Inspiring Teens Magazine Features - Inspiring Teens®

Kauai - Destination Photo Shoot

9/28/2018

By Jillian Cardinal
Photography by Leslie Conway

What to plan:
• Research service projects that interest you. We picked one to help clean up the beaches.
• Research locations to shoot at but plan loosely. There are so many places that are awesome along the roads less traveled.

What to bring:
• Sunscreen (but only the kind that is safe for the coral reefs. It’s the law there)
• Lots of shoes, including a pair of shoes that you can leave behind when they get muddy on trails
• A blanket for the flight because it’s a long one
• Bug spray & Band-Aids.
• As many clothes & bathing suits as you can fit in your luggage
• Makeup, Hair Stuff, Sunglasses and Accessories

What to keep in mind when you arrive:
• I suggest renting a jeep because you never know where you want to travel or if you will find yourself driving in the sand. Plus, it’s fun to take pictures in!
• Take water and snacks for the road
• It rains every other 5 minutes, so just be patient
• Look for some awesome souvenirs to take home, but not flowers, sand, animals or fruit
• Bring all your clothes with you every day since you never know where you’ll end up. Kauai is one big circular highway with a lot to do as you circle the island
• Don’t be afraid to get lost or turn off the highway. We found some amazing locations that way!

Last but not least:

• Be adventurous. Check out Queens Bath and ask the local’s if it’s a good day. They’ll know. Go EARLY!
• Meet new people; the locals are so friendly!
• Stop and do touristy stuff. Especially at Lilo & Stitch’s
• The memories you make will last a lifetime, so
• DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!!!

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Interview with Mariah Martinez

9/27/2018

By Zoe D'Angelo | Nomination & Images by The Moxie Design

The Nomination: “Mariah is an editor at Love Girls Magazine and is the embodiment of a beautiful soul. She is very passionate about helping girls build self-esteem by providing support, leadership and a safe place to tell their stories. She is so passionate about the Love Awards, a celebration to honor the accomplishments of young women. Love this girl so much!!”

How did Love Girls start?
Love Girls Magazine started with the founder Jasmine Baber. Her best friend was being bullied in high school and felt she deserved to be on the cover of a magazine. The full story Jasmine wrote herself: http://www.lovegirlsmagazine.com/about.php

Now that you are helping run Love Girls Magazine, what are some of your duties?
I'm junior assistant editor. I help plan events like our annual love awards that honors girls in the community. We also run workshops for the girls to meet powerful women who work in our community. I also will help with editing articles, photoshoots, and speak at different events along with The Love Girls Team. But my favorite part is meeting and having an impact on all the girls lives that I get to encounter. I get to meet new friends every day and reach out in the community volunteering as much as may schedule allows.

How has helping others impacted you personally?
When I get the chance to help others from volunteering, my job at Chick-Fil-A or with the magazine it makes me a humbler human being, I find myself so much more interested in not just helping but learning from that experience. I'm interested in culture and different religions to understand a person and educate myself. Not only has my heart opened for others but also my time and energy I no longer have harsh judgment stray to mind but a servant’s heart.

What is one thing you love about working with Love Girls Magazine and why?
Love Girls Magazine saved my life literally. I was in such a low place when I began the magazine with suicidal thoughts. Not only have I gained some sisters for life but also a huge family with our team. My favorite part is seeing the girls faces and families when they receive the magazine in hand and see how each one of them have a story to be heard.

What are your plans after High School?
I plan to go to Scott Community College to get my gen eds done before making a final decision in what I want to major. I also plan on traveling the world learning about different cultures first hand and trying all the amazing food along the way.

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Interview with Penelope B.

9/26/2018

By Emma Engel

What inspired you to start your clothing line?
When I was eight I was getting bullied. I was so sad that I didn’t want to go to school or even leave my house. One day I was talking to my parents in the car and I said, “I wish everyone would just be kind.” My parents told me I should do something with that phrase. So, I decided to make shirts and that was the first shirt I designed. “Be kind “

How has your line developed since it first launched?
I’ve sold it in stores and I have had so many new costumers. I even traveled to Dominican Republic as a young designer by invitation, designer expenses paid.

