rights, privileges and liberties do we need today to protect us so that we can live peaceably and happily together in the world of the future?

Through the My Magna Carta competition, the ESU believes it is better fulfilling its aims to create international understanding through education, engaging with its founding principles and reflecting the nature of the organisation as a dynamic and relevant educational charity.
The ESU today is dedicated to helping people articulate their ideas and share them with others, and it is through the principles of freedom and justice laid out in the Magna Carta that our understanding of democracy today is formed.

The essays were judged by a panel chaired by Dr Kate Williams of Royal Holloway. The three other members were Professor James Raven, Professor Justin Champion and Sian Williams.
Marie Georgette is an only daughter and, apart from her proud father Joseph and mother Pauline, there is also their pet dog, Princess, a pug, who has endeared herself from the moment she joined the family.
Asked what her experience was in taking part in this international competition, Marie Georgette said: “I learned several new things and also enriched my knowledge of the English language. I discovered several facts about the origin of the Magna Carta and analysed more about human rights in general.

“If I didn’t take part, I wouldn’t have achieved anything. The experience as a whole was one full of knowledge and discovery. I’m sure that my upcoming experience in London, won’t be any less.”
When Marie Georgette’s English teacher, Ms Angela Abela, first introduced the competition to her class earlier this year, it immediately caught Marie Georgette’s eye: “I love anything that has to do with the UK. I saw it as an opportunity to do more research about the history of the UK, in which the Magna Carta plays an important role.

“My expectations were rather humble. I was certainly not expecting to be a continent finalist, let alone travelling to London. Indeed I was very surprised when I received the news.”
Marie Georgette said she prepares a plan for every essay she writes. “I find this very helpful. So I started the plan for the Magna Carta essay as soon as I got to know about it. I based my plan on the ongoing events that were happening all over the world at the time.”

Two quotes have helped her in her decision to enter the competition: I’d rather have a life of “oh wells” than a life of “what ifs”; and In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.
Having already visited London three years ago, Marie Georgette has been to many of its landmarks. “There are many things I’m looking forward to,” she added, “starting with the London weather, which I absolutely love. That crisp, cool, breeze on my face is something that I deeply miss in Gozo.
“I am also looking forward to making new friends from all around the world. I’m also pretty excited to be visiting the Royal Holloway University of London and Dartmouth House, which, from what I have already seen on Google, are both full of magnificent art pieces.”

Marie Georgette says she intends to further her studies and, after completing her secondary education, to proceed to read Law at the University of Malta. “Languages and politics interest me a lot. I also consider music and dancing an important foundation for my future. Currently I’m learning two dance disciplines, Classical Ballet and Modern Jazz, and two musical instruments, the violin and the piano.”
Commenting on her achievement, Saviour Grech, Chairman of the ESU Malta Gozo Branch, said: “We are extremely proud that Marie Georgette has been selected among all these entries to win her category for the European continent.

“This is a clear indication of her writing talent and the capabilities of her teachers at school. All credit to her for making it to the London finals. We wish her every success.”

 

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