by Jeannine N. Morris
Award: KAPLAN/NEWSWEEK MY TURN ESSAY COMPETITION
Amount: $5,000 first-place prize
Deadline: Application available online, entry forms due March 1, 2005
Details: The contest recognizes and awards talented young writers. Surf www.kaptest.com/essay for the scoop.
Real-Winner Secret:
Out of over 8,500 contestants, Isabelle Kao of Shelton, CT, wrote a unique award-winning essay, and lucky for her, she's now $5,000 richer. "I thought it was worth a shot. I convinced myself I wasn't going to win, but I had a ray of hope," says Isabelle. Her essay stood out in the eyes of the judges of the "My Turn" essay competition not only because it was well-written, but her topic of choice was intriguing as well.
"Mom and Grandma, whom I instinctively call my parents, raised my sister and me in the strict, old-fashioned, Chinese manner," Isabelle wrote in her essay titled, "My Chinese Family of Four." A book she read in English class, The Beam Trees by Barbara Kingsolzer inspired her account of being raised in an all-female household. "The central idea in the book was family, and we began discussing each students' families, so I raised my hand," Isabelle adds.
Her main sentiment: A household doesn't have to be traditional so long as it's "powered by love."
Isabelle kept busy and enjoyed her senior year at Shelton High by being a proud member of the National Honors Society and the Student Council Executive Board. She also founded the Chinese Culture Club, wrote and edited for her school newspaper, participated in Habitat for Humanity, and ran track. She even excelled in her academics with the challenge of AP courses. "My AP physics teacher is one of the best people I'll ever meet in my entire life. I hated physics, but loved going to his class," she says.
She is a freshman now studying psychology at the University of Chicago. "I wanted to go to an urban school because I grew up in suburbs all of my life." Even though she was slightly homesick when she moved away from her family and the suburbs, she was anxious to begin the new chapter of her life.
"As cliche as it sounds, you have to truly believe in yourself, because that's what'll get you far," Isabelle concludes.
To apply online go to http://www.collegebound.net/studentrewards/scholarships/myturn.html