Do you have any big thing coming up in the future?
Yes, I have Inspiring Teens Fashion Week coming up in September where I’ll get to show and sell my shirts. It’s my third fashion show! I am also in pre-planning for a Wounded Warriors project. Once my Autism Awareness donation gets delivered, WWP is next.

Beside your clothing line do you have any other hobbies?
I also like acting, dancing, & modeling. I’m also a varsity cheer flyer, and I surf.

What is your favorite part about having your clothing line?

Helping kids, seeing how happy they get when they open their packages, and the support I get from friends and family are among my favorites. I also love planning outreach events that go with my messages.

Were there any challenges while making your clothing line? If so did you overcome them?

I have had a few challenges like spreading the word and getting people more interested. I think that I have overcome some of the challenges because so many people are loving this message. I am growing and learning more, and I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!

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Silent Hill

9/25/2018

Article by Larissa Chelius | Images by Kari Jim

The fire that now burns continuously throughout Centralia is not what many would believe.

Back in 1962, a coal seam fire initiated 30 feet underground and would ruin many homes. The former citizens have presented many different theories regarding why the fire rose in the first place. For instance, the main theory is that as townsfolk were burning waste in a landfill and when the flames reached the gases that are in the coal mines under, the town it ignited an ever-burning fire.

To this day, you can still go to Centralia or Route 61 for small time periods and see smoke rising from the ground and the sinkholes dispersed across town. The smoke that submerges from the fire consists of normal smoke and noxious fumes. These noxious fumes are the reason why most of Centralia's residents had to evacuate. There are only 7 people who strived to linger in Centralia.

While walking along the abandoned Highway called route 61, you can see where the sinkholes split the road or caved in. All along Route 61, you can see spray paint designs as far as the eye can see. These pieces of artwork can be dated back to 2007. Walking along the road, you can see a variety of different things from positive messages to personal information and many modern sayings. These include different vines or quotes from shows that became popular over the years. (There are also some profanity & inappropriate paintings, so hikers beware).

In addition, people are not afraid to make others scared. For example, a sewer drain reads “come play with me” near the name “Pennywise” with an arrow pointing down on the highway. In front of that was an arrow pointing to the sewer saying “you’ll float too”.

The town of Centralia and Route 61 are also recognized by the name Silent Hill. The reasoning for this is that a movie was made in 2006 called Silent Hill. The creators of Silent Hill got their inspiration from the town of Centralia. Some locals believe that the creators got their inspiration from the 'haunted' aspect of Centralia.

Many who visit Centralia at night claim that they hear voices from below the surface. For example, Scott Sailor openly told his story on the internet saying, "We found a slag covered hillside with steam coming out of it and were fascinated by some fossils we found, when we heard what sounded like a voice saying something inaudible from down below where we were. All three of us heard it. We figured it was someone else checking out the area too, so we sort of ignored it. Then we heard it again, a little more clearly. A few words and it sort of sounded like 'leave this place.'"

So, whether it is the idea of a 1,000-degree fire being 30 feet under you, the thought of a sinkhole falling, the noxious fumes or the voices from the coal mines that draw you to explore this area, be careful and safe if you choose to go on this spooky adventure.

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Interview with Abby Roby

9/24/2018

By Grace Mahony

The Nomination: - "I’d like to officially nominate Abigail Roby for the IT Girl of the day at Inspiring Teens Magazine. Abby is a pillar of my senior rep program and is always the first to volunteer for any event we have whether it’s from being in shoots, helping with the shoots, or helping with community activity. Abby was named Cadet Commander in her JROTC program and holds multiple records for PT training. She’s attended leadership events and puts her all into her program. She’s been recognized for her outstanding community service which is something that she is the proudest of. Abby has faced adversity in a male dominated program. She has been bullied and teased yet she has remained steady in her beliefs and has been an exemplary example of what a young leader should be. I fully believe that Abby has a very promising future ahead of her and I am so proud of everything she’s accomplished." Nominated by Samantha Tooley

Settled on the famous Ohio River, in a shallow curve on the edge of Kentucky, is Daviess County. A relatively quiet county that houses a powerful young lady; Abby Roby. She is an inspiration to many for her perseverance, strength and stunning accomplishments.

