Melissa Clay

My mom Melissa, my brother Ryan, my brother Tommy

hey there! (: My name is Tessa. I'm 14 and I'm a freshman at Pickerington Central High School. My definition of a hero is someone you’ve been through a lot with that you can look up to and depend on. Someone that understands you and doesn't judge you because of the things you've done in your past.

I believe it is important to have a hero. If you don't, it's not a bad thing though. I think it is important because you can always go to that person for advice, they'll always help you, and you have someone to look up to.

My personal hero would have to be my mom. She matches my definition of a hero because I’ve put her through a lot but she still doesn’t give up on me. I can trust her with anything and she's always been there for me. If there was one thing I were to tell her it would be that I love her with all my heart, I'm sorry for everything I've put her through, and I know that I can always depend on her.

Who's better to put in the Hall of Fame other than your own mom? My mom does everything necessary to make my two brothers and me happy. She'll drop anything at any time to help us. If there was one thing that I could go back in time and erase, it would be how I've treated her for the past 3 years. I've put through so much and better yet, she still hasn't given up on me and that means more to me than anything.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Who is your personal hero and why?
"My mom. She was a very good mother, she's a very good grandmother, and she fought a lot of battles in the past and is STILL fighting battles to be happy. She's a very strong woman."
2. What's one experience you've been through with this person?
"I have panic disorder and she's also had panic attacks in the past so she and I can talk to and relate to each other about it."
3. What do you admire most about this person?
"The fact that she takes charge of a situation when she needs to."
4. Why do you respect this person?
"Because she has the values and morals of a good, strong woman and she's always been the best mother."
5. If there was one thing you could apologize for, what would it be?
"I'd apologize for being such a brat from ages 15-17.
6. Who's your hero's hero?
my grandma says--> "My deceased grandfather."
7. What's one experience you've been through with this person? my grandma says--> "Gardening would've had to be the biggest thing with my grandfather.
8. What do you admire most about this person?
my grandma says--> "The way he cared for family. Family was always the most important."
9. Why do you respect this person?
my grandma says--> "I think I mostly respect him because he had respect for everyone."
10. Is there a change you think you have because of this person?
my grandma says--> "He instilled values in me as a child and I still maintain those values at age 62."