Winner
Michelle Zhibing Zhou, 15, from Hong Kong, read the Science article, “Videos Show That Leeches Can Jump in Pursuit of Blood.” Here is her response:
Leeches! Bleh! Famed for their role in medieval medicine, they’re often dismissed as repulsive, blood-thirsty parasites. So, imagine my surprise and morbid curiosity when I stumbled upon an article that added insight into their world and abated some of my irrational fears.
Surprisingly, leeches reminded me of something very different: myself. When I have a craving, like for chocolate, I scurry to the store. Similarly, when motivated by their craving for blood, leeches are “provoked [into] acts of startling athleticism,” springing through the air, then splatting on the ground comically. Adding even more intrigue, the video included ground-breaking footage ending the age-old debate about whether leech-leaping was even possible. The finding sent ripples throughout the leech research community and shivers down my spine.
As with many things in life, the more you know about something the less scary it is. The article helped dissipate some of my fear and disgust, presenting leeches as being motivated by food (like me!), and with amusing behaviors. The article changed my perception of leeches from nightmare fuel to riveting little creatures.
Don’t get me wrong though, while leeches are endlessly captivating, being that, to them, I’m a tasty walking bag of blood, I don’t want them snacking on me in a tropical forest. I’ll stick to watching them from afar, behind a screen, and preferably while nibbling on a bar of chocolate.
Runners-Up
In alphabetical order by the writer’s first name.
Nazira Musabaeva on “After 12 Years of Reviewing Restaurants, I’m Leaving the Table”
Noa Riss on “‘Crown Jewels of the Jewish People’: Preserving Memories of the Holocaust”
Shi Yi Yang on “A Family Dinner with My Wife and Girlfriend”
Sissi Ma on “When It Comes to Food and Politics, Kamala Harris Is Riffing on the Recipe”
Honorable Mentions
Alex Ding on “The Youngest Pandemic Children Are Now in School, and Struggling”
Angirmaa Shinebaatar on “Cows Are the New Puppies”
Blanche Li on “The Most Important Writing Exercise I’ve Ever Assigned”
Erin Yoon on “The Jewelry Shiona Turini Never Takes Off”
Joshua Zhuang on “I Was Settling Into My Morning Commute on the 4 Train”
Lindsey Huang on “What Your Grocery Cart Says About You”
Sarah Guo on “Defeated by A.I., a Legend in the Board Game Go Warns: Get Ready for What’s Next”
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