Five years ago, chance changed her life. In eighth grade, she walked out of the first day of volleyball tryouts only to be approached by Commander White, the senior navalist instructor of the ROTC program who had known her older brother. ROTC focuses on instilling the value of citizenship, service to one's country and personal responsibility in students. Abby was eager to join the coming fall and, though she didn’t know it at the time, begin the journey of finding herself.

It wasn’t long before Abby found herself learning lessons that she'd keep with her for years to come. After earning awards at both the local and national levels, she attended National Junior ROTC leadership training. It was here that her senior chief would tell her to "worry about the thing you can control and if you can't control them then don't worry about them". It was a statement that would help her through the hardest years that were still to come.

As a sophomore, she was bullied by many people, including her brother. The hard times took a toll and her grades dropped, she quit volleyball and began to lose herself in the work she did as the JROTC community service officer working in the community beyond her high school. The joy on people faces when she brought in 10,000 donations to local shelters kept her busy and gave her experiences that would earn her an award.

She relied on her own strength and the support of her senior chief and friend, Michael Gatrost, to bounce back. She was able to work hard and rise above her competition to become her county's first female cadet commander, an honor she values as her greatest accomplishment. She's learned how to take charge and communicate properly with other. As a recent high school graduate, she plans to enlist in the Navy this August and continue to serve her country. And for all of us, she can remain a figure of great inspiration and strength.

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Hydration Plan

9/21/2018

By Laine Giovanniello

Hydration is important to people of all ages. Dehydration happens when your body has lost too much water without replacing it, preventing your body to perform its natural functions. Dehydration can even sometimes be life-threatening.

Many people forget to stay hydrated even when they are not playing a sport or exercising. Studies say that you should always have water with you and drink even when you’re not thirsty. When you sweat your body loses water, so it’s extremely important to have even more water than usual when you exercise.

Here is a hydration plan that I try my best to follow everyday:

1. Drink 50% of your body weight a day in ounces (or 40 ounces, whatever is greater).
2.      DO NOT drink just water, as this will dilute essential vitamins needed to perform at top condition. Drink a combination of spring water, milk, juice, green tea, Gatorade, & PowerAde. (If you’re an athlete, you should have a sports drink for the potassium and sodium)
3.     Make a commitment to no soda or iced tea.
4.     Add 8 ounces for every 30 minutes of exercise.
5.     To be affective you must keep track of your ounce intake and space it out throughout the day. DO NOT drink 2-3 times daily and consume large amount of liquid.
6.     It is fine to exceed the number of ounces per day.

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Anxiety in Teens

9/20/2018

By Paige Ross

A teenager sits in a classroom waiting to be called up in front of tons of their classmates for a presentation. Their stomach is turning, and bad thoughts are going through their head. These feelings are all caused by anxiety. Teens that struggle with anxiety feel stress about school and their social lives. But, it is important to know what anxiety is before learning how it affects teens.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental disorder that people of all ages can have. This disorder can come out of nowhere and make a person feel stressed or scared. There are six types of anxiety that can have different effects on a person. However, two of the six typically affect teens. One type of anxiety that typically affects teens is, social anxiety disorder. This type of anxiety can make someone avoid certain social situations because of an excessive fear. Another type of anxiety that usually effects teens is, generalized anxiety. Generalized anxiety causes someone to worry about events in an everyday life. Anxiety can affect teens because it can change the way they act and think, one example of this is, how teens may stress about school.

Stress About School

One way that anxiety effects teens is, causing stress about school. Teens may be worrying about or dreading a quiz or a test because they feel that they are going to fail, or they are not prepared. More commonly, they may have nervous feelings. These types of feelings and stress can be caused by generalized anxiety. " Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear in response to stress," says Maddie Spalding, author of 12 Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety. For example, some of this stress can come from having to present in front of a class or group of people. Again, this could make a teen have nervous feelings. Also, teenagers have a lot to handle such as, school, jobs, homework, and big expectations from adults. Generalized anxiety accompanied by being scared, nervous or being stressed about school, is one way how anxiety can affect teens. Not only can anxiety affect teens through stress about school, but it can also affect how they react in social situations.

