A Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form student’s exceptional academic thinking and passion for politics has paid off with international competition success.
Esther Ogbebulu, currently studying Business Extended Certificate and A Level Sociology at Central Saint Michael’s, has been shortlisted for the John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize.
Esther was inspired to enter her impressive essay entitled ‘Does diversity produce economic value or does it actually raise tensions in the UK?’ under the Politics category after a recommendation from her tutor.
In her essay she cited figures such as former UK Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, and Opposition and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.
Esther says: “Being nominated for the award was a shellshock. I do like writing, and I thought ‘yeah, I’ll give it a go’ but when I got shortlisted I was like ‘wow’. I looked over my essay multiple times. I even got my dad to proof read it. He said I was going to get shortlisted and I thought he was just joking with me, and I did. I was ecstatic, I was over the moon.”
Esther wants to continue her writing after college and is keen to study International Relations at university before going into a journalism career.
She also debates politics, psychology and sociology topics with other writers on media platforms.
The John Locke Institute Essay Competition encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style.
Avid learners are invited to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the curriculum, building their knowledge and refining their skills of argumentation.
Favourites are chosen from each of seven subject categories – Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law, and the Grand Prize winner is then selected.
