At the young age of 19, former Mt Carmel Catholic College, Varroville student Emma Jones can officially call herself a published author. The 2020 HSC graduate was one of eighteen brilliant young writers selected, from more than 1,385 students, to have their HSC English Extension 2 work published in the highly-acclaimed NSW Education Authority (NESA) Young Writers anthology. 

The Young Writers anthology celebrates the writing talents of some of the most outstanding HSC English students from across the state. The annual publication is part of NESA’s Young Writers Showcase, which includes a range of different writing genres such as short fiction, creative nonfiction, critical responses, poetry, podcasts, and a script. NSW Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell said, “For many of the students whose work is published here, this is just the beginning of their wonderful journey into creativity, storytelling and production.” 

Emma’s creative nonfiction work titled Hidden, was inspired by an educational trip to Germany in 2019, where she spent time visiting places with strong historical significance to the Nazi era and the Third Reich. Hidden follows the interwoven stories of three different characters and explores the ways in which we define ourselves as individuals and how we come to the sense that we ‘know’ who we are. 

Emma, who credits the support of her family and Mt Carmel English teacher, Clare Murphy, for her recent success, describes her selection in the prestigious publication as “heartening and humbling”. 

“I am amazed and honoured to be included in the Young Writers Showcase of 2020. I'm extremely grateful to have my work, which in the end became of great personal importance to me, celebrated at this level" - Emma Jones. 

The HSC English Extension 2 course involves a heavy workload, along with great moments of solitude and reflection. Students are required tocomplete a major work based on an extensive independent investigation involving a wide range of text to challenge their thinking and further develop their composition.  

“I completed the course not only with an enriched knowledge of literature, but a deepened capacity for patience and reflection,” Emma said. “Through composing Hidden, I have come to better understand the importance of solitude, and the value of being in one’s own company.”

Ms Murphy believes the importance of students reading widely and thinking critically is evident in Emma’s work. “Accompanying Emma on her English Extension 2 journey was indeed a privilege,” she said.Her extensive research afforded rich and insightful encounters with writers, philosophers and theologians. Hidden is a superb piece of creative nonfiction and Emma’s achievement inspires us all.”

Emma is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) at the University of Sydney and is focusing on developing herself both personally, professionally along the way.

We congratulate Emma on her achievement and wish her all the best with her studies.