IN recent times, single-use plastics are increasingly viewed as “the enemy” – something to avoid due to their environmental impact.

But in Evangeline Khoo Ke Ying’s eyes, this antagonistic view misses a crucial point: the role human greed has played in the climate crisis.

With this premise in mind, the 15-year-old wrote a short story from the perspective of plastic, lamenting its fate at the hands of its human creators.

The idea struck her when a friend asked for help to dispose of a single-use plastic item, she shared.

“I wrote about the greed of humanity and its use of single-use plastics so that readers would sympathise with plastic rather than side with humans.

“I wanted readers not to blame plastic, as its original use was for the greater good, but to pity it for being so misused,” she told StarEdu.

Her short story titled Ungrowing Growth recently earned her the grand prize in the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools.

Named the Senior Winner of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) 2024, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society in the United Kingdom, the SMK Menjalara, Kuala Lumpur, student will soon be travelling to London for Winners’ Week, to be held from Nov 18 to 21.

While several awards were presented for both the Junior (under 14) and Senior (ages 14 to 18) categories, only one winner and one runner-up were named in each.

Evangeline will be joined in the UK by fellow Malaysian Liew Erynn, 13, who earned the Junior Winner title, as well as Victor Kiyaga, 13, from Uganda and Christabelle Yeo, 16, from Singapore, who were named the Junior Runner-up and Senior Runner-up, respectively.

Their entries stood out among a record-breaking 34,939 submissions from all Commonwealth regions.

The four students will take part in educational and cultural activities before attending a special awards ceremony hosted by Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace.Evangeline said she is ecstatic about meeting the Queen, experiencing autumn in London, and immersing herself in the country’s rich culture.

“Exploring the historic buildings, delving into the city’s history, and visiting the museums are at the top of my list,” she enthused.

Clinching the top prize is especially rewarding for Evangeline, who debuted in the QCEC last year but did not win any award.

To improve one’s command of the English language, Evangeline, who is a fan of literature, fantasy, and Agatha Christie’s mystery works, recommended reading “lots of novels”.

“Start small with simple books and dive deeper into the meanings behind the words. Reading between the lines and occasionally discussing with friends how you interpret the piece can be enjoyable,” she suggested.

She added that she has found it helpful to listen to English songs.

“It’s fun to pick up interesting ways musicians use words to describe their feelings, like how a philosopher would,” she said.

The budding writer also actively participates in various competitions, such as storytelling, debate, and choral speaking in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.

“Joining competitions is my favourite way to get by in school. No doubt international competitions are daunting, but I join them for the fun of it,” she shared.

She advised other students to seize opportunities to try out these activities.

“If you have the chance, experience going on stage, do public speaking and showcase your English communication skills,” she said.

Moving forward, Evangeline is determined to continue challenging herself in future competitions.

“I would continue to push myself and my creativity to its extreme, whether in music, writing or the arts,” she said, before concluding with a quote: “In the words of Hercule Poirot (a fictional detective created by Christie), ‘If the little grey cells are not exercised, they grow the rust.’”

Open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and under, the annual QCEC invites participants to write on a theme inspired by the Commonwealth’s values and principles, while also working towards developing key literacy skills and fostering an empathetic and open-minded world view.

Last year, 15-year-old Kong Yong Sin from SMK Tinggi Kluang, Johor, was named the Senior Runner-up, earning her the opportunity to be honoured by Queen Camilla.

Past winners include Malaysia-born Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mei Fong, Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, and the late British author Elspeth Huxley.

Li Zhen, 20, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. Applications for next year’s programme are now open. For details, go to facebook.com/niebrats.

With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.

1. Besides plastic, what other materials are often seen as problematic but actually stem from human greed? Discuss this with your classmates and brainstorm potential solutions.

2. Make a pledge: list five steps you will take to improve your command of the English language moving forward. By the end of the year, review the list and evaluate your progress.

The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@ thestar.com.my.