Inspiring Teens Magazine Features

Logan Reyes

8/6/2019

Logan Reyes – New Mexico
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination and Photography by Flores Studios
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Logan Reyes is an inspiration and mentor to our youth soccer teams in the area. Over the years he has mentored the youth and they admire him and his accomplishments, inspiring them to aim high and pursue their dreams on and off the field. He is heading to Otero Jr. College to continue his soccer career as a Goal Keeper for the Rattlers.

What do you love most about mentoring athletes apart of youth soccer teams?
I love mentoring youth soccer players because I remember when I was younger I idolized the older soccer players I would see. Whether it be a pro, college, or even high school player I always wanted to be like them. Meeting and learning from them was always a great experience so now I try to return the favor whenever possible.

How did you get involved with playing soccer and how has the sport impacted your life?
I started soccer when I was about 5 years old and stuck with it. I truly fell in love with the game when I turned 10 and wanted to go as far as I possibly could playing soccer. That drive got me to where I am today, playing college soccer.

Tell us a about your family and their values that has helped influenced how you were raised.
I owe everything to my parents, they raised me to always do the right thing and respect everyone. Without them I would never have achieved all I have.

How has where you have grown up shaped who you are as a person?
Growing up I always had my family around me and made me very family oriented. I always am for my family first and do all that I do for them. Not having much to do in a small town leads you to sports and has you play whenever you can with your team.

What do you enjoy doing with your friends during your free time?
Coming from a small town there isn’t much to do. My friends and I would go to Sonic, someone’s house, or even play hide n’ seek in Walmart. As long as we were together, we enjoyed every moment and made the best of every situation and brought out the best in each other.

Image by a friend

What do you find most rewarding towards being a positive influence for others?
Being a positive influence is rewarding because you are shaping the future of the soccer team, the city, even the next generation.

Logan will be featured in Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Click here to nominate an inspiring teen

click here to purchase inspiring teens magazine

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Nikita Jeyasingh

8/6/2019

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Nikita Jeyasingh Virginia
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Maura Varley Photography
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Upon meeting Nikita Jeyasingh, I was immediately stuck by her sweet smile and humble spirit. Nikita is a senior in the Leadership program at James River High School and is ranked 12th in a class of 450. She is the Vice President of the Student Council and a wining varsity tennis player and team captain (ranked #1 in the region). She has been dancing for 15 years and enjoys her third year as a member of the school’s dance team. She is amazing! Even if you are jealous of her abilities, it’s impossible not to like her – she’s just that nice.

Tell us about your passion for playing tennis competitively.

I began competing when I was 11 years old beginning with many local tournaments. My freshman year in high school, I made the Varsity Tennis team, and I’ve played as the #1 singles and doubles player for the past 3 years. Competing has taught me so much about myself and my love for the game. I love the individuality of the sport but also the team aspect of it because the goal is for our team to win the most matches. When I’m competing, I feel like I’m in a different world because all I’m focusing on is the match. I love being able to focus on one thing I love the most and do whatever I can to try to win.

How did your tennis career begin? When did you know that this is what you loved doing?

My dad got me into tennis when I was just 4 years old. It started as something I would do just for fun and to go outside and spend time with my dad. As I got older, I began to develop even more of a love for the sport, and I started training just about every day. When I was 8, I played my first match at a local country club. I remember feeling like Serena Williams as I brought my bag onto the court and battled it out against my opponent. From that day forward, I realized that this is what I want to do and get good at.

What was your experience like on the dance team?

Being on the dance team is such a rewarding experience. I love all the girls on my team and my coach. We have practices over the summer to learn our routines, and we practice after school during the year. We then perform at halftime shows, other school events, and attend competitions. Dance team is something that takes a lot of effort and hard work; however, at the same time, it’s a lot of fun and I’ve learned so much.

What is your favorite thing about being a dancer? What style of dance is your favorite,
and why?

My favorite thing about being a dancer is being able to express myself through movement. My favorite style is probably jazz because I love the sass and the incorporation of tricks, turns, and specific dance movements.

Where have you traveled before? Which location has been your favorite? Why?

I love traveling; I’ve been to 35 countries! If I have to pick a favorite, I would say Thailand because first of all, the food is amazing, and I love how it has so much culture and so many different things to see from the blue beaches in the city of Phuket to the breathtaking mountains in Chiang Mai.

Tell us about your volunteering opportunities and places you have volunteered.

I volunteer at a local hospital at the Patient Information Center and the Surgical Center. I also volunteer with a program at my church called, “Big Pals Little Pals,” which is an after-school program where I can tutor children whose parents don’t speak English or are unable to help them with their schoolwork. I love helping kids with schoolwork, and it’s so rewarding to see them understand their homework and enjoy doing it.

