Earlier this year, our Grade 11 English students explored the art of non-fiction, crafting personal memoirs. Several students took the bold step of condensing their stories into exactly 100 words to meet the requirements of this global competition.

The New York Times received a staggering 14,232 submissions from around the world. They chose only 17 winners, 19 runners-up, and 37 honourable mentions. Our very own Temi A. was selected as one of the 17 winners! Head over to the New York Times website to read Temi's piece.

Temi shares her process statement on her tiny memoir for the NTY:
"This piece is a part of the personal memoir that I created in my English class. It describes my earliest memories and experiences of growing up as a young Black girl in England. I chose this piece as it captures the innocence that I had when I was younger. A real, raw moment. This memory is something that has always stuck with me, as it has impacted the way I have carried myself throughout the years. Not only did this project insecurities onto myself that I had brushed off, but I had become unaware of subtle biases against my skin. It was not until many years later that I came to the realization of the impact this moment had on my life. However, this has strengthened me to advocate for myself and seek expression through my writing.”

Join us in congratulating Temi for this amazing accomplishment!