Inspiring Teens Magazine Features

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Sarah Wainwright

6/27/2019

Sarah Wainwright - Alabama
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination by Jennifer Wainwright
Images by Stacy Jay Photography
Inspiring Teens Magazine – Issue 23

The Nomination: Sarah Wainwright is not your average teenager. She is the most considerate, always thinking of others first, person you will ever meet. She is a strong Christian girl who reads her bible and does devotions daily. She is always trying to figure out how to help someone else. She is passionate about what she wants and strives to give more than 100% in everything she does in school with grades and sports. She always tries to do the right thing in every situation.

In what way has your faith impacted how you live your life?
My faith has impacted my life by changing my way of thinking and helps me choose whether to do certain things or not. I am not perfect, but my faith has helped me face temptations and turn the other way.

How does your faith in Jesus strive you to be a better person?
I always give 110% at everything I do. I try to treat people the way I would want to be treated. I try to be a positive influence on social media by putting bible verses up or encouraging quotes so people can see them and have a change in their heart or just make them feel happy when they are sad and to know that they are loved.
What are some ways you strengthen your faith daily?

Every night I read a daily devotional and then I like to mark the things I find important or that stand out to me. Then I like to mark the bible verse from the devotion in my bible.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Always work hard in everything you do even if you’re the only one trying because it will work out in the long run. Never give up!

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?
I am a very organized person and I am always on top of everything.

Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
Pizza soda dogs

3 Things on your bucket list
1. Play in the FIFA World Cup
2. Go to Hawaii
3. Go to Disney Land in Paris

Image by Jeb Wainwright

When did you start playing soccer and how did you get interested in playing it?
I started playing soccer in the 8th grade. My friend encouraged me to play so I decided to try it out. When I played my first game, I realized that I loved it and wanted to play forever.

What type of dance is your favorite and how did you first get involved with dance?
My favorite type of dance would have to be Hip Hop or jazz. My mom first put me in dance when I was 2 years old and I stopped dancing at 14 years old to pursue soccer. While I was in dance I participated in many competitions and I got to dance at Disney World and perform in The Russian Nutcracker Ballet.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?
Playing college soccer and working to be an athletic trainer.

Sarah will be featured in Issue 23 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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Tara Walsh

6/26/2019

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Tara Walsh – Michigan
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination by Rebecca Walsh
Photography by Team Photo (gymnastics) and Selessa Holmberg (other)
Inspiring Teens Magazine – Issue 23

Nomination: Tara Walsh is a dedicated, inspiring student, athlete, artist and model. Tara competes at the highest level of Junior Olympic gymnastics, is Region 5 floor exercise champion and 5th in the nation. She drives 15,000+ miles to go to the gym and an IB diploma program that is typically ranked nationally for rigor. Tara is a Summa Cum Laude student. She was chosen to represent her school at a statewide leadership conference. She is co-leader of the Art Club, is in National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society; and volunteers for the Miracle League of Michigan.
http://www.gym-style.com/tarawalsh/index.htm

How did you become involved with gymnastics? What is your favorite event to compete in?
I got involved in gymnastics because my older sisters were already taking gymnastics classes and loved it. When I was old enough my parents put me in parent tot classes. My favorite event to compete is floor. I love being able to show off my personal style through my dance. Tumbling on floor is my favorite because I love the feeling of doing big tumbling passes. People are always impressed with big tumbling on floor. I feel confident in my dance and skills, so I have fun competing floor.

Tell us about your gymnastics journey.
I started gymnastics when I was 18 months old. I loved running around on the equipment. I progressed through the levels quickly, and was always very young for the level I was in. When I was 10, I began training elite. I trained 8 hours a day and began homeschooling. This experience made me more independent, because I was in charge of getting all of my schoolwork done on time. Two years later I went back to J.O gymnastics and made my goal college gymnastics. A year later I switched gyms. My new gym is an hour from my house and the drive alone was a big change for me. The whole gym was a change -- atmosphere, coaching, nutrition, and mindset. This atmosphere was exactly what I needed to achieve my goal of college gymnastics. In January I accepted an offer to compete on Auburn University’s gymnastics team. My gymnastics journey has been a long one, almost 16 years already, and it has shaped me into who I am today.