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

I plan on majoring in Biomedical Engineering in college and then going to medical school. . I want to be a pediatric surgeon because I know I want to devote my life to helping people, especially kids.

Nikita will be featured in Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

click here to purchase inspiringteensmagazine

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Jade Eilers

8/5/2019

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Jade Eilers - Ohio
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination by Alisha Eilers
Photography by Rick Martinez and Amin Kabani
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Jade Eilers is Miss Teen Ohio International. She has lost 30 lbs. and committed to a drug free life. She encourages others to take a drug free pledge. She spoke to thousands at the Ohio Statehouse on how it’s cool to be drug free and shared her message at the United Nations. She will be in schools across the country with the steered straight program. She is motivated by the loss of family to addiction, but she shares a message that you don’t have to repeat the cycle and you can make positive choices!

What’s it like being a pageant girl?
Every day I work to break the stigma that comes with being a pageant girl. I remember when I was the honorary captain of the Cincinnati Reds Baseball team & I got to go out and meet with the umpires with my sash on. One umpire looked at me and said, “You’re not world peace, are you?” And I said, “No sir, building a drug-free future.” And he looked a little distraught and he then said “Oh. That’s a cause we can all get behind.” Being a pageant girl is so much more than wearing pretty clothes, a crown, and a banner. It’s about what you use your crown to SAY.

Tell us about your drug-free life and taking the drug free pledge.
I’ve chosen to live a drug free life because I’ve lost several family members to their addiction. From a young age I’ve seen the pain and problems an addiction can lay on a family. I’ve chosen to take the drug free pledge & partnered with the organization that created the pledge (Foundation for a Drug Free World) in order to promote healthy choices & build a drug free future. Since then, I’ve taken my drug prevention efforts one step further. I will be partnering with Steered Straight and going on a speaking tour to share my message that it’s cool to be drug free! I anticipate reaching over 20,000 students!

If someone is interested in weight loss what are some healthy choices they can make?
If someone’s interested in weight loss, there are a lot of healthy choices they can make! I would suggest trying to be as active as you can or designing in workouts. Meal planning is also a big key! We typically eat things that aren’t healthy when we need food fast! When you take the time to measure out certain foods and put thought behind what you’re eating is when real changes happen!

What was it like sharing your message at the United Nations?
First, the UN is INCREDIBLE! But when I was practicing my speech I was always thinking, I’ve done theatre for 9 years, I’ll be fine! But when I got up to speak, I was practically shaking! However, I think the speech went well & it was a life changing experience!

Tell us about some of the awards you have won.
Some awards I have won include: The Drug Free Hero award, 2 state resolutions & best Actress in a play!

What advice would you give someone who wants to be where you are today?
If someone wanted to be where I am today, I would just say: Don’t be afraid to tell the truth. So many people are hiding what they’ve been through because it hurts to talk about. You have to be honest and sometimes vulnerable in order to share an effective message that people will relate to.

Why do you think you are inspiring?
I think it’s inspiring how I’ve turned what hurt me into what I talk about. I’m not letting the absence of my father bring me down, I’m letting it lift me up and others.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find my mother incredibly inspiring. She came from almost nothing and had to work very hard to build us a better life. She was incredible in school, has an amazing work ethic, and doesn’t let what hurt her define her.

How do you picture yourself in five years?
What I want to do changes weekly, however I’ve always wanted to go to Vanderbilt University! I could totally see myself there in 5 years, studying Political Science, on my way to becoming a lobbyist!

How do you stay organized?
I keep myself organized with the help of my “Momager” mom! We have a master calendar & we take everything day by day. We just plan very far ahead!

What are some of your favorite past times that aren’t in your nomination?
I love to listen to music (Lauren Daigle & Billie Eilish) and do makeup! I like to do those things while hanging with my friends too!

Do you have a hidden talent?
I’m double jointed in my arms and six fingers so I can move them in an oddly fascinating way.

Pizza or tacos? Water or soda? Dogs or cats?
I’m Puerto Rican, I love tacos! I’m a huge water drinker. Although I’m allergic to dogs AND cats, I’m still a dog person!

What are three things on your bucket list?
Get into Vanderbilt University (hopefully on a full ride) -travel to Italy -Graduate with honors

Is there anything extra you want to tell us?
I’m very excited to be featured in this magazine!

Jade will be featured in Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

click here to purchase inspiring teens magazine

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Jaden Pelland

8/3/2019

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Jaden Pelland - Montana
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by Grace M Williams
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Jaden Pelland is constantly trying to do her best at everything that she puts her mind to and loves helping anyone with no expectations of reimbursement or gratitude. She shoots for the Helena Hot Shots and for the past year has continually broken her PR's and loves learning different techniques from the other shooters. She had a rough start when she got to her new school but has now recovered and made the honor roll for the last two quarters.

