Philosophy is a discipline typically explored at the university level. Yet at just 14 years old, Huỳnh Tuệ Nhi (8Torun, The Dewey Schools) boldly chose a topic in moral philosophy to research and defend in her essay. Her work has earned a place on the shortlist for the John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize 2026—one of the world’s most prestigious academic essay competitions for secondary school students. The competition is judged by leading scholars from renowned universities, including Oxford and Princeton, and has become a distinguished pathway for aspiring scholars. More than half of its past prize winners have gone on to study at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge.
This year’s competition attracted more than 100,000 participants from 183 countries, with only approximately 17.5% of submissions selected for the shortlist. Tuệ Nhi’s achievement is a testament to her academic excellence, intellectual courage, and exceptional talent at such a young age. In October, she has been invited to London, United Kingdom, to attend the competition’s awards ceremony.
Reflecting on her decision to write about Philosophy, Tuệ Nhi shared that she had completed a psychology research blog about six months earlier. Rather than continuing with a familiar subject, she wanted to challenge herself by exploring a field closely connected to psychology.
“Philosophy is often described as the art of thinking. Reading how other notable philosophers thought and reasoned during their time, and how so many theories of our lives existed, was undoubtedly an eye-opening experience for me.” – Tue Nhi said.
In her 2,000-word essay, Tuệ Nhi examined the topic through multiple philosophical frameworks, drawing on Utilitarianism, Deontology, as well as insights from psychology, biology, and mythology. Such an interdisciplinary approach is typically expected of university students, yet she demonstrated remarkable independence in research and a sophisticated level of critical thinking. From gathering references and studying philosophical literature to outlining, drafting, and refining her essay, she completed the entire process in just two weeks.
Since Grade 6, Tuệ Nhi has developed strong academic writing and research skills through inquiry-based projects, particularly in Humanities.
“My educational journey at Dewey has prepared me a lot for this competition, as we consistently wrote essays and research documents alongside our practical projects, especially in Humanities. I was able to utilize a lot of the skills I gained, for instance, I made an organized planning document for both my ideas and my research. At school, we are always encouraged to challenge ourself over and over again, and I think this was a major reason why I was able to take on this competition and give it my all.” She shared.
Over the past academic year, Tuệ Nhi has built an impressive record of achievements, including Runner-up in The New York Times Local Lens Competition, Gold Medalist at the Euro Spelling Bee 2026 Semifinal, Gold Medalist in English at the Asian Science and Mathematics Olympiad (ASMO) 2025, and a Full IB Scholarship for Grades 9–12, among many others.
Tuệ Nhi’s accomplishments reflect far more than an outstanding list of awards. They represent a learning journey driven by curiosity, critical thinking, and the courage to pursue questions without predetermined answers. At The Dewey Schools, we believe these qualities form the foundation of future changemakers—individuals who create meaningful impact by questioning assumptions, embracing challenges, and continuously expanding their understanding of the world.