Image of Tara's artwork taken by Tara: This art project was to bring awareness to how attached people are to their phones. People rely on their phone for so many things these days, they rely on their phone to communicate with others, for directions, to get food, to take pictures, and to pay for things. People are so attached to our phones that we are at the point of no return, we are at a point that we can not come back from because people do not know how to live without their phone.

Where do you find inspiration for most of your artwork?
The inspiration for my artwork depends on the purpose of the specific piece. If I am creating an artwork for Art class, I begin by choosing a message I want to convey to the viewer. After I pick the message I want to spread, I think of ways to show that visually. If I am creating a piece for fun, I find inspiration from other famous art I have seen in museums, or I think of them myself. My ideas usually come from my background in gymnastics, my love for fashion, and my friends and family.

Walk us through the process of when you are getting started to create art.
For an assignment, my friends and I all sit at the same table and we talk, chill, and create our art projects together. If I am creating the piece for fun, I usually turn on some music, and sit by myself. For every art project I need the room very light, and I need a lot of space to work with.

What is something you want people to know as soon as they lie eyes on a piece of your work?
When somebody looks at my artwork, I want them to immediately appreciate how much effort I put into it. I work very hard on every piece of art I make. For every piece of art, I research, practice, and plan out the project before I make it. These steps are essential to the process, but the amount of time and effort that those steps take are unseen in the finished project of work.

Image by Selessa Holmberg

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
I would tell them to always persevere through adversity. When times get tough it is most important to continue to work toward your goals. The easy thing to do would be to quit and find a new goal but pushing through hard times makes achieving your goals that much better.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?
I am committed to Auburn University, so in 5 years I think I will be graduating from Auburn University. I am undecided about what I want to major in right now, but by the time I am graduating I hope to have a career I want to go into. I think I will also be going into a school to get my master’s degree.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I don’t think of myself as an inspiration. I have things that I want to accomplish and do it. When people tell me that I inspire them, I really have to look at myself to see what I do that is different from other people. I have been blessed with many opportunities and I work hard to make the most of them. I see others who may have the same opportunities but don't take advantage of them. I think that is why people see me as an inspiration -- I try to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. I am not inspiring I am just an example of somebody that works hard, is thankful, takes changes, and is determined. I also try to encourage other teens to be the same way. This is our time to experience as much of life as we can, and I want everyone to take chances and do new and exciting things.

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?
I learned good time management skills early in my gymnastics career. I go from school directly to the gym and do not get home until 9 P.M most days. I learned to do homework whenever I found myself with free time, even if I don’t want to be doing it. I also have to give up a lot to keep up with everything I do. I don't always get to hang out with my friends or family, and I cannot just sit around and watch a movie. I learned to get all my work done first before I can have fun with my friends.

Image by Selessa Holmberg

What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?
I love shopping. I love putting new outfits together and playing around with different styles of clothes. Also, my sisters love shopping too so it is something we can do together. It is a fun thing for us to do that we all enjoy and is such a fun way for us to spend our time together.

8. Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
I would say Pizza because I am always in the mood for pizza. I really like tacos too, but sometimes I am not in the mood for tacos. Definitely water, because I drink so much a day that I could not go without it. Dogs, I love how playful and fun dogs are. Cats do not really cuddle with humans and they do not play with toys. Dogs are so much more fun to hang out with, and I could never leave my dog, Finn.

3 Things on your bucket list
I really love to travel so my bucket list right now is just places I want to go. Right now, my travelling bucket list is Iceland, Australia, and Rome. I have more places I want to visit but those are my top three right now.

Tara will be featured in Issue 23 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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Amanda Szymborski

6/25/2019

2 Comments

Amanda Szymborski - Michigan
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination and Photography by Rebecca Houlihan Photography
Issue 23 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nomination: I met Amanda Szymborski about a year ago and immediately knew she was somebody special; she has a personality that exudes so much positivity and happiness. Things others say about her is she is always friendly and accepting. She sets an excellent example of work ethic by being in the National Honor Society, participating in school clubs, and being the varsity team captain for golf and tennis. Amanda has made an impact in the community through volunteering and assisting whenever needed. Amanda is someone who truly makes the world a better place and enhances the lives of everyone she is with.

