In his essay, Manolis, a first year student at the Iraklion Music Lyceum in Gournes, briefly recounts the need by the Music School students for a better and bigger building, the efforts of everyone to achieve this goal, from educators to local politicians and other people of letters, and, finally, after nine years, the re-housing of the Music School. 

According to the judging committee, made up of this newspaper’s journalism staff, the young writer “reveals the sensitive side of a student’s view for a better educational system and decent school buildings. With a simple and comprehensible style of writing and mature way of thinking, Manolis does not simply bring forth his satisfaction about his new school environment, but also seeks to arouse ‘the powers that be’ for a better education system in the country.”

Manolis will be a second year student at the Iraklion Music Lyceum in September, and plans to study education in University and eventually become a social worker. However, his favourite hobby is reading and all types of writing, including poetry.

“I’ve been writing a book, Dreams and Stories by the Sea, for four years now, and should be finished any day,” he said. “It’s about family relationships, love, betrayal, friendship.”

For his winning essay, Manolis received a Certificate of Writing Achievement and the Greek Lexicon Babiniotis.