South senior uses writing skills to help self, others

"I feel like I have these things to say and you know, I get these ideas and so, I don't know, I have to write every day, pretty much."

Minneapolis South Senior Molly Hensley-Clancy has a LOT to say, and when Molly writes, or speaks, people tend to pay attention.

Says South teacher Corinth Matera, "She can inspire other students and work.. team with them as peers in a way that really gets things done."

Among Molly's many accomplishments is working her way up from copy writer to editor of South's school newspaper, 'The Southerner, which was recently awarded a gold medal from the Minnesota High School Association.

Says Molly, "We weren't a great newspaper a couple years ago and we brought it up and I think, I don't know, I'm just so proud of what we did this last issue I'm so excited to see what we're gonna do."

People at South feel the same way about Molly, who is one of just 20 students nationally, to win a $10,000 dollar Davidson Fellowship.

Molly's award was for Literature, and she calls the process the hardest thing she's ever done.

Molly says, "A lot of the girls that I write about are going through some really tough stuff and using writing to you know, to help themselves and so I figured why can't I you know, I can do that too, you know."

A member of South's soccer team, and a national Merit Semifinalist with a 3.998 GPA, Molly spends part of her week taking classes at Macalaster college, and her free time volunteering as a Spanish speaking volunteer at the 'Head Start' program. But her heart, and her future is in her writing.

Says Molly, "That's all I really care about is the fact that I want to be doing what love, and for me that's writing, So."

By Tim McNiff, KARE 11 News

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