Written by Elsa Bermudez, Rita Feinstein, Tasnim Hussain, and Matthew Jellison
On Superbowl Sunday, Writopia Lab NYC and DC ran our 8th annual essay conference! Writers from grades 7th-12th participated in both our NYC and DC conference, and some writers even flew in from California and Toronto to participate in our NYC conference! Their excitement and dedication to critical thinking were already evident in their essay submissions, and they went above and beyond to be part of one of our favorite annual events.
When we opened our call for submissions in December, we asked writers to submit essays that take risks, either in content, format, or both. Young writers really took to the challenge and submitted surprising, interesting, empathetic, compassionate, philosophical, and risky essays, leading to discussions at our conference about culture, gender, love, philosophy, and how to protect humanity and the world we inhabit. We curated their essays into panels that tied their essays together and, after they presented the abstracts and excerpts, asked each essayist questions that led us into a discussion about their topics. Essayists also answered questions presented to their whole panel about their connected theme.
Writers spoke eloquently, with grace and respect for their fellow writers. They impressed us with how they rose up to the challenge of answering questions extemporaneously in front of a crowd of their peers, family, and friends. We opened up questions to the audience, which continued panel discussions further and allowed the essayists to share their knowledge and experience in the topics they researched, or even—in the case of many of the personal essays—lived.
Thank you to all the participants for such interesting, emotional, and timely discussions that we will be taking with us. For a glimpse at the panels and essays, take a look at the list of topics we covered below!
DC Panels and Panelists
Personal Identity and Pop Culture
This panel will explore how film, literature, and fashion can help us better understand ourselves both as individuals and as part of a larger culture.
- “The Snap-Back: Spy Kids and Self Improvement” by Ruth Pournelle
- “To Be a Lolita” by Darcy Hoffpauir
- “On Waiting” by Zoe Becker
- “Burden” by Camille Crawford Galvani
Protecting Our Planet, Our People, and Our Past
These panelists look across oceans, into the atmosphere, and into deep cuts of history to explore how we can create a more informed, inclusive world and preserve knowledge thoughtfully and ethically.
- “Things we think are sustainable… that actually aren’t” by Viraaj Raofield
- “British Museum: Are They Thieves?” by Nala Delgado
- “Angel from Bethesda” by Eleanor Woodworth
- “Alchemy and Elemental Philosophy: The Scientific Origins of the Fantastical” by Fenley Scurlock
- “Risking Peace: A Case Study of U.S.- Iran Relations” by Christopher Park
Faith, Doubt, and Education
Growing up in a community with a strong religious or cultural identity, what happens when you start to question what you’ve been taught? These panelists each present an empathetic and nuanced account of defining their own beliefs.
- “I Have Never Been to Israel” by Zoe Becker
- “Religion” by Gabriela Quesenberry
Representation and Misrepresentation
These panelists tackle issues of racism, sexism, and ableism in medical systems, the media, and microaggressions.
- “Terms and Conditions May Apply” by Anya Nehra
- “AFRICA, MY FAVORITE COUNTRY: The problem with menacing misrepresentation” by Amanda-Pearl OmoiguiGrenham
- “Bridging the Gap: an Exploration of the Hidden Factors Behind Minority Health Inequalities” by Abeni Smith
- “Redefining Worth: A Journey Through Neurodivergence” by Kai Grenha
NYC Panels and Panelists
Panel 1
The Impact of Culture On Individual Identity
How does culture affect and inform our identity? The following essays explore how relationships, food, language and physical spaces play a role in shaping our understanding of our values and character. During this panel, we’ll discuss questions and have conversations around concepts of identity, belonging and upbringing.
- “The Weight of Translation” by Ziyi Feng
- “Exactly Like Your Mother” by Liah Igel
- “An Elaborate Home Cooked Meal” by Juliette Moore
- “My Culture” by Dylan Macer
- “The Effect of Music on the Mind” by Hayden Chung
Panel 2
What is Gender? An Exploration of Gender Expectations and Language
These essays about feminism, hypermasculinity, and what “gender” means discuss how gender is integrated into our society. Everyone benefits from conversations about gender. Gender norms and expectations permeate our politics, culture, and everyday lives, sometimes in the least expected ways.
- “Defining a Word the Doesn’t Exist” by Tamsin Coulthard
- “The Definition of Feminism” by Araceli Flores
- “Great Expectations: Gen Z and Hypermasculinity” by Jonathan Zhang
- “Deconstructing Gender” by Ronin Herrmann
- “Shakespeare’s Facade” by Dylan Oh
- “What One Conversation in PE Revealed” by Daniela Avrekh
- “Sexual Violence Laws: Culture and Rationalizing Sexual Violence” by Edward Lee
Panel 3
Protecting Our Planet, Our People, and Our Past
Learning from past triumphs and mistakes, this panel will examine specific cultural and global moments and discuss best practices to benefit humanity and the world we inhabit.
- “The Media’s Oversimplification of Culture is a Threat to Everyone’s History” by Alice Campbell
- “Incense and Insights: Delving Into Maya Culture Through Archaeology” by Olivia Campbell
- “Mutterings with Montesquieu” by Jack Aronian
- “Two Sides of the Same Coin: Wildfire vs Forest Fire” by William Zhang
- “Climate Change Effect Challenges” by Ayun Roh
Panel 4
Love, Family, and Community: How to Navigate Your Relationship with Yourself and Others
These personal essays take a deep look at love and relationships. They explore loss, grief, working as a team, family dynamics, and how to love both those around you and yourself. During this panel we will discuss the ever-burning question “what is love?” and have a conversation about the ways we can use community, communication, and teamwork to help and heal each other.
- “The Equinox of Love” by Eleni Piniros
- “The Flavor of Loss” by Surya Das
- “Unspoken Rules: The Silence that Speaks Volumes” by Nathan Lionetti
- “A Voice Stolen and Taken Back” by Eliana Genitrini
- “Adolescence: Searching Past Murky Waters and Masked Faces” by Stella Burns
Panel 5
Philosophy, Art and Media: How Creating and Consuming Contributes to Self-Reflection and Growth
Resistance, hope, power, perception: each of these essays use personal stories, stories from art, literature, and media, to analyze our existential experiences. How do we exist in a world where we are so similar, and sometimes so different, from each other? What do we need to remember, thrive for, and practice, to live a peaceful and meaningful life among 8 billion other unique minds?
- “The Defiant Weight Against Existence” by Aiden Ashcraft
- “Who Gets to Be Seen: Power and Perception in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man” by Olivia Meyer
- “My Personal Essay” by Aidan Inwood
- “Thing That Disappear” by Serena Lin
- “Why the Curtains are Never Just Blue” by Beatrix Gruver
