Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Students' talents shine in art and writing competition
08 February 2016
This year, over 7,000 Learning for Life students took part in our annual Art and Writing competition.
The Art and Writing Competition gives students the opportunity to develop their creativity, express their unique ability and share their thoughts and ideas.
Our art competition was opened to young students up to 12 years of age and the writing competition was for students over 13 years.
We’re excited to share some of our favourite entries with you.
Thank you for your support of disadvantaged Australian children.
Writing Competition - “The most important person in my life is…because…”
Writing entry by Fartun, Year 11
The most important person in my life is my grandmother because she single headedly raised twelve children on her own. I would be lost without her; she has worked extremely hard to bring my siblings and I to Australia for a better life and education. My grandma works hard and does not take ‘no’ for an answer. She is very humble, giving and never takes anything for granted. She has put my sisters and I through school and my older siblings through university. She expects nothing but the best from us.
My grandma has sacrificed everything for her family and I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay her. Like every other family we fight and argue and sometimes I feel like she’s too harsh on me but soon I realise it is because she cares about me and she loves me. I’m just like every other teenager who is trying to figure out who they are in a world that is constantly trying to change them but may I one day grow up to become like my grandmother and all the other strong, empowering, inspiring, intelligent and kind women that I’ve met, know or have read about.
Writing entry by Helal, Year 11
I truly believe that the most important person in my life is my mother as her tremendous support and loyalty towards my education has been somewhat spectacular. In saying that, I also believe that the most important person is also my sponsor from The Smith Family as without this sort of funding toward my education, I would not be where I am today and I thank you for all your help and support.
Your generosity is what will make me someone in this life, someone with an education, someone that can reach their potential without any financial worries or setbacks.
Mum has honestly been my motivator and put me at ease when I thought I was in over my head.
All I can say that without the constant support of both my sponsor and my mum, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I stand tall knowing that I have a strong, supportive, reliable and tremendous family in which I can rely on and go to in my time of need. I am extremely lucky and fortunate and I thank both the Smith Family and mum!
Writing entry by Connie, Year 7
It has been said that friends come and go, while parents are always by your side. Therefore, it would be logical to have your family members to be one of the most important people in your life. Though I admit that my family are important, my friend would be the most important person in my life.
Slowly, I trudged down the hallway, yet another break by myself again. I sat down, wearily glancing at the playground again and again. I took my lunch out, then started nibbling on a corner, attempting to fight back the tears.
I kept my head down, the sounds of other students laughing and playing made me feel dizzy, I felt lonely, unwanted, different...
My face lit up, sitting down, we joyfully spent break enjoying each other’s company. And from then on, we always met in that same hallway. Sometimes we played sport. Sometimes it was helping each other [with] homework and sometimes it was playing card games.
Suddenly, I heard someone sit beside me. Looking up, a smiling face greeted me.
“You seem lonely”, the girl said.
“Why don’t you be my friend?.”
From that day on, I shall never forget, the meeting of the most important person in my life, teaching me about friendship, keeping me company – my friend.
Writing entry by Katie, Year 11
(the most important person in my life is…) My father.
This is because my family would have never developed like it has without him. As a child he would make us do reading, writing and arithmetic almost every day. At the time I hated it, but now I can see the significant impact it has on my learning.
He taught me how to ride, garden, look after animals and basically all skills needed to live.
To this day he is still very important to me even though he isn’t teaching me things daily. He has become increasingly sick over the years and I try to the best of my ability to care for him. He may not be able to remember all the great things he did for me growing up, but I definitely do and always will.
Writing entry by Nhu, Year 12
I cannot say there is only one important person in my life. I look up to different people in different situations. But I always end up thinking, what would my parents think if I was to do this or not to do certain things?
I think about what they expect from me and the effort they put in for me and my siblings so that I am where I am now, being able to study and graduating this year. They may not be the most helpful when it comes to education as they do not speak or understand a lot of English, but that helped me to become independent in my work and figure things out on my own. I always seem to be doing things on my own and was afraid to ask others for help, I am slowly opening up to others and communicate more as Year 12 is stressful but I am not alone.
Art Competition - "My favourite place".
