43rd Annual American & Me Essay Contest
Pictured above: 8th grade English teacher, Jennie Clark, 8th graders: Kylie McGinnis,
Charles Evans, Hannah Krepostman and Farm Bureau Insurance Agent, Jeff Brandt
This year the 8th graders participated in the 43rd annual America and Me essay contest sponsored by Jeff Brandt at Farm Bureau Insurance. The students were asked to write a 500-word essay focusing on the topic: "My Personal Michigan Hero". The top three essayists from Sacred Heart were Kylie McGinnis (3rd place), Charles Evans (2nd), and Hannah Krepostman (1st). Hannah’s name and picture have been added to a plaque that is displayed in the high school and her essay (shown below) will be entered into the statewide competition from which the top ten essays in the state will be chosen by May. Congratulations, students!!
My Michigan Wonder Woman
by Hannah Krepostman
If a five-year-old child were asked who his or her hero is, he or she would say something such as Spiderman or Batman. If you were to ask me who my hero is, I would say someone who inspires me and has made a great impact on my life, Mrs. Jennie Clark. Mrs. Clark has taught me to appreciate and enjoy literature, which to me is an extraordinary gift.
It was the last week of sixth grade when a blonde petite woman walked into my classroom with a trail of seventh graders behind her carrying books. I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I recognized a few seventh graders but not the small blonde woman leading the class. She approached my teacher and began to converse with her. She then departed the room with her class. As soon as they left, our teacher handed out the books and began to explain to us that the blonde woman was Mrs. Clark, and she would be our English instructor throughout middle school. The book that was given to us, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, was a mandatory book for Mrs. Clark’s seventh grade English course, and we were to read it over summer. I dreaded reading in sixth grade. I wanted have fun during summer and to me reading was not my first idea of fun.
I wanted to get the book over with as soon as possible. I picked up the book written by Rick Riordan and began. Each page kept getting more interesting and vivid. I had images in my mind of what the characters and the scenery looked like; unlike with television where imagination is left to the director. As I finished the first Percy Jackson book,I craved more and more books. I began a reading frenzy. One book after another, I couldn’t keep my eyes off a page. I couldn’t wait for seventh grade. I was excited to read the books we would read and all the writing we would be doing. It was going to be a thrilling year in English.
When I properly met Mrs. Clark, I could tell she was genuinely caring about her students. She would make sure no child was left behind. We read many classic books such as Charles Dickens’s, A Christmas Carol, which I highly enjoyed since I had been casted in the Broadway play version. Also in seventh grade, we got to do some writing of our own. We made poetry books and wrote many stories. When I wrote, I wanted to portray the art of imagery with words like Rick Riordan did in his bestselling books. With the help of Mrs. Clark it turned out to be a raging success, and I felt confident in my writing, which I never had been before.
In seventh grade, I had some drama with my friends. Mrs. Clark somehow noticed my odd gloomy behavior and asked me if I was okay. It meant so much to me that Mrs. Clark would notice and actually care about the fact I wasn’t my normal smiley self. She told me that if I ever needed to talk to someone, she would always be there for me. Although I never took her up on her offer, it was good to know someone cared and was there to help me with my darkest moments. She comforted me, and that’s really all I needed.
Mrs. Clark brought the reader, writer, and best in me that I never knew was there. It’s amazing to think how one person can have such a large impact on another person’s life by giving a book and a lot of a love. Mrs. Clark is a great example that generosity always goes the extra mile. She gave me irreplaceable gifts and morals I will use in my everyday life, and I truly thank her for that.
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