Social Anxiety

Another way anxiety can impact teens is by changing how they react in social situations. This type of anxiety is called, social anxiety disorder. For some people, they don’t like to go in public because of a fear that someone will judge them on the way they look. Also, negative posts or comments on social media can cause this type of anxiety. Too add on, bullying or trying to fit in with a group can cause social anxiety disorder. This type of anxiety is common for teens, and others, to experience. "Social anxiety disorder affects an estimated ten million Americans and is the third most common psychiatric illness after depression and alcoholism," says the American Psychiatric Association. Social anxiety disorder can change the way someone reacts and thinks in a situation. But, this can be helpful sometimes because it can make a teen avoid or sense a dangerous or bad situation. However, this anxiety becomes a problem when it reacts to no danger. To conclude, anxiety can have negative, yet some positive effects on teens.

Healthy Snacks

9/19/2018

By Lauren Michener

Do you need a way to satisfy your hunger and in a healthy and delicious way? Well look no further! These snacks will make your mouth water and satisfy your cravings.

Parmesan Zucchini Crisps

Ingredients:
-2 sliced zucchinis
-Salt and Pepper
-1 and ½ cups of grated parmesan cheese
-Ranch (for dipping)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a metal baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, then set aside.
2. Arrange zucchini slices on the baking sheet, season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place about a teaspoon of parmesan cheese on each slice.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Let them cool down and serve with ranch dressing.
5. Enjoy!

Turkey and Veggie Wraps

Ingredients:
-1 slice of turkey (medium thickness)
-1 wedge of Laughing Cow cheese
-3 strips of bell peppers
-1-2 strips of cucumber
Instructions:
1. Spread the wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese onto 1 slice of turkey.
2. Add the strips of pepper and cucumber to the slice.
3. Roll up like a tortilla.

Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites

Ingredients:
-1 pint of blueberries
-1 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt
-1 tablespoon of sugar (or sugar substitute)
Instructions:
1. Line a metal baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir sugar and yogurt together.
3. Gently fold blueberries into mixture, then scoop with fork and tap off excess yogurt.
4. Place blueberries on a baking sheet and do not have them touch.
5. Put the baking sheet in the freezer and wait until they are completely frozen (about an hour).

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Fish Drawing

9/18/2018

By Karlene Keegan

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Top 10 Reasons to try Goat Yoga

9/17/2018

By Ruby Kitzmiller

1. It. Was. Awesome.
2. You get to hang out with baby goats.
3. You can do yoga outside at a nice, peaceful farm.
4. It's a fun way to connect with nature.
5. Goat selfies.

6. Yoga is a great way to relax and good exercise.
7. Baby goats are cute and sweet and very cuddly.
8. You get to pet and feed the goats.
9. Goats are funny and like to head-butt.
Just like wrestlers, they always want a rematch!
10. You'll find yourself laughing a lot!

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Rachel Gunder

9/14/2018

Interview with Olivia Bush | Submitted by Rachel Gunder
Nomination & Photography by Selessa Studio

The Nomination from Selessa Studio: “Rachel stared a community service club in her Michigan high school to help others. She also dances and is involved in the national honor society.”

What inspired you to start a community service club at your school?

I was inspired to start my community service club by a group that my mom is a member of, called 100 Women Who Care. Every quarter a group of about 100 women in my town get together and select a nonprofit organization to contribute to. Each member donates $100, so the organization receives donations of around $10,000. I was so amazed at how great a difference my mom was making when she would get together with this group; I began to wonder if there was a way I could do the same. My friend, Emma Walsh, and I decided that we would start our own version of this at school, called 100 Students Who Care. In this club, we donate our time to better Northville and its surrounding communities by supporting local nonprofit organizations.

Is there a specific focus of the club?

The main goal of 100 Students Who Care is to make a difference in the community by donating our time through fundraising or volunteering. There are so many ways that students can get involved to support those who need help. For example, this past winter, our group decided to support Mittens for Detroit, a nonprofit organization that works to provide mittens and gloves to children and adults in need. At our school, we held a glove drive and had a bake sale to raise money to be donated to Mittens for Detroit. We had a lot of success and were able to play a role in providing people with gloves that they badly needed.

Which types of dance do you do, and which is your favorite, why?

