Butterfly, by Leah Mukhtarzad

Leah Mukhtarzad is an 11-grade student at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria. Her writing is often inspired by personal experiences, meaningful relationships and moments that leave a lasting impact. She enjoys poetry because it allowed her to transform ordinary moments into meaningful stories. Outside of writing she enjoys photography, volunteering, or working on creative projects. She hopes her work encourages others to reflect on the moments that shaped them.

— Leah Mukhtarzad