2025 Essay Contest Topic

In 2025, we mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a conflict that left a profound impact on the United States and the world. As we reflect on this milestone, it is crucial to revisit the role of the U.S. Foreign Service during that era, which was instrumental in shaping the course of events and continues to influence U.S. diplomacy today.

Drawing in part from The Foreign Service Journal’s 40th anniversary coverage of the end of the Vietnam war, critically assess what you believe to be the most significant effects of the Foreign Service's work during the Vietnam War on contemporary U.S. diplomacy.

Consider the following as you craft your essay:

• Historical Context: Reflect on the role of the Foreign Service before, during, and after the Vietnam War.
• Long-Term Impacts: How did these experiences influence the development of U.S. diplomatic strategies, the approach to conflict resolution, or the handling of humanitarian crises in subsequent years?
• Contemporary Relevance: Draw possible connections between the lessons learned by the Foreign Service in Vietnam and current U.S. diplomatic practices. How have these lessons shaped the way modern diplomats engage with the world today?

Through this prompt, we want to encourage you to think critically about how the legacy of the Foreign Service in Vietnam continues to resonate in contemporary U.S. diplomacy.

PRIVACY POLICY:

AFSA collects your information for this contest and for AFSA partners. You may be signed up to receive updates or information from AFSA and our partners. You will receive confirmation from AFSA that your submission has been received and a notification if you are the winner or an honorable mention in June. You may also receive a message from our sponsor regarding their program offerings.

PLEASE NOTE:

Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens attending high school overseas. Students may be attending a public, private, or parochial school. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted. Previous first-place winners and immediate relatives of directors or staff of AFSA, NLSC and Semester at Sea are not eligible to participate. Previous honorable mention recipients are eligible to enter. $2,500 to the writer of the winning essay, in addition to an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and his or her parents, and an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

The winner's school also receives a donation of 10 copies of AFSA's Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work

 

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The Fund for American Diplomacy is AFSA's 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports AFSA’s outreach goals. AFSA National High School Essay contest is AFSA’s main outreach initiative to high school students. We appreciate your willingness to contribute. Rest assured that your contribution will be put to good use. Donations to the FAD are fully tax deductible.