The Essay Contest is currently closed.
Our next contest will begin in September.
THEME FOR OUR UPCOMING CONTEST
Category 1 (ages 7–10*)
From being an astronaut or teacher to being president, there are so many exciting jobs you could have when you’re older! What do you want to be when you grow up—and why?
Category 2 (ages 11–14*)
As exciting new technology changes the way things get done, jobs change as well. Teachers no longer get chalk all over their hands, farmers use tractors instead of horses for ploughing, and reconnaissance missions are often done via satellite instead of physically scoping out the terrain. What is a job that you think would have been really fun to do “back in the day”—and why?
Category 3 (ages 15–19*)
Technology is advancing so fast that some popular jobs didn’t even exist 10 years ago! Imagine some of the fascinating new jobs that could exist in 2028: tele-surgeon . . . drone delivery support . . . flying car parking attendant. . . . What is a fascinating new job that you hope exists by 2028—and why would it be so great? (Tip: Start by thinking of a need in your family, community, or the larger society. Could technology be used to help meet that need? What would that job look like?)
*All ages are as of September 1, 2018.
See Rules & Guidelines for important instructions!
CATEGORY 1 (ages 7-10)
If you could be an animal, which one would you be and why?
Finalists
- King of Beasts by Stuart Denham
- My Favorite Paws, Jaws and Claws by Jerome Dittman
- If I Were a Cat by Jose Felten
- All about Monkeys by Eric Green
- The Hummingbird Migration by Hadley Green
- The Greatest Beast by Malia Irvine
- The Puppy Love Dog by Heidi Jones
- My Peafowl Experience by Elizabeth Moulton
- The Camouflage Master by Hugh Ryder
- The Gems of Cloud Forest by Emma Smith
- Wolves and Their Ways by Julia-Rose Spears
- The Mighty Eagle by Elijah Spies
- Worms by Elisabeth Washington
CATEGORY 2 (ages 11-14)
If you could travel outside of your country, where would you go and why?
Finalists
- The Journey of a Lifetime by Abigail Bosworth
- Wonder in the Wild by Hailey Braddock
- Unconquerable by Landri Coble
- Kingdom of Stones by Patrick Denham
- Cobblestone Paths by Emma Fowler
- The Neuschwanstein Castle by Summer Hammond
- An Exotic Land by Sam Kellam
- A Day in the Lowlands by Phoebe Knapp
- My Dream Destination by Kiersen Landes
- Peaks of Majesty by Amanda Lindberg
- A Dangerous Wish by Leah Matthews
- Taiwanna Go There by Annabel Peltzer
- Maybe One Day… by Emma Storey
- Land of the Rising Sun by Esther Zhang
CATEGORY 3 (ages 15-19)
Considering the role gratitude and generosity play in personal happiness, how should you and your peers approach life after high school?
Finalists
- The Little Things by Katellen Allen
- Happiness is a Sacrifice by Madeline Carroll
- People Smart by Elise Engen
- The Whys and Wherefores of Gratitude by Aaron Frish
- Pursuing the Pursuit of Happiness by Timothy House
- The Connection between Wealth, Generosity, Thankfulness, and Happiness by Stasia Hudak
- The Role of Independence in Personal Happiness and Satisfaction by Alexander Kim
- True Happiness by Moriah Martin
- The Importance of Generosity by Ethan Read
- Happiness that Counts by Laura Rothermel
- The Question of Graduation Day by Danielle Stanton
- The Key to a Productive Adulthood by Maddie Steele
