Shortlisted from 63,000 Entries: Ryan Makes the John Locke Global Essay Finals

Congratulations to Ryan, our Year 12 Nexus scholar, who has been shortlisted for the John Locke Institute 2025 Global Essay Prize. His philosophy essay was selected for the finals from more than 63,000 entries worldwide. This is an incredible achievement in one of the most prestigious essay competitions for students under 19.

Ryan’s success reflects the qualities we champion at Nexus: being Relevant in tackling complex, real-world issues, Responsible in approaching sensitive topics with thought and care, and Resilient in challenging himself against thousands of applicants globally. We spoke to Ryan about his achievement, what inspired him to take part, and what he learned from the experience.

Congratulations, Ryan. How did you feel when you found out your essay had been shortlisted from over 63,000 entries worldwide?

I was pleasantly surprised. It was a challenging experience but definitely one I was able to learn from. It was nice to see that my learning and work were recognised by being shortlisted.

What was the process like?

So, first you pick a category from 7 different subjects: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law. I chose philosophy. 

After that, you choose from three questions and craft a 2000 word essay for that question. The essay must be well-researched, feature academic citations and include accurate references. It’s highly competitive, with students entering from all around the world.

I worked on the essay for a total of four weeks. I spent the first three weeks researching and putting together the structure. The last week was spent writing the essay and cutting it down.

The competition is highly competitive, with students from around the world taking part. What motivated you to enter this year in particular?

Mr. Raza introduced the competition to me before the summer holidays and I thought it was quite an interesting competition. It was definitely one of the more unique ones I’ve seen and was also very prestigious. I mean, it’s the John Locke Institute and there were 63,000 applicants this year! I thought it would be nice to do something like this before I started the IBDP, to prove to myself that I was capable of competing with pre-university applicants.

Philosophy is also one of my major interests and I actively research different branches of philosophy in my free time. Seeing that there was a competition that would allow me to express this passion was something that I found highly interesting.

Your essay tackles very complex ideas around morality, ethics, and conflict. Why did you choose this particular topic? 

All three questions were nuanced, but I chose: ‘When civilians are the main target, there’s no need to consider the cause. That’s terrorism; it’s evil. Is this correct?’ I thought this was the most controversial and thought-provoking question. 

I believe that controversy is sometimes considered a taboo and is never fully addressed. When it comes to a topic like this, I think we have to address and understand the context first. Without addressing the controversy, it only creates more opportunities for things to be taken out of context. 

Was there a particular philosopher, piece of research, or moment during your writing that really shaped your thinking?

For my argument, I explored Kantian ethics, consequentialism, and utilitarianism.

The essay definitely changed the way I thought about philosophy in general, as it was interesting to explore a topic that I wouldn’t on a daily basis. It also required me to expand my knowledge by looking at different branches of philosophy and beliefs.

Writing an essay like this requires strong critical thinking and research skills. How did Nexus help you prepare for this kind of challenge?

One thing that I really appreciate about Nexus is how our teachers are always providing us with opportunities to think laterally. One thing Nexus does very well is that the school encourages us to think critically and outside the box.

We are encouraged to understand that there is more than one way to look at a topic. This was a skill that really helped me to complete this challenge.

This challenge was great because it created a positive feedback loop. Nexus encourages critical thinking, critical thinking helps me complete the challenges, and challenges like this help to further my critical thinking skills.

What was the most difficult part of writing this essay, and how did you overcome that challenge?

The most difficult part was condensing my ideas and the different branches of philosophy into directly answering the question itself, especially considering it’s a very sensitive topic and that I only had 2000 words. 

I also had to acknowledge that it was a sensitive topic and approach it as such. I think that was the main challenge. It was important for me to address this ethically.

What advice would you give to other learners who want to take on big ideas and international competitions like this?

It’s incredibly important to expose yourself to challenges.

I believe that by taking on these challenges, you are able to build self-confidence and key skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and collaboration..

As you continue to build on your skills, you can always look to tackle the next steps. For instance, I am already looking forward to participating in the John Locke competition again next year!

Congratulations once again to Ryan on this incredible achievement! Opportunities like the John Locke Institute Essay Prize show how our learners can extend their passions beyond the classroom and challenge themselves on a global stage. We are proud to celebrate Ryan’s hard work and success, and we wish him the very best of luck for the finals in October.