Winter storm lets high school sophomore repair pipes like a pro | Kids Who Make San Antonio Great
Meadow Quigley applied what she learned at her Construction Careers Academy to two broken pipes. She repaired the leaks and then got flooded with attention.
SAN ANTONIO – Meadow Quigley’s family was among those who suffered an uncomfortable life during the 2021 Texas Winter Storm.
They fell victim to freezing temperatures, ice and cold weather failure.
“It got so cold that – I mean – my two year old’s hands went purple,” said Tracy Sinha.
Sinha is Quigley’s mother. Two of her sons are autistic. She is pretty sure her youngest will get the same diagnosis.
The family packed up and moved in with the children’s grandparents until things got better.
“We can be pretty loud,” said Quigley. “And it’s usually just my Grammy and my Poppa and their two dogs in their house.”
Sinha noticed burst pipes while visiting her mobile home near Talley Road.
“Fix it, we’re going back home. I like that,” Quigley said.
Two of their pipes shot water out everywhere. The 15-year-old used the skills of Northside ISD’s Construction Careers Academy to repair the leaking pipes.
“We just cut off the broken pipe, sanded it down a bit, cleaned it, and put some primer and glue on it,” Quigley said.
With $ 7 repair supplies, she performed her first professional repair. It brought her brothers back to their homeland. Grammy and Poppa were at peace again.
Sinha, who became her daughter’s assistant during the repair, documented her girl in action.
“And I take photos. And I take videos,” she said. “I’m like … look! Look at her! She does it!”
Sinha posted Quigley’s efforts on Facebook. It went viral.
“It’s not just your mother who says you’re great,” Sinha said. “People think you’re great.”
Quigley is shy. She is also the oldest of nine children between her mother and father. Some are stepchildren.
As the eldest, Sinha said her daughter took responsibility and never looked for an award. The Facebook post was about greeting your daughter. “
“Meadow is struggling with her self-esteem,” she said.
That didn’t stop the NISD student from pursuing her interest in plumbing and welding. But ‘Miss Fix it’ isn’t concerned about moments in the spotlight.
“I was just fixing pipes,” Quigley said. “That is literally what I have to do in school.”
She focuses on school, family and uses her manual skills to go straight out of school to a job.
“It’s old-fashioned that there are only jobs for boys and jobs for girls,” Quigley said.
Your virus caught the attention of local plumbing companies. One gave her a tool kit and a belt. Sinha said she was speaking to another company about a summer internship program.
There is even a GoFundMe page where you can invest in their education.
“That will always be her story from her first repair, which happened during that massive storm in Texas that was historic,” Sinha said. “It gives me the chills. I have the chills now.”
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