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News > COB Freshman Wins Manley Essay Competition
COB Freshman Wins Michael Manley Essay Competition In a highly celebrated first for a College of The Bahamas student, Christopher Worrell has won the Seventh Michael Manley Essay Competition for Undergraduate Students in Tertiary Institutions with a compelling essay on self reliance, equality and democracy as objectives for a just society. An Economics major at The College of The Bahamas, Christopher had only completed one semester at the time that he wrote the winning essay and submitted it in January, eclipsing numerous other entries by sophomore, junior and senior college students from around the Caribbean region. He was awarded with the first place prize of a US $1,000 cheque and a certificate at a special ceremony held on Wednesday, June 23rd in the auditorium of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions in Kingston, Jamaica. Students who entered the essay competition were asked to discuss a statement made by Manley – Jamaica's fourth prime minister – in his first book, The Politics of Change: "Self-reliance, equality and democracy are the objectives towards which we must strive. Without these we cannot build a just society." In his essay, Christopher called Mr. Manley's statement "revolutionary and meaningful". However he argued that while these objectives may give a guideline which would ideally lead to a just society, humanity's inherent imperfections may make this goal unattainable.  "At that moment I stopped reading, I was thoroughly shocked. I really couldn't believe it. I thought "No way, there has got to be a mistake, because it took them so long to get back to me." So I read it again and it confirmed my first interpretation. I felt like this was an unbelievable accomplishment," he recalls. "I thought, "Out of all the people in the Caribbean and West Indies I won!" My hard work in research and writing, sacrificing Christmas break had finally paid off." An avid writer, the COB freshman says his passion for writing is fuelled by his interest in the subject matter about which he writes, especially if it's related to economics. "I only write passionately on topics that I am passionate about. I am an economics major so I am passionate about political science and social systems because they will determine the quality of life for people. It is because of this passion for the subject that I was able to passionately write on the topic," explains Christopher. While in Jamaica, Chris met with Michael Manley's children: Joseph and Rachel Manley, a thoroughly exciting encounter for the 18 year-old college student. "There were seniors and juniors who had more resources and closer connections to Michael Manley than I did. I wrote the essay after only completing one semester at C.O.B. For me, my reward really was that I was able to be the first to represent The Bahamas in another country in this form and come out with excellence. Hopefully I'll be able to represent in a greater capacity, but I will take what I can for now," he says. Some scholars consider the late Michael Manley one of the most outstanding political figures in the post-colonial history of the Caribbean. An accomplished politician, labour leader, author and intellectual, he is renowned for a pioneering programme of legislative social reform, his role in the formation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and his advocacy for the sovereignty of ex-colonial countries. The essay entries for the Michael Manley Essay Competition were judged on content, literary skill, organization and references and had a minimum word limit of 2,000 words. Christopher's academic excellence has been recognized in another significant way; he was recently named a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. The Society recognizes top scholars and invites only those students who have achieved academic excellence. This summer, Christopher plans to attend a National Student Leadership Conference at Fordham University in New York where he will study Entrepreneurship and Business. He also hopes to receive a scholarship to study for three weeks at Cambridge University through the NSHSS later this summer.
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