Founder’s Week Blog Competition: Freedom and Responsibility – Do you drink responsibly?

When we hear the word freedom, a life free of restrictions quickly comes to mind. Freedom is largely understood by the world as denoting autonomy, fun, lack of fear, and a bliss that properly fulfills the phrase – YOLO – you only live once. However, in practice, freedom cannot be viewed as an independent concept, since it is complemented by responsibility. But does the inclusion of responsibility shackle the fun and enjoyment that comes from the notion of freedom?  Does it limit our ability to make choices in all our actions?

This year’s theme on freedom and responsibility has incorporated a Blog Competition for students with the idea that we discuss openly and candidly on current happenings among the youth in regard to partaking of alcohol and the habits around it. Is drinking, in the first place, the problem, or is the problem, not the drink, but how much of it one imbibes? The jury is still out on this particular issue. Meanwhile, the time is ripe to re-ignite conversations around this important issue because Gen Zs are our future leaders and must be alive to the fact that today’s actions will definitely affect tomorrow.

By participating in this year’s Founder’s Week Blog Competition, we invite you to share your thoughts on what responsible drinking means to you and how we can positively influence Gen Zs to use their freedom well and be responsible in matters of alcohol consumption. Write a 500 – 600-word blog piece sharing your views on Gen Zs, drinking habits, and how it all ties in with freedom and responsibility, incorporating the teachings of our Founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá, on this topic, while articulating your ideas creatively and with originality.

Eligibility

1. Must be a current undergraduate student at the University.
2. Indicate your full name, year of study, school and student number.
3. Submit your entry using this link: Submit

Selection

A panel of judges will be made up of members of Strathmore Faculty and two guest Judges.

The winning submissions will be selected based on the following criteria:

1. Originality of ideas and articulation. Turnitin software will be used.
2. Clear link with ideas from the teachings of St. Josemaría on the theme of freedom and responsibility
3. African context captured in the blog post.
4. Incorporation of suitable images for the blog is an added advantage.

Amazing Prizes to be won

Terms and conditions

1. Submissions must be original and well-written in English.
2. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, 25^th October at 5.00 pm. Blogs submitted after the deadline will be automatically disqualified.
3. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday 27^th October at the University Auditorium.
4. The blog/essay length should be no more than 600 words. Only one submission per entrant is allowed.
5. Strathmore University reserves the right to research and verify any entrants’ eligibility, and the judges’ decision shall be final.
6. By entering the contest, participants agree to release Strathmore University from any claims based on the contest, and grant the SU all rights to their entry, including consent to publish their entered blog post on its website and social media channels.
7. Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification from the competition.

May the best blog win.