The morning was like any other for senior Maggie Rutledge sitting through first hour waiting for the clock to be 9:35 a.m., so she could get on with the day. Walking through the hall as she was approaching second hour, Rutledge knew that they were doing “Book Talks” in her second hour junior English class, but that was the last thing on her mind.
“I watched my classmates go up one at a time, and then it was my turn. I wasn’t nervous at all, I had read the book unlike most people, so I felt like I had nothing to worry about,” said Rutledge.
She was ready to get the book talk over with.
“I had my book in my hands; I looked around the classroom and for the majority saw some smiling faces and some bored faces. But then I don’t know what happened. I just had a panic attack. I felt like I was sprinting. I could feel my heartbeat pounding,” said Rutledge.
Perspiration beaded on her forehead and her hands trembled as she considered making a run for it.
“I did want to leave, but I stayed to finish the book talk. But ask me what I said during the book talk and I would be speechless. I don’t remember anything other than me rambling,” she said.
Rutledge texted her mom Julie, who works in the front office, hoping for her mother to rescue her with a green note.
“I was so relieved when I received the note because I knew that any second I was going to break out in tears,” she said.
Despite her anxiety and fear of standing in front of a crowd, Rutledge decided to test her resolve by being in the Miss HBHS pageant her senior year.
“Mrs. Lamb had asked me to participate in the pageant since my sophomore year. I’ve always been there helping out at the pageant, so I had seen what it was like. So then I finally decided to get out of my comfort zone and I participated. But I was shaking so much behind the curtain. During the interview portion of the pageant I was so nervous I thought that I was going to have another panic attack,” said Rutledge.
She was crowned that Feb. 19 evening with her family and friends there to support her.
“I was thrilled she overcame her fear. I felt like she had won before they announced her name. I wanted her to participate so she could get over her panic attacks and that’s what she did,” said Mrs. Rutledge.
Her junior English teacher Katy Moore was so happy for Rutledge.
“I’m so proud for her and Har-Ber. Maggie always rises above and does her best,” said Mrs. Moore.
“This pageant did really benefit Maggie. For DECA she was originally going to write a 15-page paper but then decided to be interviewed instead. It really helped her self-esteem,” said Mrs. Rutledge.