JPS-TV and the Jeffco Schools Foundation are partnering to present this special series, honoring Jeffco Public Schools students and teachers of extraordinary character, leadership, and strength.
Meet 2016 Jeffco Hero Award honoree Maria Flores who is one of five Jeffco Public Schools students being recognized by the Jeffco Schools Foundation for their extraordinary character, leadership, and strength.
It was a beautiful fall day on the Golden High School campus, and just like all the other students, Maria Flores was enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Maria’s heroism involves and extraordinary story of forgiveness. You see, when she was just twelve-years-old, her father was killed by a drunk driver who walked away from the accident uninjured. This honors student could’ve harbored a lifetime of resentment and bitterness. Instead, she chose to forgive the man who changed her family forever.
“Well, I think life is short, and there’s only so much we do with the time we have. And I think what’s important is that we live in a way where everyone will benefit,” said Flores. “I could live with hatred in my heart and I could have all those feelings of resentment, and it would go nowhere. Nothing good would come out of that, and with such little time that we have, I think it’s important to show others that good moralities and a good life can lead to.”
Although losing her father at such a young age has had an impact on who she is today, she certainly doesn’t let it define her.
“She does not publicize it. She’s got a great attitude about being able to say what happened and being able to live with that, but I don’t think it’s her defining point,” said Golden High School math teacher Chris Colucci.
Though some advised her against it, she decided to send letters to the man in prison who killed her dad.
“The thing about this guy is that he actually went into AA meetings and he started becoming religious, and he has his own two kids,” explained Flores. “So, it’s not just how he affected my life, but I think it goes two ways. I can change him in the same way he’s changed me and give him the opportunities to become the person I am today.”
Her ability to not only forgive, but also to turn the situation into something positive is what her teachers find most inspiring about Maria.
“This tells me what amazing inner strengths she has, and what compassion and ability to forgive, and know what’s important in life. I mean, it’s not about retribution; it’s about building relationships and working with people,” said Colucci.
Maria’s faith plays a big role in her life, and helps her to stay so positive.
“Just most of all, I would like to show that to people who don’t necessarily deserve it. Especially in such hard situations, you learn to value everything,” said Flores. “I’m Christian, and God says forgive your enemies, easier said than done for sure. But I think true compassion and true, sincere forgiveness comes out of the heart. And you have to really want it in order to actually do it, in order to actually give that person forgiveness and love, regardless of what they’ve done. “
That same strength, that same compassion, has marked her entire high school experience.
“Maria’s ability to reach out to kids and put that positive perspective which then naturally increases the, ‘Hey, I’m going to forgive you for this’ or ‘You can’t worry about those kinds of things, we need to be able to move on’. She has that strength,” said Golden High School Principal Brian Conroy.
Whatever the future holds for Maria, she hopes it will include a chance to change other lives.
“Out of all the bad things that can happen in life, if you push through it and if you try and you still put effort into it and you don’t just give up, and you don’t just let go of everything, good things come out of it,” said Flores.
Good things have already come for Maria and, with her positive attitude, will keep coming.
“Maria, we are very proud of all that you’ve accomplished so far in your schooling and in your development as a young woman. And I’m going to be proud to shake your hand and hand you a diploma and call you a Golden High School graduate now and forever,” said Conroy.
Watch the JPS-TV version of this story here.