By Craig Williams

In my interview with Brynn Gibson, 8th Grader, I offered her a magic wand with which she could change the world in any way she might choose. As bright and as wonderful as the proposition of a magic wand may be, it was Brynn’s empathy and kindness that stole the show.

“I just want to see that people in need have those needs filled. The people without heat, give them warm homes. The people who are hungry, let them be fed. The people who are sick or unable to pay for healthcare, let them be well.” It was a remarkable moment as I listened to this wisdom pouring so confidently from the heart of an eighth-grader. I was transfixed by her convictions of what matters most. I thought then and I think now that I was listening to a future world changer.

Brynn wants to be a veterinarian one day and is already leaning into its preparation through her work at school. She’s in Beta Club, is a high honor roll student, and manages it all as a competitive 3-sport athlete. Hard work has already polished her natural talent into standout status, but over time, I suspect she will uncover new levels of even brighter sheen as she continues to work toward her goals.

She injured her knee — an MCL sprain — earlier this basketball season but expects to be back in the lineup soon, likely before you’ll read this story. But whether in the lineup or not, Brynn takes seriously her role as a team player and so she continues to support her teammates any way she can while nursing her injuries.

Brynn credits her teachers with much of her success saying that they treat her almost like one of their kids. “I love my school, my teachers, and my friends. I feel so safe and comfortable here.” She tells me, almost apologetically, how much she loves school, as if there’s an unwritten rule somewhere that she’s not supposed to. As someone who really does seem to be wise beyond her years, I ask for a parting bit of wisdom, something she’d like to share with her peers, and she says: “Do not take advantage of other people. Be grateful for what you’ve got.”

This girl’s going to make us proud. And she’s not going to need the magic wand.