How did you first become interested in tennis to now being the Varsity team captain for your school?
I have “played” tennis ever since I can remember. But my version of playing was just hitting the ball in the street in front of my house with someone. I always enjoyed doing that so my freshman year I decided to join the tennis team, as soon as I stepped on the court, I knew I was meant to be there. I wasn’t very good when I first started, but I put a lot of energy and time into tennis year-round and eventually became one of the best players in the school.

What is the Links program at your school and how did you become involved in it?
The links program is when you spend an hour of your school day to help a student on the autism spectrum be social. Students on the spectrum don’t have the best communication skills so that is why you are there. I joined the links program when one of my teachers suggested I should participate in it. They thought I would be a great link.

Tell me a little bit about the student leadership committee and what your role is.
The student leadership academy is a selected group of outstanding students: students that participate in class on a daily schedule, are kind and polite, and responsible. Almost every single Wednesday morning the group would meet up and we would have guest speakers who would teach us how to speak in front of crowds. Part of the leadership academy is we plan a huge party and we raise money to go towards local charities. Going through the process of the party we set up meetings with local businesses to try and get donations. With all the money we raise, we have to decide what to spend it on and how much to spend on things.

What responsibilities come with being a part of the National Honor Society?
NHS requires you get at least 20 hours of community service per year. I like to spend my time at the local food bank and volunteering my time working at kids camps.

How have you managed to balance all the activities you are involved in while maintaining a strong academic record?
I’m not going to lie it is very tough, but it is doable. Being involved with sports and other after school activities takes up a ton of time, but you just have to remember you are a student athlete. Being a student is always your first priority. On bus ride to games sometimes you have to study for that big test tomorrow or do your homework instead of talking to your teammates. If you’re stuck, your captain or other teammates probably took the class and can help you. All your friends want to hang out, but you have a boat load of homework, you might have to stay home and do your schoolwork over hanging out with friends. I maintained my strong academic by doing all the above, I would take my schoolwork to matches and miss out on times when my friends were hanging out, but it’s worth it in the end.

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?
I always write stuff down in my reminders and calendar on my phone to make sure I don’t forget about something!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
I would tell them to never give up and always maintain a positive work ethic! Where you get in the future depends on what you are doing now, the amount of work you put into it. Everyone has bad days or weeks but don’t let it get in your head, prevail through the rough patch

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I believe I am so inspiring because I have the ability to remain free spirited in anything I do. I can adapt well to anything in any given circumstance, and love reaching out to new opportunities and people of all ages. I always maintain my smiling face and positive nature. I consider it an amazing blessing that I am looked up to by children, striving to work and become as talented, if not more talented than me, in the future. By seeing and observing my consistent, positive work ethic, I’ve learned and grown throughout the years. I hope this truly inspires many young people to always work hard and to never give up, ever.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?
I love to spend time with my friends! My friends mean everything to me and inspire me to strive to always become a better person each day and have helped to teach me so many valuable life lessons that have helped shape me into the person I am today.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
My whole life, friends and family always remind me of how determined and strong minded I am. Always striving to accomplish my goals whether they take hours, days, even years to accomplish.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find all my friends, and parents inspiring and mind changing. All my friends have a special characteristic that no one else I know is anything like, they are all their own person each possess a valuable, inspiring, original outlook on life which has helped to shape my values opinions and beliefs. My parents both have a high education and worked their butts off in college to be as successful and diligent as they are today. Without all their lessons and work motives I would not be the person I am today.

Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
Pizza but it has to be just cheese
Pink lemonade mixed with sprite
Dogs because they are so loving and loyal

3 Things on your bucket list
I want to participate in a mission trip, travel through Europe, and lastly go to all the tennis opens (French open, U.S. open, Australian open)

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Recently, to add on to my tennis career journey, I found out I was named all state for 1 doubles! I consider it an amazing accomplishment, that paid off with long hours of practice, and by maintaining a thoughtful, persevering mindset.

Amanda will be featured in Issue 23 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

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Diana Kolb

6/24/2019

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Diana Kolb - Texas
Interview by Larissa Chelius
Nomination by Dede Kolb
Photography by Nate Johnson Photography (Swim),
Color Dawn Photography & others
Inspiring Teens Magazine Issue 23

The Nomination: Diana Kolb was born to an alcoholic mother in Kazakhstan, placed in an impoverished orphanage at age two, and by age four was adopted and brought to the United States. Unfortunately, the adoptive mother was mentally abusive and terminated the adoption after four years. This led Diana to her forever family, where she found a way to forgive and shine. She has chosen joy over bitterness. She’s a straight A student, on track to graduate high school with an Associate’s degree. She has big dreams as a competitive swimmer and a successful model and hopes her testimony will inspire others.

