The World in 2050: NYT Writing Competition

The annual New York Times Asia-Pacific Writing Competition challenges international students to express their opinions on news stories and current affairs. This year’s competition theme is Our World: 2050, where students need to write a 500-word essay about what they can do to impact or change the imminent future. Through this engaging prompt, students are tasked to develop their idea of a world 30 years later, regarding topical focuses such as global population, economic issues, environmental dangers, climate change, technological advancements, and more. Even though 2050 is not a far stretch from now, it is still difficult to predict the future based on the rapid changes implemented in society every day.

In the modern setting, teenagers have taken the liberty to insert their own ideas into current issues. With a bold approach and a prominent voice in society, teenagers can ultimately impact the events of the future. This, on the contrary, is not the case for many people in the Asia-Pacific regions. In countries such as China with the restriction of free speech, it becomes more difficult for individuals to establish their opinions. The New York Times utilizes this competition as an opportunity to help students in Asia-Pacific regions to argue for their own opinion about the world.

In AISG, students are constantly surrounded by a variety of opinions with the influence of their fellow peers and teachers. While political-minded individuals have the opportunity to verbally debate world issues in Model United Nations, the New York Times writing competition offers an alternative window for those that would prefer to pick up a pen.

Senior Jennifer Yang, the coordinator of the seasonal school issue Liphy, articulated her opinions on the impact of creative writing at AISG. “Creative writing is a good form of expression for our ideas and emotions that can be both intimate and detached. It’s a very effective form of catharsis and it’s a great way to enrich vocabulary or reasoning in a free space that isn’t dictated by limitations like a paper in class would.”

A contestant from the 2018-2019 New York Times Asia-Pacific Writing Competition and attendee of a New York Times discussion panel in Hong Kong, sophomore Jenny Liang, mentioned that “the topic from last year was interesting to discuss; it made us reflect on our modern technological advances. I hope that students in AISG can continue to submit their work in the competition.”

Ms. Navis, the head librarian at the Science Park campus, provided her opinion on the reason why AISG students should participate in the writing competition. “The New York Times wants to engage young people in their publication. Young people should be reading current news and keeping up with what’s happening beyond their four walls. It’s by reading these kinds of publications that students find topics that extend their learning into real-world situations. Expressing one’s thinking through writing will help hone a student’s skill of articulation of one’s point of view. The more submissions, the more confident the voice of the writer becomes.” Ms. Navis also mentioned that if students happen to win the competition or become the runner-up, this would boost their college resumes for getting published in a prestigious New York Times publication.

To understand the submission guidelines regarding the competition, read the packet.