Del Norte High student wins gold medal in national contest

A Del Norte High sophomore will be among students receiving gold medals at a June ceremony in Carnegie Hall due to their submissions in a national art and writing contest.

Skyler Wu, 15, is a Scholastic Art & Writing Awards national gold medalist in the critical essay category for “I Don’t Want to Be High Anymore.”

“It has nothing to do with drugs,” Wu said. “Del Norte is a very competitive school. I am an Asian-American and I compared how the pressure to do well in school, the entire system, is like a drug addiction.”

Wu said he wrote about EAP — Extreme Academic Pressure — placed on him and fellow students by society, especially those who are Asian-American. “We have been force-fed EAP by society. This is my own experience and that by some of my peers. It is a reality that is created.”

For example, Wu said he wrote in his essay about the stigma to be well-rounded, overachieve and embellish one’s résumé by taking part in extracurricular activities students are not particularly interested in doing, but look good on college applications.

“Myself included, from middle school to beginning of freshman year, there was the idea that certain extracurriculars were great, even if you do not want them, you’re forced to like and accept it,” he said. “I critiqued this mind-set, because we are losing our authenticity. ... I reconsidered my priorities ... my struggles are to find authenticity again.”

Because of this, Wu said he has chosen to now pursue activities he enjoys. They include creating Del Norte High’s first humanities magazine, joining the speech and debate team, and continuing taekwondo, something he has done since age 5.

This was Wu’s second time to enter the competition that is “the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition initiative for creative teens,” according to contest officials.

Since 1923, millions of youths in seventh through 12th grades have submitted entries. This year there were 29 categories, including architecture, painting, flash fiction, poetry, printmaking and video game design. Entries are judged based on their originality, technical skill and emergence of personal vision or voice. The competition is organized by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Past winners have included Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath, Ken Burns, Robert Redford, Zac Posen and Lena Dunham.

“We’ve learned over the years that for many teenagers having their creative work recognized while still in school is the impetus they need to be lifelong creators, makers and leaders,” said Virginia McEnerney, executive director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

“Encouraging teens to utilize art and writing to express their hopes, dreams and questions about the world has multiple and meaningful benefits,” McEnerney said in a press release. “The collective output of these young innovators creates a portrait in time of our American identity and, for the teens, in reinforces the positive habits that come from creative self-expression.”

Wu said his parents, 4S Ranch residents Zheng Yan and Sumin Wu, will accompany him to New York City when he receives his gold medal during a ceremony at Carnegie Hall.

“I’m looking forward to visiting New York,” Wu said. “I’m a very big foodie and heard the East Village has good food. So it is a win-win.”

Wu said he learned about the contest from his English teacher, Jennifer Philyaw, who displayed a contest poster in her classroom. He is taking her honors humanities class this year.

He chose to enter the critical essay category because “I can’t write fiction. ... With critical essay it is nonfiction, argumentative debate on paper.” Wu said he likes the competition because entrants are allowed to create whatever they want.

He is among 13 San Diego County students to win a gold or silver medal at the national level this year, and only Poway Unified School District student among them.

Wu said when he entered the writing contest last year, he won a regional Gold Key, which meant he advanced to the national level, but did not win additional honors. They include gold medal, silver medal and honorable mention.

Since he had no expectations, learning he won a gold medal at nationals this year was exciting, Wu said. He found out while doing homework in the school library. He looked online to see if the contest results were posted and “ran to my English teacher” to share the news, he said.

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