The goal of the writing contest is for participants to develop a personal connection and give a personal voice to a health issue. You may choose any health issue you feel affects your community, state, or country.

The health issue may be a disease (i.e. HIV, cancer, tuberculosis, etc.), a healthcare issue (i.e. physician shortage, medical errors, lack of effective treatment for a condition, etc.), or a problem that affects health (i.e. lack of clean water, expensive medication, stigma against a disease, etc.). The essay topic is meant to be broad so that you can focus in on whatever health issue you choose.

If you, a family member, or friend have had a personal experience with a disease, you may choose to write about the effect of the disease on your or their life. Discuss how long you or they have had the disease and discuss the effects of the disease. Feel free to dig deep into the problem and explore the effect of the disease not only on the sick person, but also on the loved ones close to that person. What have you or they done to cope with the disease? What can other people learn from your or their experience with the disease.

Many people submitting essays may find it enriching to write and learn about a health issue affecting other people in your community, state, or country. Investigate the health issue and find out who and how many people are affected by the issue? Does this issue affect certain people directly and other people indirectly? How are they affected? What efforts have been done to combat the health issue? What can the average person do to help fix the health issue? What does the future look like for this issue?

For whichever issue you choose, try to come up with a recommendation for how people can begin to combat or fix it. Also, if there are any photographs you feel would help readers understand your issue (i.e. pictures showing who is affected by the issue, pictures showing how the issue manifests itself, etc.), you are encouraged to attach the pictures to your essay (as long as you own all rights to the pictures).

The above questions are just some starting questions to get you thinking about how you can explore the health issue you choose. Feel free to explore any questions you feel are insightful, and most important of all have fun! This is your opportunity to become an active member of your community!