Write to Win: If you could remove one month from the year, which would it be, and why? (Round 3)

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  • From the post-Christmas blues of January to the sweaty, humid weather of August, these are the months our readers would like to get rid of
  • Our writing contest starts with 10 students, who are eliminated one at a time based on your votes and YP editors’ picks – who will you choose?
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Read the responses to this week’s Write to Win prompt, and choose the answer you like most. Based on your votes and YP editors’ picks, we will eliminate one contestant.


Apple: June, often associated with the beginning of summer and the promise of long, lazy days, is paradoxically marred by the spectre of exams for students worldwide. The stress and anxiety that accompany final assessments overshadow June’s brighter days. Students are cloistered indoors, pouring over textbooks while the sun cavorts in a clear blue sky, taunting them with what could be. By removing June, we lift the academic burden off young shoulders, allowing learning to be a year-round journey, not a frantic race to the finish line. No June, no exams, just a continuous ebb and flow of knowledge and growth.

Mango: I would gladly wave goodbye to August! The unrelenting heat and humidity in Hong Kong make it feel like being trapped in a sauna. Every step outside is an ordeal, leaving you sticky and uncomfortable. The rays of the sun scorch your skin and cause painful sunburns. Without this scorching month, we can spare ourselves from the sweltering heat and skip to enjoying the gentle autumn breeze and snuggling up in cosy sweaters.

Banana: I’d definitely remove August from the year. Although it’s a month of blissful holidays and catching up on some valuable rest and relaxation, it also signifies the end of summer vacation and the shift into a new school year, which I’m sure most teens dread. August is prominently known for its hot and humid weather – many people dread the summer months, in which we yearn for the coolness of the air conditioner. I’d remove August for an earlier fall, in which breezes blow by and the temperature is just right.

Cherry: March is the answer without hesitating for a microsecond. I just can’t stand the humidity. I can recall a memory from a few weeks ago; I could feel the moisture surrounding me with every single breath. The floor looked like someone had poured a bucket of water on the ground. The dirt left behind by shoe prints was unbearable. Additionally, there has never been a sunny day in March. It’s just foggy every day. Though my birthday is in March, I would sacrifice my birthday celebration for the disappearance of this intolerable weather.

Avocado: If I had the opportunity to eliminate a month from the year, January would be my choice. Although it is often viewed as a fresh start due to the commencement of the new year, we are confined by freezing temperatures and gloomy days. January is like the middle of a pitch-black tunnel, where spring seems tremendously far away. Furthermore, this month arrives right after the blissful Christmas time. Without the warmth of the Christmas spirit and the holiday vibes, one might inevitably feel chilly. Therefore, despite being as charming as the other months, I would remove January.

Orange: I would remove December, the most destructive month to humanity and our dear home, Earth. It is a month of influenza, a devastating tyrant to humans, causing hundreds of thousands of people to die because of not enough medical equipment and technology. It is also when infernos burn through mountains and cities, leaving only ash in their tracks. Because of low humidity, grass and trees can catch fire easily and cause a lot of damage, destroying nature, buildings, and homes and taking away lives within minutes. December is a month full of disasters and tragic events. I hope to remove it from the calendar forever.

Pear: Have you ever made New Year’s resolutions, like eating healthier or learning a new skill, only to abandon them by mid-February? The cycle goes like this: we vow to change in January. Our commitments slowly fade by February, and then the goal becomes nothing as we procrastinate. Let’s break this cycle and remove March, given that it’s right between the end of the holiday season and the arrival of spring, with no holidays to boost our motivation. It’s no coincidence that March quietly brings many attempts at self-improvement to an end.

Strawberry: I would get rid of July, the month I was born. It used to be cool, and I could throw parties with my friends. But as I grow older, the allure fades. I prefer solitude or family time now. And I remember my mom’s hardships during my birth, avoiding reminders. July holds bittersweet feelings, prompting reflection and shifting preferences.

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