Winner
Sophene Avedissian, from Los Angeles, selected an article from the Opinion part headlined “Why Strangers Are Good for Us” and wrote:
I distinctly keep in mind taking a look at my mother in awe as she casually chatted with the grocery retailer cashier. When most would reply with just a few dismissive phrases, she seamlessly instigated a complete dialog from the cashier’s easy query of “How’s your day?” As we made our approach out of the shop, I turned again and seen the corners of the cashier’s lips rise into a smile. I puzzled, How can my mother so effortlessly influence somebody’s day from one small, but significant interplay?
As my mom seeks out these moments to attach, I keep away from them. In elementary faculty, I hid behind my mother at gatherings as she spoke to others. In center faculty, I usually replied “no” to invites to keep away from the awkwardness of assembly new folks. Now, in highschool, I hope that by carrying my pair of rose-gold headphones, others really feel discouraged to speak to me.
In “Why Strangers Are Good for Us,” David Sax identifies that partaking with strangers “join[s] us to the group, educate[es] us empathy, construct[s] civility and [is] filled with shock and probably marvel.” Sax explains after we disregard strangers, we weaken what’s on the “core of our social contract.” The technological evolution mixed with the pandemic has compelled “our world [to grow even more] inward and suspicions.”
I take a deep breath, slip off my headphones, and begin speaking to the particular person subsequent to me as we each watch for our takeout order.
It’s a begin.
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Runners-Up
In alphabetical order by the author’s first title.
Eriene (Zhiyan) on “Yaren and the Solar”
Nishna Makala on “‘Scared and Drained’: 1000’s Throughout the U.S. Rally In opposition to Gun Violence”
Shaun Wong on “Zelensky Solutions Hamlet”
Xuanjian on “How Nike Received the Cultural Marathon”
Yanshou (Prince) on “Stephen Curry Is Extra Human, and Sensible, Than Ever”
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Honorable Mentions
Ava Dong on “How Many Languages Might a Baby Communicate?”
Darya on “To Get pleasure from Life Extra, Embrace Anticipation”
Elaine on “The Future Isn’t Feminine Anymore”
Grace on “Odesa Opera Home Reopens, Defying Putin’s Barbarism”
