Geez Magazine Secondary School Essay Contest

by Lucia Wylie-Eggert | Published 19th January 2023

Geez magazine invites students grades 9–12 to participate in the 2023 Geez Magazine Secondary School Essay Contest. There is no fee to enter.

Geez magazine is a seasonal, non-profit, ad-free, print magazine about social justice, art, and activism for people at the fringes of faith in both Canada and the U.S. Our summer 2023 issues covers the theme kids and winning essays will be featured in the issue.

ESSAY CONTEST FOCUS:
As we face questions around climate crises, mass violence, and pervasive technologies, you, as a high school student, stand at the heart of many of these experiences. What can you offer out of your feelings and experiences? What possibilities, beauty, and imagination do we all need to move forward?

SELECT ONE OF THREE TOPICS TO FOCUS ON IN YOUR WRITING:

Climate Crisis
The planet continues to warm, changing weather patterns and displacing peoples. What is a moment in your life when the climate crisis became real to you? How did you feel? What did you notice? Where do you find hope? What do adults in your life need to know about climate crises?

Gun Violence
It feels like lockdowns have always been a normal part of school life. Can you remember a time when the reality of school shootings set in? How did you feel? What did you notice? Where do you find hope? What do adults in your life need to know about gun violence?

Technology
Social technologies like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can be helpful tools for connection, while at the same time they can harmfully dysregulate our neurological reward centres. What is a moment in your life when the risks of technology became clear to you? How did you feel? What did you notice? Where do you find hope? What do adults in your life need to know about technology?

WINNERS
One winner will be selected in each of the three focus topics (climate crisis, gun violence, and technology). Winning selections will be printed in Geez’s 2023 summer issue. Winners will receive a $100 cash prize and complimentary copy of the issue.

REQUIREMENTS
• Submit completed essays with a length of 400-600 words.
• Your submission must be written primarily in English.
• Submit a bio (maximum 50 words) that includes your name, age, and geographic region.
• Parent permission required to participate.
• Students must be within the ages of 13-18.
• The use of AI-generators, like ChatGPT, is considered plagiarism. Any participant who submits AI-generated writing will be disqualified and their parent/guardian will be notified.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
March 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
□ Your contact information
□ Your essay submission (400-600 words) as a doc or pdf
□ Your student bio (50 words or less)
□ Contact information for a parent or guardian
□ Parent/guardian consent. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires that we gain consent from a parent/guardian in order for student’s to participate and share information. Click here to download the parent/guardian consent form. You will be asked to upload it when you submit your entry.

ENTER THE CONTEST
Click here to enter.

Questions? Email lucia@geezmagazine.org.