Photo by Kim Vohs Color Dawn Photography

What have you learned from your adoption process? What good has come from it?

I learned people don’t determine my worth, God does; that people will fail you, but God won’t. Having been given up by my birth mother, and my first adoptive mother, I wondered what was wrong with me that made people not love me. It wasn’t until I experienced the unconditional love of my forever family that I was able to believe in myself. And when they taught me to forgive those who hurt me, I felt victorious, not victimized. My journey is who I am, and I want to encourage others facing rejection and insecurities to not give up on themselves, because our trials are part of a masterpiece that can only be created as we go through them.

Photo by Bryan Grant Pixel Studio Photography Kazakhstan dress

Tell us about your birth country.

My birth country is Kazakhstan. It is across the world with bordering countries of Russia and China. I don’t remember much about anything but the orphanage. I remember freezing snow and a lot of it. I must have been a bad child, because I was beaten a lot. But I must have been a good child for a family to pick me as the child they wanted to adopt. These were the kinds of thoughts I had as a child. I never felt like I had an identity until I was loved unconditionally, which gave me the bravery step out and be myself.

My mother dreams of making a trip to Kazakhstan one day, because she never got to see where I came from since they adopted me after I had been brought to the United States by my first adoptive family. I think it would be a little cool to make a visit myself, but Texas will always be my home.

We have brought a little bit of Kazakhstan to East Texas through some handmade traditional dresses a seamstress made for me in Kazakhstan. They are very tribal and fun to have as a memorial of my birth country.

Swim Image by Nate Johnson Photography

With UIL District, Regional and State honors and as a USA Sectionals qualifier, how rigorous is your training?

My training seems insane to most people. I swim every weekday except Sunday, and three days I swim morning and evening. My morning practices start at 5:30 AM, and my evening practices are after school. I also have to maintain a healthy diet. That means preparing meals for the day so I don’t end up eating junk on the run, but eat enough to fuel my body for swim. Finally, I have to have plenty of rest. That means earlier bedtimes than most teenagers. It is challenging to the social life, but I’m willing to make sacrifices to become a better competitive swimmer.

Tell us a little bit about how you maintain a 3.95 GPA with all your swim training?

Because of my late start with the English language, and my unstable childhood, I have had to play “catch-up” most of my school years. It hasn’t been easy. I study a lot. It requires discipline. I have to make the most of every minute, and find times throughout the day to study because “all nighters” are not an option with swim. It’s simple, I work hard for that GPA.

Snapshot by Mom in my Bags of Love Tee

Can you explain the Bags of Love charity and what it means to you?

This is a charity started by a lady who grew up in the foster care system. Her testimony is of being moved from place to place with her belongings in trash bags. She has made it her mission to provide duffle bags filled with supplies to foster children. Her motto is, “No Kid Deserves a Trash Bag.” When I heard about this charity, I knew I wanted to help. I knew what this felt like. When my first adoption was terminated, some of my belongings were transported in trash bags. No child should be made to feel like trash. I have volunteered by stuffing bags, and am proud to have been a part of the advertising for this charity. We both have decided not to trash our testimonies.

What does it mean for you to work at the Boys and Girls Club as a certified lifeguard and teaching swim lessons?

All of my team practices are at the Boys and Girls Club, and between that, work, and teaching swim lessons, I feel like I spend half of my life there. My first job was cleaning bathrooms. But, after completing their program to certify as a lifeguard, my responsibilities have grown. Plus, they are very accommodating with my schedule. I’m grateful for the opportunities the Boys and Girls Club have given me to train and work in the sport I love.

Photo by Kim Vohs from Color Dawn Photography

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?

