UPPER DEERFIELD TWP, N.J. (CBS) — A young author in Cumberland County, New Jersey, discovered her superpowers through writing.
Being a young person in high school comes with challenges, but when you’re different from the other kids, it’s even harder. For Faith Johnson, Woodruff School was a place where she discovered her talents were endless.
Faith remembers her time in high school as if it were yesterday.
Dr. Peter Koza, superintendent of Upper Deerfield Township Schools, says Johnson was special.
“I learned a lot from her,” Koza said. “Her resilience, her passion and her drive to succeed.”
Johnson, now 18, is also the author of the novel “Perception.”
“It’s a fantasy novel about a girl who discovers she has magical powers,” Johnson said.
The main character is a girl named Amanda whose boyfriend leaves her at the school dance. She eventually falls for a boy named Rodrigo, who has epilepsy.
“They both have aspects of me in their personalities,” Johnson said. “Like the deep stuff, with holding everything in and being an overachiever and not feeling good enough.”
Johnson was born with cerebral palsy and spent her entire life in a wheelchair, wishing she could play sports like her twin sister Hope.
“When I was younger, she did gymnastics,” Johnson said, “and sometimes my mom would drag me there.”
Faith’s mother, Christy Johnson, never wanted her daughter to feel different.
“We always treated her like everyone else,” Christy Johnson said. “I always worried about socially; how would she interact with other kids?”
Elizabeth Hussla, Faith Johnson’s school aide of 13 years, was also concerned.
“You are better than what others tell you,” Hussla told Johnson.
Hussla and Johnson are more like family. From their movie dates to her graduation and now to being a published author on Amazon, Hussla has been there.
“I knew she had a gift. She’s always had a gift for writing,” Hussla said. “I know she loved writing. I know she loved reading.”
Learning to live with her disability is Johnson’s superpower.
“I’m not giving up,” Johnson said. “People with disabilities can do things that are extraordinary.”
And now she has added another title to her name: motivational speaker.
Johnson’s happiness can be found in her community. For now, she’s using her superpowers to inspire others to believe that they too have superpowers.
If you have any doubts, here’s a passage from Johnson’s novel: “Trust the process. Accept the fact that there will be failures, and try again.”
Wakisha Bailey
