While writing their winning essays for a contest recently sponsored by V.I. First Lady Cecile deJongh, three students from Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School said Thursday that they were inspired by the people in the community around them and were able to write from their hearts about some of the issues surrounding individuals with mental illness in the territory.
The V.I. first lady’s second annual mental health essay contest was open for submissions in September and asked students the question, "How can people with mental illness be better supported in our community?"
The contest was open to public and private high school students and, altogether, 144 entries were submitted.
Winners from St. Thomas-St. John were Kesha Hyacinth, Rodney Querrard Jr. and Shereene Battiste – all from Sts. Peter and Paul. DeJongh presented the group with their certificates and prizes at the school Thursday, and said it was "a pleasure" reading what the students wrote.
St. Croix’s winners, who all attend the Central High School, will be awarded Friday (see links below).
"I am very proud of each and every student who wrote and submitted an essay for this contest," said deJongh. "It has been one of my goals to improve mental illness awareness in the Virgin Islands, and this essay contest has proven to be a thought-provoking way for students to explore the subject of mental health and encourage conversation about members of our community who are often overlooked or misunderstood. The depth of information included in the winning essays was exemplary."
The students said they each took about a week to write their essays and sought to make it "personal" by looking at the challenges faced by individuals in their own community. The essays were judged by a 12-member panel of teachers, administrators and mental health experts, who selected the top three pieces from each district.
The two first place winners in each district each receive $350, while the second place winners receive $175, followed by the third place winners with $75 each.
