National history challenge winner

Luan Tian, a St Kilda Road Year 11 student, has won this year’s National History Challenge in the Years 11/12 category. After discovering the competition online, Luan decided to enter with the support of his IB Diploma History teacher, Ilja Van Weringh. His winning essay was an analysis of Mao Zedong’s revolution and in particular, how it contradicted the ideals of Maoism and Marxism, and how it thereby has changed his understanding of his own family’s history. Luan says, “This is a notable changing of perspectives for me as I have lived in both China and Australia and because of this, I could look at Mao’s actions in a different light.”

The challenge of completing an extensive research project is something Luan relished. He says the support of his IB Diploma History class helped him greatly in completing the challenge, “In class, I am encouraged to articulate different perspectives on historical events and form detailed analysis and evaluations about each historical account. This has made me aware that searching for information could lead to new and more profound points of view. For me, ‘changing perspectives’ is a valuable skill to look at history in a more astute and objective light, thus allowing people today to learn from it in a more sophisticated fashion.”

Luan encourages other students to enter the competition in the future. He says, “The extensive reading and writing of the research project was both difficult and satisfying. I have gained a lot of knowledge and new approaches to writing research essays which will be beneficial in the future.”

Luan is looking forward to receiving his award later on this year, when he will go to Canberra to meet the Federal Education Minister, Christopher Pyne MP.

Wesley College encourages Luan to continue to explore his interest in history. Congratulations on a remarkable academic achievement.