Never stop trusting God. There will be times when that will be really hard, but He created us for a reason and has a plan our lives. Another thing I would advise is to have a good support system. For me, this quickly became my forever parents. They are always there for me, and I found that when I let myself trust people again, they helped me get through some of the toughest times with unconditional love. The last piece of advice I would give is to admit when you need help. This was the hardest thing for me because I did not trust others to see me as weak. After all I had been through, I had a chip on my shoulder. However, I made my situation worse when I refused to let people in. I had to learn that no one is perfect, but there will always be good people around wanting to help. Don’t let bitterness take hold; forgive and let others love on you. Don’t waste time being angry at your past. Take pride in overcoming, then work hard on worthy goals.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?

In five years, I hope to still be swimming competitively, which means at the highest levels. I hope to have a bachelors from Texas A&M University by then, and I also see myself eventually coaching swim. I also unexpectedly discovered I have a passion for psychology through an entry level college course. When I first enrolled in this class, I was nervous because I heard it was difficult. The first time I opened the textbook, I freaked out because I didn’t understand most of what I read. It was this class, however, that revealed to me my passion for studying the social behaviors of others. Having been adopted twice and mentally abused as a child, I was very interested in understanding why I reacted differently than most people would have given the same situation. I learned there are reasons people respond to situations as they do. In the future, I want to learn more about those responses to be able to help other children overcome adversity instead of giving up. In five years, I hope to have found my niche in a career that combines my interests in coaching and psychology.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?

I have just lived my life the best I knew how as all the challenges hit me. I think that through my story and everything in my life, it shows God and His glory. This will always be inspiring to people because it helps give others hope. Discovering God’s purpose has taught me that God loves the orphan, but somebody has to be the orphan. Instead of asking, why me? I’ve learned to ask, with expectation, why not me?! Am I always up? No. I have definitely been, and can still get, discouraged. But I have learned that not being discouraged cannot be the goal. That’s unrealistic. The goal is to keep getting back up.

Photo I took of my Charm Cover at the publishing office

What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?

Swim does not allow much for pastime activity, but I have enjoyed a little success with a modeling hobby. One thing that stands out is my Charm cover. When I first came to my forever home, I fell in love with a local magazine, Charm East Texas. I got to know and love a lot about my new community through this magazine. I dreamed of having my picture in there one day, because that would mean I was truly part of the East Texas family, and family is a big deal to me. Well, not only did my dream come true, I made the cover. What an honor that was. I am a proud East Texas family member.

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?

Maybe feeling so out of control as a child created somewhat of a control freak. I also can not stand to be still, so I keep my days full, and being disorganized, I discovered, did not work well. It took a few years in a stable home to figure out how to stay organized, but now I understand this is a necessary skill for success. I could not function without keeping a calendar. I write everything down and I prioritize. Swim, school and work; in that order;)

Photo by Kim Vohs of Color Dawn Photography Joseph story and my coat of many colors

Who do you find inspiring?

My mom has called me her “little Joseph” from the first day we met. She says, like Joseph, in the Bible, I have known rejection and betrayal. But, like Joseph, I have a special purpose. I really like Joseph. He represents how I want to be known – unbreakable.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?

If I had to name a “hidden talent”, I suppose it would be mentoring younger children. I seem to have the personality for dealing with children – both in my church activities and in swim. I have taught younger children in both arenas, and we all seem to benefit from my involvement with them.

Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
Lots of water, and Jimmy Johns

3 Things on your bucket list

I want to adopt
I want to skydive
I want to travel the world

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

My first adoption ended tragically. I was not told I was leaving the family until the day I was sent away. I never saw it coming and had no choice. I was not given a chance to say goodbye to anyone who had been a part of the past four years of my life. It was painful and I was terrified. Since then, I have been so blessed to reconnect with some very important people from that time in my life – including my godmother and my second-grade teacher. They helped me reconnect with my school family by arranging an after-school reunion party. It was a great time of healing. They encouraged me so much and it felt good to finally have some closure.

Diana will be featured in Issue 23 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

24 Comments

Sarah Jane Houston

6/21/2019

2 Comments

Sarah Jane Houston – Georgia
Interview by Claire Path
Nomination by Molly Crosby
Photography by Jay Houston and Mackenzie Rosa
Issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nomination: Sarah Jane is an outstanding person. She is extremely inspirational and is such an amazing genuine person. Sarah Jane is an amazing advocate for social injustice and stands up for people who can’t. Her family has adopted four kids and some foster care since 2013. She is such an amazing person and inspires a ton of people at her school. She’s amazing!!

