NeW is excited to announce the winner of the High School Category of the 2025 Essay Contest, Erika Morford, a student at Ephrata High School. Congratulations, Erika!
Read her winning piece in the Washington Examiner here! 
How did you hear about the 2025 NeW Essay Contest and why did you choose to participate in it?
I heard about the 2025 NeW Essay Contest through a couple of different scholarship websites, one of them being Fastweb. I chose to participate in this contest because I believe the topic of this essay is something today’s society really needs to consider and understand. We live in an age that relies heavily on the safety net of social media, and not many people take the time to stop and think about both the positives and the negatives.
I’ve seen firsthand how social media can impact people my age. A few of my friends have found inspiring information online or discovered issues they care about, which is amazing. But more often, I’ve watched those same friends struggle with monsters like comparison or misinformation. Today’s social media platforms have made it extremely easy to get caught up in content and lose track of what you actually believe or value.
I think this contest gives students a chance to slow down and reflect on how much social media has changed the way we think, interact, and engage with the world. Writing this essay has helped me look at how these platforms affect our generation’s ability to form independent thoughts and stay aware of our beliefs. I felt it was important to take part in this conversation!
What was your favorite part about writing this essay?
My favorite part of writing this essay was definitely figuring out where I stand with this topic. I’ve grown up surrounded by technology and social media, but I hadn’t really thought about how it’s shaped me. In creating this essay, I have found that they have given me a broader perspective on the world and how different people think. It was really fun to discover a new part of myself that I hadn’t thought of before.
Why is NeW important?
NeW is important because it creates space for young women to develop their own ideas and grow as leaders. It encourages thoughtful writing and reflection, which I think is something we need more of in today’s world. I appreciate how NeW challenges students to engage with real issues in a way that feels meaningful. For me, it was a chance to step back from everyday distractions and really focus on something that matters. NeW supports the kind of growth that lasts beyond high school and college and helps students like me become more confident in who we are and how we can make the world a better place.
