Vencedores: Língua Estrangeira - Escalão B - 1.º Prémio

My Citizen's Compass: finding democracy amidst turmoil.

As I stand on the cusp of adulthood, sailing at the brink of sixteen going on seventeen, I cannot help but feel the weight of history pressing on my shoulders. A history shaped by the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before me, including my own father, a Kosovar Albanian who bore witness to the tyranny of Serbia and fought relentlessly for freedom.

And yet, despite the scars that still linger, he emerged from the darkness with his spirit unbroken. His resilience and determination serve as a beacon of inspiration, guiding me through the tumultuous waters of adolescence and into the murky depths of adulthood.

In the dockyard of ideas, where thoughts collide and opinions intermingle, democracy flourishes. In my view of the world, dissent is not silenced but celebrated, for it is the crucible in which progress is prepared. From the quiet whispers of discord to the thunderous roar of protest, every voice finds resonance in the prows of democracy.

As I look out upon the world around me, I cannot help but feel a sense of disillusionment creeps in. Countries are still at war and conflicts rage unchecked while lessons from the past seem to fall on deaf ears; Where do I fit in?

I am grateful to live in Europe, in Portugal, where the seeds of democracy were sown amidst the mostly peaceful Carnation Revolution. Here, I am lucky enough. I have the right to participate in the democratic process so many fought and died to protect.

Yet, even amid this privilege, I find myself adrift, unsure of where to cast my ballot. In a landscape dominated by extremism and polarization, where young people are either detached from politics or too politicised, it's hard to find adults in power that truly represent my values and beliefs.

Nonetheless, I refuse to succumb to despair. I may not have all the answers, and the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but I am determined to carve out my own path, guided by the lessons of the past and fuelled by the hope of a better future.

When I step into the voting booth for the first time, I will do so with a sense of purpose and determination. For I may be just one voice among many, but I refuse to grow complacent in the face of injustice. My vote will be my way of honouring the sacrifices of those who came before me, and of shaping the world that I want to live in.

It is dawn here. The page is no longer blank. Here's to being almost seventeen, to the age of possibility and potential. Here's to being a citizen in a world still at war, where the path forward is uncertain, but where the North Star of democracy burns bright. Here’s to following a direction marked not by magnetic poles, but by the principles of justice, equality, and freedom.