{"id":136489,"date":"2012-12-27T11:40:18","date_gmt":"2012-12-27T16:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prosebeforehos.com\/?p=136489"},"modified":"2012-12-27T12:26:50","modified_gmt":"2012-12-27T17:26:50","slug":"2012-person-of-year-vicky-soto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prosebeforehos.com\/cultural-correspondent\/12\/27\/2012-person-of-year-vicky-soto\/","title":{"rendered":"Vicky Soto, 2012’s Person Of The Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Miss Soto was teaching her little angels when the shooting started. <\/p>\n

A gunfire burst down the hall. Shouts. Two more bursts. Miss Soto didn\u2019t know what was going on, but she knew there wasn\u2019t any time. So she told the kids they were going to play a game. She told the kids to hide in the closet, cupboards, cabinets, anything they could fit in. She gave the kids coloring books, colored pencils, anything to keep them quiet. <\/p>\n

Wait for the good guys, they are coming. Show me your smile!<\/em> Miss Soto whispered to her little angels as the footsteps came closer. <\/p>\n

The kids aren\u2019t here,<\/em> Miss Soto told the madman with guns. They\u2019re in the gym. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But the kids were confused. Some bolted from the closet. And the madman with guns fired again. Until Miss Soto dove in the way. <\/p>\n

Police found Miss Soto covering a little angel. Police found five little angels\u2014Dylan Hockley, Allison Wyatt, Jesse Lewis, Avielle Richman, and Olivia Engel\u2014with her. <\/p>\n

Police also found Miss Soto\u2019s nine other 2nd grade little angels. Unharmed. <\/p>\n

* * *<\/center><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t know how we will act in moments of sheer, unadulterated terror. We hope valiantly, but we truthfully have no idea. Most of us will do nothing at all. Others may photograph victims as Subway cars near. <\/p>\n

\"Subway<\/p>\n

Miss Soto could have made a dash for it that Friday morning. She could have hidden in the closet herself. But she didn\u2019t do any of these things. Miss Soto stood toe-to-toe with an armed madman, told him the kids weren\u2019t there, and laid down her life so her little angels could live on. <\/p>\n

Miss Soto\u2019s nine little angels will go on to graduate. Many will go on to have little angels of their own. And maybe someday, some of Miss Soto\u2019s little angels will go on to become little Miss Sotos in their own right. <\/p>\n

\"Vicky<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

There were many heroes that Friday morning at Sandy Hook Elementary. Principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung who lunged at the madmen. The Vice Principal who dialed 911. The unknown staffer who flipped on the intercom switch so the school could hear the shooting. The janitor who dashed down the halls warning everyone of the madman approaching rampage. The Newtown police first responders who rushed into the school. And Miss Soto. <\/p>\n

And they remind us. Each of them. In their own way: Heroes don\u2019t always lead nations. Or wear five stars. Heroes teach second grade English. And maybe wear cheap sunglasses. They remind us: Heroism has no dress code or training. The heroes of Sandy Hook Elementary weren\u2019t born. They were forged in that moment. When their bodies screamed run<\/em>, their minds said, the kids<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Sandy<\/p>\n

Sandy Hook Elementary heroism was the valor of everyday elementary school teachers who knew they faced certain death if they stayed. And they stayed. <\/p>\n

Miss Soto and Principal Hochsprung went down knowing they wouldn\u2019t get back up so that others might. So that others might return to their families and live to fight the agony we, as a nation, have felt too many times before. <\/p>\n

Miss Soto knew she would not live when she shut the last closet door. But she stood her ground in the middle of her classroom. Waiting. She stared down the gunman when he burst inside the room. And Miss Soto\u2019s final act was the most selfless one of all: She dove in front of the bullets of a madman with guns so her little angels might not.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Heroes collect Christmas ornaments, plastic flamingoes. They play Little Mermaid’s \u201cKiss the Girl\u201d for a full semester until lovesick roommates get better. \u201cWhen Victoria hugged you,\u201d roommate Rachel Schiavone said, \u201cshe put her whole heart and soul into every hug she gave.\u201d It was Miss Soto\u2019s ordinary personal affectations that inspired Miss Soto\u2019s extraordinary personal affections. <\/p>\n

Miss Soto did not lead nations, guide armies, or found a Fortune 500 tech company. Miss Soto taught second graders English. And in the moment of utmost despair, Miss Soto stood with evil incarnated and didn\u2019t back down. <\/p>\n

Because heroism comes in cheap sunglasses. Because selflessness is taught in 2nd grade classrooms, Miss Soto is the 2012 Person of the Year. <\/p>\n