From Daydreams to Publication

A. Yu ’23’s essay, “Nougat Candy,” was one of 245 entries chosen by The New York Times for a compilation written by teens during the pandemic. “Coming of Age in 2020: Teenagers on the Year that Changed Everything” began as a call to young people to share what it was like to be a teenager during the first year of a historic pandemic. More than 5,500 entries came in, but only 245 were selected and made into the recently published book.

We caught up with Yu to learn about her inspiration for the essay and her love of creative writing.

How did you come up with the idea for “Nougat Candy”?
It is a prose essay that includes three mini stories happening in Wellesley, North Carolina and my home in Beijing, China. These stories share a uniform theme of quarantining with family: how the pandemic may cause polarizing opinions or unnecessary quarrels between loved ones, yet also how a small warmth offered by kind-hearted souls has the power to put the broken pieces back together.

I came up with the idea for this essay around October 2020. I wanted to write something about my half-year long quarantine in the U.S. before flying back home in November. When I was packing, I found the nougat candy in my bag that I had been carrying for the whole time of quarantine (thanks to Ms. Potter who gave it to me back before March).

When did you find out you were a finalist? 
I found out that I was a finalist for the contest on January 20, 2021. Later the editor from the New York Times Learning Network reached out about publication, and I received the hard copy of the book with my work in it this month.

What does it mean to you to be published in this book?
I am someone who loves to just sit still and let my thoughts flow around freely. Most of the inspirations for my writing came from this “daydreaming” time, and this publication has a special meaning for me because it lets me know that others can also be touched by these wild or wonderous thoughts I have. This is a recognition for all the time I spent thinking and pondering about life, and I am so thrilled that people resonate with the story I told. 

Do you plan to continue writing essays in the future?
Yes, absolutely! Creative writing is almost like a stress-relieving activity for me when I can completely delve into storytelling.