Image by Jay Houston

How has fostering and adopting kids influenced your life?
Fostering and Adopting kids has completely changed my life for the better. It’s taken my family from two kids to six kids and has shown me that love makes a family, not blood. It’s given me a whole new perspective on gratitude and absolutely changed the way I look at life. My 5 younger brothers have overcome so much and it’s an honor to get to be their big sister. They bring so much joy and life to our house. I can’t imagine life without them. I am so thankful that I have been able to grow up in a family that has both fostered and adopted because it has shown me that that is something I would like to do one day.

What do you think is the biggest social injustice and how do you help people stand up for it?
I think the biggest social injustice is discrimination due to someone’s gender, race, or beliefs. I stand against discrimination by speaking out when I see someone being faced with it. There is never a reason why someone should face discrimination and it breaks my heart that this is even an issue in our community in the first place.

Image by Jay Houston

Can you elaborate on what the Thespian Society is and how you got involved with it?
The Thespian Society is an international society honoring those who have dedicated their time to the theatrical arts. I have been involved in theatre since I was seven years old and have been in over 15 productions since then. Some of my favorite shows were when I was Donkey in Shrek and Dorothy in The Wiz. Theatre has made such a big impact on my life and I will forever be thankful for that.

How have you reached out to your community with suicide prevention?
I have reached out to my community with suicide prevention in multiple ways. I have created a t-shirt line and donated all my proceeds to the National Teen Suicide Hotline. I have ultimately donated over $1000 and I plan on doing more. I also have an inspirational Instagram account that shares inspiration for those who may be struggling or just need a little boost. It’s called @itstimetotalkaboutit.

What other activities are you involved in?
Along with Theatre, I am on two varsity dance teams, a member of FBLA, and Model UN.

Image by Mackenzie Rosa

How has your passion towards helping others shaped your life?
I have always felt the need to stick up for those who can’t stick up for themselves. Over the years this has shown me what really matters in life and what doesn’t. As a teenager, it’s easy to find yourself wrapped up in insignificant issues that don’t matter in the long run. The life that my parents have modeled for me & the life that I live because of them, has shown me that anything is possible and it has taught me how to differentiate between the things that are worth focusing on and things that don’t need a second thought.

Image by Jay Houston

Who do you find inspiring?
My mom is the most inspirational person I have ever met. Along with working a full-time job in social work & a part time job photography job, she is able to parent six children, be a loving wife, and advocate for things she is passionate about. She gives everything she does 100% and I hope to be able to model that same character when I’m older.

Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
Tacos. Soda. Cats.

Sarah Jane will be featured in Issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

2 Comments

Maddie Reinebold

6/15/2019

Maddie Reinebold - Colorado
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Nena C Photography
Issue 22 - Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Maddie inspires me every day. She lettered in Varsity soccer her Freshman year, plays on one of the highest club soccer teams in our area, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and making the Honor Roll. She has received numerous awards including Academic Excellence Recognition from the Leadership and Global Communications Academy at her school and the MVP Award while swinging as goalkeeper for both the Varsity and JV teams. Her hard work, dedication, and positive attitude are present in everything she takes on and no challenge is too great or goal too big for her to tackle.

How did your soccer career begin?

My soccer career began when I was six years old. I really didn't know which sport I wanted to play, but I knew I wanted to play sports. When I was two, I would always run onto the soccer field when my brother was playing his games. My family thought soccer was the perfect fit. Since then, I have grown to love the game and have worked very hard to improve so I can reach my goals and dreams.

What are some ways you have overcome challenges you faced throughout your life?

One of the biggest challenges I have had to overcome was an injury. Two years ago, I broke my collarbone during the President's Cup. I had to put my training and goals on hold to recover. It took six months to heal and be cleared to play. It took a long time to get back my strength. However, by practicing, additional training, and strength and conditioning I was able to come back. Now I am working hard to push myself to be stronger than ever before.

When you are not on the field playing soccer, or studying for school, what is something else you like to do in your free time?

Soccer and school work take up most of my time, but when I am not doing these things you can usually find me working out, hanging out with family or friends, camping, hiking, or walking my dog. I love being active and getting out of the house, I cannot stand sitting still.

If someone got discouraged because they can't fulfill their dream, how would you help them?

