By Ayse Eldes, executive opinion editor
As someone who is logically wired and math-oriented, sophomore Annie Cimack knew writing wasn’t her prized strength. So when English teacher Joyce Kim advised her and some other students to enter a Daily Herald competition she was emailed about, Cimack didn’t start her entry until the night before. She later learned not to underestimate her writing skills.
Cimack’s piece Reflection was selected as the 2nd place winner in the prose category of the Herald’s community art and writing contest. She will be recognized at the Arts Unlimited Reception on April 19 at Forest View Educational Center.
Cimack didn’t tell any of her peers or even parents that she entered because she didn’t think her piece was very good. In addition, this was the first writing competition she ever entered, so she doubted the prospects of success. Now, Cimack will be published in the Herald and awarded a cash prize.
“It’s a major confidence boost, even little stuff like that,” Cimack said. “It really helped me think about what I want to do in my life, what I really enjoy doing.” 
Reflection is about an older man’s daily retrospect of not reaching his true pontential as a person. Cimack incorporated motifs and a puzzle-like structure for an “epiphany-like” moment at the end.
“It’s hard not to put yourself into what you’re writing,” Cimack said. “I found that that’s something I struggled with actually. I kept trying to write all about myself. I just kind of put my head into someone else’s body and think about what their life might be like.”