Senior Alisa Ramjattan was named the winner of both the twelfth grade and schoolwide Nassau County Family Court Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay competition. The original essay contest prompted students to creatively capture the values demonstrated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through writing about a topic of their choice. Alisa Ramjattan was invited to recite her essay at the Nassau County Family Courthouse on January 15, 2025. Below, she reflects on the thought and writing processes that contributed to her win.
Q: What made you decide to participate in the Nassau County Family Court’s Dr. MLK 2025 Essay Contest?
AR: I participated because the contest was local, and l’ve learned a lot about Dr. King’s work and legacy in school. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to write the essay and see what the outcome would be!
Q: What was the subject of your essay? Why did you choose this topic?
AR: The subject of my essay was Dr. King’s impact on the women’s rights movement. I chose this topic because his contributions to other movements, like women’s rights, often go unrecognized. Dr. King’s legacy extends beyond racial equality to include the rights of all marginalized groups.
Q: What was the essay writing process like for you? What was a challenge you experienced while writing?
AR: The process was pretty easy because I love writing and reading, so researching for my essay was interesting. The most stressful part was ensuring I honored Dr. King’s legacy as it deserved-in the most concise and impactful way possible.
Q: Why do you think your essay stood out amongst the other applicants?
AR: I believe my essay stood out because I wasn’t afraid to push boundaries. While the other two winners who read their pieces connected Dr. King’s work to their personal journeys, I focused on tying his legacy to a broader societal issue. I think that perspective made my essay unique and memorable.
Q: Describe your experience reciting the essay live.
AR: To be honest, I was nervous and visibly shaking, especially since several judges, including Judge Greenberg, the supervising judge of the Nassau County Family Court, were present. I wasn’t as scared to read as I was about how people would react. Thankfully, everyone was kind and congratulated me on my essay. It turned out to be such a positive experience— would absolutely do it again!
