Grade 9 student, Ashley Z., has won an international essay contest run by the New York Times. Her piece, titled "How to Befriend an Introvert", was chosen in early April from a heap of more than 2,000 submissions.

The 14-year-old wrote the essay as challenge to her mother, who argued that Ashley was more talented in the sciences than language arts. To spite her, Ashley entered the contest and effectively proved her mom wrong. 

Her accomplishment has been highlighted in the North Shore News and on CBC Radio. 

Her theme, social dynamics, focuses on a friend who feels misunderstood and wishes people didn't assume they were anti-social because they identify as an introvert. The friend, named Cyki, reveals several clues on how to include introverts and engage with someone who comes across as shy.

Ashley was surprised one morning in class when Senior School Principal Martin Jones broke the news that she'd won the contest. 

"I was really surprised - like, wow," she told the North Shore News. "I guess I never really expected that to happen."

The essay is now published online on the New York Times' website, making Ashley most likely the only Collingwood student to have her work published by the Times.