Year 9 Creative Writing Competition Winner

The English department and teachers are pleased to announce the winner of the Year 9 Creative Writing Competition is…

Celine Park from 9C1! 

Celine’s piece, A Reminder, was a moving account of a young woman processing the loss of her mother, inspired by the short story “Autumn Leaves” by Wendy Chan. Celine addressed the task’s theme of “Identity” by showing how grief is expressed in Korean culture. 

Extract: 

“Why do you have two suitcases?” I ask, glancing at it. One of them looks like it’s going to explode. She points at one of them. “This one clothes.” She then points to the bulging one. “And this one food.” 

“Emo, I can make us some food,” I tell her, but she shakes her head, tutting. 

“No, no. Today your birthday. I make you food,” she says, making it sound like an order. 

I obey, sitting down at the table quietly as I listen to Emo humming as she cooks, the kitchen filling up with steam. 

“Emo, what are you making?” I ask. 

She smiles at me. “It is your birthday. I make miyeokguk!” 

I freeze, a feeling of fear consuming me for a second before I smile gratefully. It has been a decade since someone has cooked for me and I should be thankful about that. Emo places a steaming bowl of miyeokguk in front of me. “Eat up,” she says. 

I pick up my spoon and drink the broth and immediately feel the familiar warmth I had missed, the soothing flavour of seaweed. 

“Don’t cry, aieya,” Emo says softly. 

I laugh, wiping away my tears. “Umma always told me that eating miyeokguk proved that I was a real Korean.”