Megan Ryan is 18 years old and has devoted a large part of her life to serving others, working as a volunteer at the Children's Hospital or helping out a homeless soup kitchens in her hometown. Megan has Down Syndrome and when she was born, doctors had doubts that she would even be able to walk or do anything for herself. But on the night of October 4, her classmates at Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, Ohio gave her the surprise of her life: by unanimous vote, they named her Homecoming Queen 2012.
This news is special and inspiring to me on many levels. For one, Megan is my sister-in-law. From the first day that I met her, she welcomed me into her family with open arms–hers was a warmth that belongs to the privileged few that have nothing to hide. But I think beyond the family ties that draw me to this story, it's a great inspiration to all moms and dads and tells of the power of love and the great difference fighting for our kids' futures makes, of not putting labels on them even when the world tries to limit them because of whatever condition they are suffering from.
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The other huge lesson comes from her classmates at the Catholic high school where Megan is a student. With all the horrible news that we hear each day about intolerance and bullies at our schools, I was starting to lose hope about any sort of human decency in this new generation of young people. But these seniors rose above all biases and through their selection of Megan as their Homecoming Queen, acknowledged how important respect is and how crucial it is to make someone with special needs feel like they belong and are appreciated. Bravo also to all those parents who have taught their kids about the power of empathy!
Megan is the youngest of 11 kids, and from the time she was a baby, her parents were determined to give her the same educational opportunities as her brothers and sisters. At first, it was a bit difficult, but with the support of principals and teachers, 13 years ago she began her studies in a regular school; her classes are occasionally supplemented with private tutoring.
During the first years, Megan's parents noticed that other families were going through very similar situations, which led them to establish the organization Special People in Catholic Education (SPICE), which helps special needs kids to become part of Catholic schools in their communities. SPICE is still helping hundreds of students, families, and teachers (giving as much as $50,000 annually to help support this cause).
Her classmates say no one smiles more or is more willing to help than Megan, which is why they didn't think twice about naming her queen on this, her last year of high school. She was very surprised and honored to receive the crown. She doesn't realize, however, that it's her effort, hard work, and sweetness that have given us the best gift: the knowledge that love and perseverance can bring miracles. Congratulations Your Highness!
Image via Ryan Family