Tell us about your experiences shooting for the Helena Hot Shots.
Being a part of the Helena Hot Shots is fun and has led to amazing opportunities to travel around Montana, meet new people and there is a lot of down time in between events to make new friends and get to know other competitors. I represent my team, my coach (John McDunn) and my home range (Helena Trap Club). The responsibility that I have is huge. I have to show safety with my shotgun, contain my feelings when I miss a clay, and respect everyone around me. I take a lot of pride in telling others where I have learned how to shoot and who coaches me. My highest achievement has been bringing home the Montana State High Over All award for my Sub Jr. category for a tournament in Missoula. That means that I had the highest number of clays hit out of the entire tournament. I also broke my personal record, I shot at the most clays, 1300, since I started last year, and I also shot 91 clays out of 100 for one event. I was exhausted but, I was so excited for that accomplishment.

What was it like growing up a military child/brat?
Sometimes it was hard. A lot of people thought that I was spoiled because I got to travel around Europe and live in Germany. Some people would say that I was lying to them about the places that I have been and things that I have done. Yes, it was possibly a onetime experience to see these amazing places. But, the sacrifice of not seeing my family that were in the states or not seeing my dad due to him being deployed, sometimes didn't feel like it was worth it. But I always made the best of any situation that we were in.

What is the most difficult thing about making new friends and constantly moving?
The most difficult thing about moving and making new friends is learning how to quickly trust someone enough to be friends. I found that it was hard to find trustworthy and reliable friends. I have four main friends that have been there through the ups and downs. And. I would never trade them for the world.

Tell us about your mission trip, with your family, to Poland and Germany? What areas did you explore and see?
My family was stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany for the Air Force for eight years and through our church, we would collect food and deliver it to Poland. It was fun, exciting and sad to help those in need. We were hosted by the Elim Christian Center out of Lwówek Śląski, Poland. It was crazy to see how little that these families had. But they were still happy and mostly content with their living situation as a lot of Poland has not completely recovered since World War II. I will say though, showing up to a house, box of food in hand, their door opens and then you see the biggest smile ever. These families and elderly are so happy. We cried a lot of sad and happy tears. For example, with my mom, little sister and a few others, we visited a family that had occupied a house after the original owner passed away. A father, pregnant mother and a toddler son. The husband could not find a job to support his family and suffered from depression. We delivered a box of food, talked with them, my little sister (not knowing Polish) played with their son, prayed and then gave many hugs before we left. The following year, we visited again to deliver food and we found that our box of food (supposed to last one person a week) lasted a month and he found a job in that time. They named their newborn daughter, America, because they felt that us, Americans, had saved them from starving. My reaction? Goosebumps.

Why do you love helping others?
It makes me feel more at ease to know that those that needed help are now in a better place than they were before. I would rather give my jacket to someone in need and give that person warmth. That warmth might last a lifetime and change their life to not only help themselves. But, possibly to help others.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
I would say to work as hard as you can and never give up. It's going to be hard. So, what? You will get there.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
I want to win Nationals for trapshooting and go to college or vocational school. I have not decided on my degree or certification. But I have a while to decide that.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I feel that I inspire others because I am a girl and younger than most shooters. I am not afraid to shoot against others especially when most are triple my age. I never let them intimidate me. I stay focused and try to get the job done. I also try to help anyone that I can, if I see that they are having trouble with their shooting stance, keeping motivated and possibly losing faith in their abilities.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find that Shannara McDunn and Ramey Olsen inspire me by helping me during practices and tournaments to shoot better. My mom and dad inspire me to keep going and better myself whenever I can.

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?
I write everything down. But I try to not overwhelm myself with everything and I just do one thing at a time. I also have an amazing support system from my family and my coach.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?
I like playing softball, going to the gym, and hanging out with my family and friends having fun.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
Apparently, my hidden talent was my ability to shoot. Before I tried out for the Helena Hot Shots in March 2018, I had never even held a gun, let alone a shotgun. I was actually quite surprised when I realized that I liked this kind of sport.

Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
Tacos, no tomatoes. Water all the way. Dogs because it's fun to train them to do tricks.

3 Things on your bucket list
1. I want to travel all over Europe
2. Visit all of the states in the U.S.
3. Learn how to skydive

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
I love to dance, and I don't care who sees me. My friends think that I am crazy because, I actually like going to school. I love a good vanilla Frappuccino and acting silly with my mom. I also can play the flute and snare drum.

Jaden will be featured in Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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Natalie Clark

8/1/2019

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Natalie Clark - North Carolina
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo.
Nomination and Photography by Robin Miller Photography.
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine.

