The early days of summer at DGS have grown even more joyful with the arrival of a remarkable announcement: Nguyen An Phuong (K1) has officially been named a Finalist in the Fighting Words Poetry Contest 2025 - a prestigious international poetry competition hosted annually by the Pulitzer Center for K-12 students worldwide.

Out of 1,875 entries submitted from 26 countries, An Phuong is one of only 23 young poets to be recognized this year and notably, the sole representative from Vietnam to appear on this year’s distinguished list.

Among the five main themes of the competition, An Phuong chose a bold and challenging subject: the profound link between climate change and domestic violence against women in Sri Lanka, falling under the Human Rights category because “I felt a deep connection with the silence of the women in the article, what seems unrelated can, in fact, be profoundly connected.” This deep empathy undoubtedly became the wellspring of inspiration, nurturing every verse of her poem.

In her powerful 400-word poem, An Phuong draws readers into the world of Sri Lankan women, where voices are silenced like whispers in the wind, pain is tucked away like secrets behind closed doors, and yet, the will to live quietly sprouts like rice shoots after rain. Her language is as sharp as a knife, yet as gentle as wet earth beneath bare feet. Sorrow and hope are woven together like threads in a single cloth, much like young rice shoots breaking through the cracked skin of the earth. To ensure each line rang true and struck a deep emotional chord, An Phuong poured herself into extensive research on domestic violence, climate change, and family dynamics in South Asia.

An Phuong’s love for poetry took root back in elementary school. She’s never considered herself a “real” poet - but as she puts it, “I’ll always write, because that’s how I live and make sense of the world.”

Congratulations, An Phuong! We are incredibly proud of you - a sensitive, courageous, and resilient soul. Thank you for showing us that poetry can still speak powerfully, deeply move hearts, and truly change the way we see the world.