A Colquitt County High School student was named a semi finalist in the 2022 Hope Film challenge.
Students were asked to address one of the many physical, social and emotional challenges faced by students today.
Maggie decided to be candid with judges, choosing to address her most recent struggle with alopecia.
The diagnosis was hard on Maggie. Losing an abundance of hair within a few months, Maggie says things became hard for her in school.
“It was really tough at school because when you’re diagnosed with that people aren’t always the nicest," said Maggie.
The 18 year old began relying on the things she loved to keep her motivated.
Swimming played a large role in this. Maggie calling it a “source for her hope.”
But soon Maggie found another unexpected source, in a film and broadcast class.
The student needed one elective to fill her senior year schedule, talking with the teacher briefly, she decided to sign up for the class.
Broadcast teacher Greg Hall says Maggie fit right in.
"Maggie is very creative and she’s so creative that she figures out a way to manifest that. You know with editing or shooting shots," said Mr. Hall, "You just show Maggie one time and she’ll figure the rest of it out. That's exactly what she did in film.”
Within this class Maggie says she found exactly what she was looking for. Confidence and a passion.
"It's gave me the ability to be myself and do something I thoroughly enjoy and it definitely upped my confidence because I was happier doing that then I was doing other things," said Maggie.
This all leading to Maggie's submission to the New Hope Film Challenge. She says she wouldn't have done it without the support from her friends and Mr. Hall.
"I did lose a lot of friends. But I have those ones that did stay and the were talking to me about it like that would be a really good story to tell for other people and your self. And it will help other people going through it too,” said Maggie.
Maggie plans to continue her journey with film and broadcast at Piedmont university.
She says she plans on working behind the camera and if the opportunity presents itself she'd love to film a new Harry Potter movie.