I would talk to them and try to encourage them to keep working towards their dreams and their goals. Sometimes the path to reaching your goals or dreams is not always easy and can be discouraging, but if you stay focused and work hard you can reach your goals and dreams. You'll never reach your goals if you give up.

Maddie will be featured in issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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6/13/2019

Jaylin Martin

6/8/2019

Jaylin Martin – Alabama
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Michelle Barclay
Inspiring Teens Magazine - Issue 22

The Nomination: Jaylin Caroline is a 2019 James Clemens High School Senior, and Michelle Barclay Photography Senior Model Rep. Jaylin is applying for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program with the goal of becoming a professional dancer, a visionary choreographer, and physical therapist. Jaylin is outstanding in every way and gives 100% .

Tell us about your dance training and experiences.
I started dancing at the tender age of two. Until I had my first solo at the age of 8, dance was just a hobby, but it quickly became my passion. Whether I am dancing professionally, teaching, or choreographing, dance will always be a part of my life. I’m a diverse dancer. My styles include ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, modern, and lyrical.

What kind of summer programs have you been involved in?
I attended the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Summer Intensive in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, I was in the professional division and had the opportunity to be in Bradley Shelvers repertory piece. This was an incredible accomplishment and honor. In 2018, I attended Ballet+ in Miami with director Francisco Gella as well as Aria Summer Intensive (Ballet) in California also with director Francisco Gella. I have been mentored by Liz Imperio (Success.dance) and Teddy Forance (CLI Studios). My training and experiences have been invaluable. I cannot thank my mentors enough especially Francisco Gella for pushing me beyond my limits.

Tell us about the different shows you have performed in.
I have performed all over this country in various dance conventions and competitions. I’ve also performed in my high school musical (Beauty and the Beast) as a featured dancer. I’ve enjoyed the past 16 years performing in my dance showcase with Heidi Knight School of Dance. This one is most enjoyable because many of my friends and family members get to see me dance. I aspire to perform in New York City with Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company.

What are some ways you choreograph dances?
Anytime I prepare to choreograph, I listen to the music first then record myself doing improv. I watch the recording and used what I like in my choreography. I identify the mood of the song, how I’m feeling.

Jaylin will be featured in Issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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Abigail Strickland

6/6/2019

Abigail Strickland - Colorado
Interview by Shaina Zaccagnino
Nomination and Photography by Carol Dunnigan Photography
Issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: I consider Abigail Strickland to be an inspiring teen for all the amazing things that she does for her community. Besides being the Varsity Co-Captain of her school's cheerleading team, she's part of the National Honor Society, the A-team which is a tutoring program and part of 4-H. Outside of school she fundraises for Honor Flight Veterans and makes Valentines for local teachers, bus drivers and doctors. She's helped with canned food drives and donating supplies to shelters. Now, she is starting a job as a program aide at the YMCA! I'm proud to have such an amazing young woman on my model rep team!

How long have you been involved in cheer and what do you love most about it?
I have been involved in cheer since I was a freshman so about 4 years. I love tumbling and cheering at football games under the Friday night lights!

Tell us about Carol Dunnigan's Model Rep Team and your involvement.

I recently joined Carol Dunnigan’s Model Rep Team. So far, I have done two photography sessions. We will be doing more sessions and completing community service. I love taking pictures with some of my classmates and making new friends who are also a part of the team!

Image by Corina Strickland

How did you learn about 4-H? Why did you decide to join?

I learned about 4-H from my mom. She was actively involved in her 4-H club when she was young. A student that my mom had in her 5th grade class was part of the local club. He had told us about the cloverbud program for the younger kids.

Once we found out about a club that was located near us, I joined it to follow my mom’s footsteps. I was seven years old when my 4-H journey started in cloverbuds.

Image by Corina Strickland

What have you learned as being a member of 4-H?

I have learned a lot from being a 4-H member. I have learned about citizenship and government, how to be a leader, how to help my community, and how to become a better person. Through one of the projects that I did over a three-year period, I learned about citizenship and government. At the end of the project, I traveled to Washington D.C. to experience these things in person. The workshops there focused on being a better citizen and leader. Government was exhibited by a mock trial to create new laws and bills. I have learned how to be a better leader by the multiple leadership conferences that I have attended. Also, with being a previous president for my club and the current vice president, I have been able to lead meetings and manage large groups of people. I have learned how to help my community by all the community service that 4-H is involved with. Whether it be donating to shelters or just making someone’s life a little easier. All of these have helped shape me into the person that I am today.

