JH English Monthly Writing Competitions – Alex Mao

JH English Monthly Writing Competitions – Alex Mao

Our JH Monthly Writing Competition continues! We’re very pleased to share an article from our winning writer in December’s competition, ‘Charity Begins at Home’, which asked pupils to write an article on whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement, ‘One’s first responsibility is for the needs of one’s own family, friends, neighbourhood and city.’ We’re proud of our winners: Alex Mao (1^st place) in Grade 9 and Helen Lin (runner up) in Grade 7. We welcome you to listen to Alex as he shares his perspective with Mr Speers on the writing process and reads his insightful article. We recommend you to reconsider your views on charity and ask yourself how you make a difference in others’ lives!

 

You could be on featured on Duke Box in the future too if you participate in our writing competitions!

 

Winning Article Below;

 

Enjoy

 

People should not put their first responsibility for their family, friends, or neighbours needs

by Alex Mao

 

As problems like Covid, poverty, and global warming have become more prevalent in recent years, many people have taken action to address them, rearranging their priorities to do so. But I disagree strongly with people who are taking their surroundings as the priority, and I think that’s why many people go through life terrified that there’s no point to it.

 

Without doubt, generosity is one of the most vital things in the society, yet I still believe that charity is low efficient. This is due to the fact that wealthier nations focus more on environmental concerns, whereas poor nations have greater need for aid in addressing issues of extreme poverty. There are less than 200 medical practitioners serving a population of about 5 million in a country known as The Republic of Liberia. In addition, there is often little access to education in these areas; for example, in Burkina Faso, 77% of the population is illiterate. These hardships are only the tip of the iceberg for Africans; In fact, just existing is a boon for them, something that people in rich countries will have a hard time imagining. Therefore, if we just spend lots of attention on surroundings, then other problem will be incredibly tough to fix.

 

To boil the issue down to its smallest component, problems will arise in many contexts because people will put other people and their environment ahead of themselves. Some parents, recognizing the importance of family above all else, work tirelessly to ensure their kids get the best possible education. If the end result is not what the parents want, then tensions within the family are bound to rise. In the end, this did more harm to families than good by placing more stress on children. We are taught to be generous with our interests and the interests of others, which is an important part of society, but this can lead some to neglect their own personal growth and the kind of person they ultimately want to become. Some mental diseases, such as depression, may be the result of placing too much emphasis on others. Sadly, it appears that no matter how many people you have in your life, eventually they will all leave you. It’s too late if folks only understand this after their friends have abandoned them. As a result, people will be able to focus on the needs of others when they first prioritize their own. The ability to shape one’s own destiny and successfully navigate the unforeseeable future and its attendant repercussions is the result of cultivating self-awareness. What I’m claiming is that we should put ourselves first without putting others last.

 

In conclusion, I consider it irresponsible for people to view their closest personal relationships as their primary duty. This is because, ultimately, after losing even a small number of friends, as is inevitably going to happen, all it creates are people who have no idea why they are still alive.

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