Naing Lin (19), of Dianella, and Julia Naw (20) were joint winners of the DonateLife WA Writing for Life competition’s English as a Second Language (ESL) category.
The duo and their Year 11 health classmates submitted 300-word stories about someone touched by organ or tissue donation.
Mr Lin’s piece recapped his experience of selling his motorcycle to pay for a new kidney for his brother-in-law.
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READ NOWMs Naw wrote a story based on learning about organ and tissue donation for the first time after she arrived in Australia.
Both said they were “very surprised” to have won as it had been three years since they arrived in Perth from refugee camps in Thailand.
Mr Lin said it was difficult to adjust to living in Australia after moving from Bang Don Young camp in Thailand.
“I think everything was new for me, like the weather and the food,” he said.
Ms Naw said she enjoyed going to Cyril Jackson.
“We have different cultures and different people who speak different langauges; sometimes we learn each others’ languages,” she said.
Mr Lin said he wanted to become a mechanical engineer while Ms Lin hoped to work in childcare.
They said they would pursue certificate courses in Year 12 and attend Tafe after graduation.
Education assistant Marlay Minus said her students worked hard on their entries as they came from an ESL background.
“While they were writing they were struggling, but after that they did well,” she said.
“I hope they can achieve their dreams and pass Year 12.”
The 2017 Writing for Life competition will be held during terms two and three.