Milan Middle School students found heroes not in comic books or movies, but in the people who shape their lives.
Sophia McGettigan won first place in the annual America & Me Essay Contest for her essay about her mother, Anna McGettigan. After looking up a dictionary definition of hero as someone admired for courage, Sophia McGettigan found that description incomplete. Instead, she found a hero in her mom, who overcame a challenging childhood to become someone who supports her kids, values their individuality and volunteers to teach and support students in the community.
“There is more to a hero than just courage,” Sophia McGettigan wrote. “There is compassion, empathy, and overall, love. My hero possesses all of these qualities and many more. She is a strong and inspirational woman. Who is this hero? No, it’s not Wonder Woman, Black Widow, or even Captain Marvel. My hero is my mom.”
Sophia McGettigan’s name engraved on a plaque will hang near the main office at Milan Middle School. Her essay also advanced to the state competition…