Enter RSN's 23rd Annual Essay Contest
RSN is thrilled to unveil the theme for its 23rd annual essay contest. This year’s theme, “Innovation: Past, Present and Future,” encourages participants to reflect on how innovations in CKD treatments have impacted their journey with kidney disease and/or what advancements they hope to see in the future to improve care and quality of life.
“Having lived with kidney disease for over five decades, I have witnessed remarkable advancements in care. This year’s theme celebrates the progress that has been achieved and the ideas that will shape our future. Innovation is the lifeblood of hope. I cannot wait to read the inspiring essays brimming with wisdom and inspiration.” Lori Hartwell, RSN’s founder and president
The contest is open to all people in the United States who have been diagnosed with kidney disease, have had a kidney transplant, or are on dialysis.
For submissions to be accepted, they must be typed and not exceed 750 words.
Contest winners will receive cash prizes: First Place, $500; Second Place, $300; and Third Place, $100. The submission deadline is August 10, 2025. Winners will be announced on the week of September 22, 2025, and winning essays will be featured in RSN’s publication KidneyTalk™ Magazine and on RSNHope.org.
Read and Listen to the Winning Essay of the 22nd Annual Essay Contest:
Los cinco ensayos ganadores también están disponibles para leer en español.
I Love Lucy, 1st Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
In the quiet hours of the night, when the world outside slept, I found solace in the familiar rhythms of my home dialysis routine....
From Comic Books to Coping, 2nd Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
Growing up, my dad and his brothers all read comic books. This was in the ’70s and ’80s when comics were not seen as...
Turning Music into Triumphs, 3rd Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
As far back as I can remember, music has been a huge part of my life. Both my mom and dad loved music. My...
Prescribed by Grey’s, 4th Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
It's hard to narrow down what I consider to be my favorite anything, but there is one show that has helped me cope with...
Matlock Is My Inspiration, President’s Pick, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
I love the television series titled "Matlock." In the show, Attorney Ben Matlock is sagacious to say the least. He is so down-to-earth on...
Are You Full?, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
“Ni chi bao le ma?” (pronounced knee zhe bao leh mah) in Chinese translates to “Are you full?” and loosely means “How are you?”...
Heroes, Zombies, and Kidneys, Oh My!, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
There were two. First was My Hero Academia. There could, and would, be days or even months between watching episodes, but it’s always been...
Navigating Through My Comfort, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
What is comfort? How does an eight-year-old find comfort? When the only thing she saw were doctors trying to figure out what she had....
Courage, Strength, and Music, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
Living with kidney disease is not a walk in the park, whether it is developed later in life, or was diagnosed at birth such...
So Many Possibilities, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
I sit in my dialysis chair, plumbed into the Slurpee machine as it purifies my black cherry syrup, in renal failure for a few...
A Community of We, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
Research has long shown that music (both instrumental and worded) is processed in a different part of our brain than simple speech. How often...
Back to the Sea, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
Remember the very first time you stepped into the sea? For me it was 1975. I was eleven years old and it was life...
The Songs of Dialysis, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
I have end-stage renal disease, and I have been on dialysis for over ten years. There’s so much to think about and keep track...
A Lifetime as One, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
“Come let me love you, let me give my life to you” is in the opening verse to John Denver’s “Annie’s Song.” Little did...
Sixty-six Years and Counting, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
Comfort. Being comfortable. Finding solace from pain.
A snippet from a song, a line from a movie, a character from a television series, an idea...
A Yankee Doodle Viewer, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
“Three hours ago, this man was in a battle. Two hours ago, we operated on him. He's got a 50-50 chance. We win some,...
Lessons from an Aardvark, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
At the age of five, I went through daily life in terms of clock hours. The chimes from the grandfather clock in the living...
Dance with My Father Again, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
My father was my first love. He was a tall, handsome, strong, Bible-toting man who loved his wife and family. Dad worked hard as...
To the Future, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest
“Your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one.”
The wise words...
Read Past Winning Essays:
22nd Annual Essay Contest
21st Annual Essay Contest
20th Annual Essay Contest
19th Annual Essay Contest
18th Annual Essay Contest
17th Annual Essay Contest
16th Annual Essay Contest
15th Annual Essay Contest
14th Annual Essay Contest
13th Annual Essay Contest
12th Annual Essay Contest
11th Annual Essay Contest
10th Annual Essay Contest
9th Annual Essay Contest
8th Annual Essay Contest
7th Annual Essay Contest
6th Annual Essay Contest
5th Annual Essay Contest
4th Annual Essay Contest
3rd Annual Essay Contest
2nd Annual Essay Contest
1st Annual Essay Contest
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