The Nomination: Natalie Clark graduated top in her class from four years of rigorous coursework. She was selected to be a Junior Marshal and is also now a Presidential Scholar. While at Hibriten she was nominated for Governor's School and the School of Math and Science. She has been a member of several academic and volunteer clubs. She is Hospice Volunteer and a Certified Nurse Aide 1. Natalie was nominated for The Morehead Cain, and she won the Coffey Scholarship in full this spring. She will be going to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this coming Fall to study biology on the Pre-Medical track.
Here are the list of top things:
Top in Class
Junior Marshall
Homecoming Rep.(2 yrs.) court (1yr.)
BETA member
AFS member/social coordinator
HOSA secretary
Hospice Volunteer
Coffey Scholarship Winner
Varsity Cheerleader for 3 years
Speaker at Graduation
National Technical Honors Society member
North Carolina High School Scholars
Presidential Scholar
Athlete Scholar
Certified Nurse Aide 1

Tell us about your upcoming experiences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

I am super excited to be joining the Tar Heel Community this upcoming Fall! My first week there I will be joining my fellow freshmen in a program called Week of Welcome and Fall Fest! These events last for several days and have over 160+ organizations running them! There is lots of food and fun to be had, and I am ready to join in on every event! Finally, I am really excited about joining in on our campus ministries. It is super important to me to keep God on my pathway in life and these organizations allow me to keep him every step of the way!

What are some of your past volunteering opportunities?

I have been involved with several clubs that volunteer throughout the community in some really special ways! My favorite volunteer opportunity would have to be working with Hospice Care. While at Hospice I have learned very wise advice about life from the patients I have spoken to, even some that were a hundred and one! I found that I had a special bond with these patients and they always surprised me with their life stories.

Tell us about your internship opportunities and what was your favorite one? Why?

I have had three internship opportunities while in High School! My final and favorite internship opportunity happened the final semester of my senior year. This time though I chose a specific field in the operating room, Anesthesiology. I was assigned a designated anesthetist to shadow over during my time period. This one was my favorite because on almost every Wednesday we had pediatric patients! These sweet children were always the highlight of my morning, you never knew what they were going to say next.

Tell us about your Instagram Fashion Blog and things you post on it. How did this begin?

My Instagram fashion blog is called A Blonde Story! I have always loved fashion and am obsessed with finding out about the newest trends each season. My Instagram blog is meant to showcase outfits that you may see on big time fashion bloggers but for a cheaper price for college girls, who can’t be spending a ton of cash on fashion while in college. How this all got started was while at the beach with some girlfriends they encouraged me to start a fashion blog. I want to encourage other girls or guys to start up fashion blogs to express their character and style for others to admire or be inspired by!

Image by Linda Clark

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

To begin I would say when beginning your high school journey step back and breathe in that special moment. All the fun memories, good times, and laughs made it an unforgettable experience. My advice is to jump into any club that you feel you may be interested in and choose a top few to indulge all your creative ideas into. My final advice is to never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. There is not a test, audition, or presentation that you can’t accomplish with great success! Always remember you can do anything you put your mind to and never stop until you accomplish your dream.

Natalie will be featured in Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

click here to purchase inspiring teens magazine

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Forward>>

Logan Reyes

Logan Reyes – New Mexico
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination and Photography by Flores Studios
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nikita Jeyasingh

Nikita Jeyasingh Virginia
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Maura Varley Photography
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Jade Eilers

Jade Eilers - Ohio
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination by Alisha Eilers
Photography by Rick Martinez and Amin Kabani
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Jaden Pelland

Jaden Pelland - Montana
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by Grace M Williams
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Natalie Clark

Natalie Clark - North Carolina
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo.
Nomination and Photography by Robin Miller Photography.
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine.

Featured

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Logan Reyes

Logan Reyes – New MexicoInterview by Claire PlathNomination and Photography by Flores Studios​Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Nikita Jeyasingh

Nikita Jeyasingh VirginiaInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNomination and Photography by Maura Varley Photography​Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Jade Eilers

Jade Eilers - OhioInterview by Zoe D'AngeloNomination by Alisha EilersPhotography by Rick Martinez and Amin Kabani​Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Jaden Pelland

​Jaden Pelland - MontanaInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNomination & Photography by Grace M Williams​Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Natalie Clark

Natalie Clark - North CarolinaInterview by Zoe D’Angelo.Nomination and Photography by Robin Miller Photography.Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine.​

Featured

Archives

Categories

Logan Reyes – New Mexico
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination and Photography by Flores Studios
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nikita Jeyasingh Virginia
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Maura Varley Photography
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Jade Eilers - Ohio
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination by Alisha Eilers
Photography by Rick Martinez and Amin Kabani
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Jaden Pelland - Montana
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by Grace M Williams
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Natalie Clark - North Carolina
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo.
Nomination and Photography by Robin Miller Photography.
Issue 24 of Inspiring Teens Magazine.