Image by Abigail Strickland

Do you think other people should join 4-H?
Of course, other people should join 4-H! It offers so many amazing opportunities and teaches so many applicable life skills. It makes people become their best versions of themselves. And though, most people believe you need livestock to be a 4-H member, this is not true. All my projects have been without livestock. My first 4-H project was baking. In addition to baking I entered the scrapbooking project for several years. In more recent years, I have added painting and sketching for visual arts. There are hundreds of different types of projects to choose from. These are just a few of my favorites.

What do you plan to do with 4-H in the future?
Even though my 4-H experience will be done when I turn nineteen, I can apply my leadership skills that I have learned to a future career. In these last couple of years, I plan on being even more involved in 4-H by becoming a district representative. It is the next level from my current county club, and it is more state focused. I’m excited to see where these last few years take me!

Abigail will be featured in Issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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Emily Butler

6/4/2019

Emily Butler - Alabama
Interview by Caroline Alegado
Nominated by Kimberly Butler
Photography by Butler Studio
Issue 22 - Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Emily Butler is truly talented in everything she tries: dancing, public speaking, water sports, tutoring, acting, and more. But all these things are not what make her so inspiring. She is inspiring because even with all these talents, she has the most humble and generous heart. She does not see her gifts as something that makes her better, but something that makes her better able to serve. She spends much of her free time working for people who are truly needy: From volunteering with our local homeless shelter and soup kitchen, to spending two evenings per week tutoring at-risk children, to regularly helping and sitting with her shut-in grandmother.

Her beauty and gifts shine bright, but her heart of gold shines the brightest!

How did you get started in dance and who inspired you to start?
I’ve been dancing since I was two, and I haven’t stopped. I can’t recall if anyone “inspired” me to start. However, there are countless people who have inspired me to continue. I’ve been blessed beyond belief with teachers and teammates who constantly push me outside my comfort zone. They inspire me to use my talent as a gift to others. They give words of truth and encouragement. These people continually motivate me to be, not only the best dancer I can be, but also the best person I can be.

How has dance helped you grow not only as an athlete?
I’ve grown to appreciate self-expression, and how to be unified with people who do not think the same way that I do. Unity amongst diversity is the most precious kind. I’ve grown spiritually because I have a dance "Tribe" that keeps me accountable and reminds me of how God sees me. I'm more confident in myself and my ability to form genuine connections. I’ve failed miserably as well, teaching me that someone’s worst performance does not define them, but what they DO afterward.

What other extracurricular activities and service projects have you done?
I had the honor of tutoring "at risk" students. But these kids taught me so much! I learned that most of the time when someone is difficult, they are probably dealing with truly hard stuff. It's amazing how far compassion and cookies can go. When kids are given the right kind of attention, they thrive.

Another activity is BEST Robotics, where I was blessed to be the CEO my 10th-grade year. This revealed my interest in public speaking. I found what I hope to make my career. I loved presenting to the judges. We won six awards and competed at South’s BEST! We set a record for our hub within our first year!

Describe what it is like to be a homeschooler and how it is different from what most people think.
Being a homeschooler doesn’t mean anything other than learning the way your brain learns, which frees up time for SO MUCH MORE! My family travels a lot; so I can have more diverse experiences, and school comes with me. I have time to be my community, meeting all kinds of people, in all kinds of walks of life. The friendships I have made through homeschooling are the most precious relationships. I still get to go to football games and even proms. Homeschoolers aren’t limited, on the contrary. We have UNLIMTED options before us.

What was your favorite project you did with YLS?
My favorite was our drive for toiletries for Shoals CASA, which works with foster children to make sure that they are safe, and their needs are met. Often when a child is taken from their home and placed in a new one, it’s completely unexpected and urgent. They usually don’t have time to grab so much as a toothbrush before their new life begins. It takes "the system" a few days to get the children what they need. The items we collected make an often scary situation feel a bit more secure by allowing the kids to have something as basic as the ability to brush their teeth on the first days of being in an unfamiliar place. This experience helped me become more aware of the difficulties of children's lives in our own area.

Emily will be featured in Issue 22 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!