If reading this article gives you a sense of déjà vu, don’t be surprised. Year 12 student, Emily Mannix, has won the 2018 Future Leaders Writing Prize—open to all Australian secondary students—for the second year in a row!
Last year, Emily’s moving story inspired by the shocking death of three-year-old Syrian refugee, Alan Kurdi, took out the top spot. To repeat the performance marks Emily as a truly capable wordsmith.
This year’s contribution is titled: She called it ‘Lucy’, (see below). The story, about two young brothers whose parents are drug users/abusers, explores their relationship and the impact of their parents’ behaviour.
“I have read about the lives of drug-affected people and pitied those who are impacted by these problems,” says Emily.
“I love writing, but my biggest passion is science and at the moment I am thinking about becoming an eye surgeon—not an author. I think the best authors have life experiences to base their stories on. Roald Dhal, for example, was a pilot in the Second World War.”
Future Leaders have told Emily they will be publishing the best stories submitted during 2017 and 2018 later this year.
Meanwhile, although Year 12 commitments are stepping up, Emily is feeling on track and still managing to keep up her love of reading and her sporting interests. “I also have good friends for support and study partners and who can tell me a joke and give a moment of relief!”
Future Leaders is a philanthropic initiative about leadership and our future. It seeks to involve, inform and inspire.
