Meet Julia Murphy! A self-motivated 14-year old outstanding student at . Driven to succeed, this eighth grader is nothing short of an inspiration to those that surround her. Julia Murphy’s mother, Shelia Cardell, describes her daughter as “a young woman mature beyond her years who continues to push herself to success.” She’s inspired by Julia’s determination and inner drive to succeed. Cardell is proud to say Julia Murphy is her daughter.
Let’s learn a little bit about Julia Murphy:
- Member of the National Junior Honor Society
- Received "High Honors with Distinction" from Hillcrest Middle School
- Captain of "We The People" Team, a social studies club which will compete in Hartford, Connecticut on April 8
- Received the "Science Award" from Hillcrest Middle School in June 2010
- Received "Student of the Month" award from Hillcrest Middle School in October 2008
- Member of Choraleers at Hillcrest Middle School in sixth grade
- Volunteer at Nichols Home Improvement Association in Trumbull, Connecticut for the past four years
- Irish Step Dance student at Gray-Gillan-Owens School in Newtown, Connecticut for the past four years
- Placed in the top 50 out of 164 international dancers for the ‘All Irelands’ Solo Dance
- Ranked 11th out of 93 dancers in the New England Regional Irish Dance Competition in Providence, R.I.
- Ranked 12th out of 120 dancers in the North American Irish Dance Competition in Orlando, Florida in July, 2010
- Placed in the top 50 out of 164 international dancers in the "All Irelands’" Competition in Killarney, Ireland in February, 2011
- Qualified for the World Irish Dancing Championships at both the regional and national level and will compete in Dublin, Ireland in April, 2011
Just wait! There’s more to learn about this engaging young woman. While interviewing Julia Murphy, I discovered the poised, mature, and observant individual this young lady is.
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1. Who is your hero?
My hero is my mother because she is always there for me. She encourages me to work hard in school and is very supportive to me in all that I do. She has taught me many things, guiding and helping me.
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2. If there is one thing you could change about your school, what would it be?
If I could change one thing in my school, I would want more freedom for the older students. I wish that we could have more time in the library and the computer lab and make more use of the school's facilities. I also wish that there was more hands-on work rather than lectures.
3. If you had one day to yourself, what would you do?
If I had one day to myself, I would want to go to the beach and hang out with my friends.
4. If you could be a character in any novel you’ve ever read, who would you be and why?
A book that has inspired me is A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The reason this book has inspired me is because the main character, Sara Crewe, gets through the tragedy of her father's death by strength, friendship, imagination, and a kind heart.
5. What’s your favorite place in Trumbull and why?
My favorite place in Trumbull is my home and my neighborhood because it is where I feel most comfortable. Hilltop is like an extended family for me. I met two of my closest friends on this street.
6. What’s your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite subject at Hillcrest Middle School is Social Studies. I like the subject matter and my teacher is so enthusiastic about the material and her students. I really enjoy going to her class.
7. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a news-reporter because I like current events, interviewing people, and performing in front of large audiences.
8. What is the most memorable moment of your lifetime?
My most memorable moment in my lifetime was when I placed 12th out of 120 national and international dancers at the North American Irish Dance Competition this past July. I qualified to dance at the World Irish Dance Competition that day. It was a very exciting moment for me.
9. Where do you find your motivation?
I have always wanted to do my best because I love to dance, therefore it is easy for me to practice and succeed.
10. Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My biggest inspiration are my dance teachers. They encourage me to practice hard and to do my best. They not only care about me as a dancer, but also as a person. The older dancers at Gray-Gillan-Owens also inspire me because I see how hard they work and how it pays off for them. They show me that you can do anything if you set goals and stick to them.
