Friendship is discovered in the unlikeliest places. Friendship brings closer together the most mismatched personalities. Friendship is a puzzle like an obtuse metaphor and as evident as the brick wall you fail to climb over (that’s a simile, by the way.) Friendship is nurtured with care and withers with neglect. Friendship’s presence keeps you thriving, and its absence drains you. Friendship is as essential to human life as drinking water, eating bread, and having your own Instagram account. As it happens, Friendship, was also this year’s ESU Poetry Recitation Competition’s Theme!

Saint George’s College once again were supremely kind in offering their sprawling, outstandingly beautiful campus for the occasion, spread out in two days, first for 3rd, 4th and 5th grades and second for 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Out of nearly 30 schools that sent over 170 participants in Round 1, more than 20 schools, from La Serena to Temuco, made it into the semifinals! It borders on cliché but it certainly bears repeating: those who made it into the semifinals are tough competitors who already achieved so much just by getting there.

Each grade had 10 semifinalists who recited their poems in front of our judges in different classrooms. Out of those 10, the top 4 were selected as finalists and had to recite their poems once again in the auditorium in front of a larger audience. Not only were the stakes higher, but the pressure was also greater! It certainly is impressive to see our young students stepping up to the challenge and nailing it. Scroll down to see who our top 4 for each grade were.