Student Art Feature: Writing Contest Winners

Sumaya Mayfield’s “Dear Self,” which won first place in the middle school division of the 2023 ISB writing contest, explores all the complex facets of her feelings about herself through the concept of a letter written to herself. Her blunt, powerful language and descriptions illustrate the highs and lows of her relationship with herself. 

You can read Sumaya’s piece here:

docs.google.com/document/d/1bB6zX94YBNMlaAJm3rXg8Kmq-ez1xScmtuFo01-VH3g/edit?usp=sharing

Nusaba Ahmed’s poem “Staring Straight Back at Me” explores family history, identity, and what happens when one’s self-perception doesn’t match how others perceive them. She combines metaphors and vibrant language to build complex ideas that connect the past and the present. It was the high school first-place winner for the 2023 ISB writing contest.

You can read the poem here: docs.google.com/document/d/1MlbRSeQi2-3m1jNlJvI3AdVZRHkHmgNOfU4M3MTwAak/edit?usp=sharing

Told from the perspective of an entity who is ancient by human standards but young by its own, this short story uses a fantasy setting to explore very real-world concepts. The story conveys a remarkable level of worldbuilding and imagination in just a couple pages and uses that worldbuilding to creatively portray issues of inequality and power through the entity’s contemplation of its own actions. It placed second in the middle school division of the 2023 ISB writing contest.

You can read the short story here:

docs.google.com/document/d/1Vao-IW5B_XDQBbf2CzZ4RG5ZJqIvCMocD744PPDRm78/edit?usp=sharing

Sarah Trastanetz’s poem “My Orchid” won second place in the high school division of the 2023 ISB writing contest. The poem’s vivid descriptions evoke its titular flower, combining to construct an elaborate metaphor centered around the orchid’s growth.

You can read Sarah’s poem here:

docs.google.com/document/d/1GJNpb_T2yah0wUF0OzQagjj86TW3L6EzqrkZMBDrC4g/edit?usp=sharing