As a competitive dancer on a pre-professional company, I take many different styles of dance. Each week I have ballet, turn and leap, modern, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop, along with strength and conditioning. Each style has something special that I love, but my favorites would have to be lyrical and contemporary. I love these because they allow me to immerse myself in the story behind the dance and express my emotions through my movement. The best feeling ever is when you’re performing a piece and you just forget about everything else going on in your life because you’re so connected to the movement and the story behind it.

Finally, how do you balance your community service club, National Honor Society, and dance?

In my opinion, the best trick to managing so many things on top of school is time management. I am super organized and basically plan out what I should be doing every minute of every day. When you have to dance for 5 to 6 hours a night, club meetings, and volunteering, there really just is no time to procrastinate! Luckily, I have developed the habit of starting my homework right when I get home from school, studying on my breaks at dance, and just using all my time wisely so I can stay on top of everything I need to do.

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Have Dress, Will Travel

9/12/2018

By Simme Salguero - Images by The Salguero Family

I spent my summer vacation in Southeast Asia. I bought this very cute dress at a street market in Vietnam. I loved it so much and wore it all the time! Look at all the adventures we had together!

Image #1: Sitting on the steps at Bai Dinh Temple in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

Caption #1: Jumping with Joy! Photo taken at the Imperial Citadel, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Caption #2: Looking out at the amazing view in Imperial Citadel, Hanoi, Vietnam.

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Interview with Kali Muniz

9/10/2018

Interview with Zoe D’Angelo | Submitted by Kali Muniz
Nomination and Photography by Amy Smith

The Nomination: “This young Lady is absolutely amazing. She was captain of her JV cheer team, she’s a 4X UCA All American Cheerleader, she’s a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCCLA, manages her grades to fall in the top 10% of her class and a member of National Honor Society. She was recently honored with the Leadership award at cheer camp this summer and is a student ambassador for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Gulf Coast region raising money for LLS patients and research.”

1. How did you become interested in cheerleading and how did you start?
I became interested in cheer when I was 5 years old. I took tumbling classes and did a couple cheer camps. From then on, it was my dream to be a high school cheerleader.

2. What kind of community service projects have you done?
In my community, I have helped garden at our local library and at the Welcome sign in Magnolia, and volunteered for the hurricane Harvey victims. I really love serving my community because it gives me a chance to help others.

3. Tell me a little bit about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been a big part of my life since I was in high school. This group provides support for one another. It is also a weekly reminder of how God has blessed us with such an amazing life.

4.How has the Leukemia Lymphoma society influenced you?
The Leukemia Lymphoma Society is such a great organization to be a part of because my grandfather has lymphoma and I will be trying to raise money for patients in his name. This January, I will compete to raise the most amount of money for LLS to give to Leukemia and Lymphoma patients. I could not be more excited for this cause.

5. With all your amazing extra-curriculars, how do you keep yourself organized and keep your grades up?
It has not always been easy juggling my extracurricular activities along with my advanced classes, but I really feel that it will pay off in the long run.

6. What do you plan on doing after high school?
After High School, my goal is to get accepted into Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School to become either a certified public accountant or a marketing director.

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Diella Valla: Teen Fashion Illustrator

9/7/2018

Interview by Emma Dickinson
Images and article submitted by Diella Valla

Please tell us about your background.

My name is Diella Valla and I live in Republic of Kosova, city of Prishtina.
I live in a family where we are six familiars (both of my grandparents, my mother, father, brother and me.) I am 15 years old and in the first grade of high school. I am really interested in fashion, painting, and designing.

What or who was your inspiration to become a fashion artist? How old were you when you started?

y inspiration of being a fashion artist is the place where I live: seasons, fashion trends, and style. New and different styles from a place to another, exhibitions, fabrics of clothes, fashion industries. I’m a very curious person and always like to find a new inspiration so my fashion sketches would be supported and liked by other people. I started painting when I was 5 years old and fashion illustrator when I was just 10 years old.

Do you take any art classes? If not, how did you learn?

I don't take Art classes in school. I have learned to paint from my grandfather who is a famous painter in Kosova, my father who is also a painter, and from my mother who is also a graphic designer.

Would you like to turn this into a career? If yes, what would you like to do?

Yes, I would like to turn this work into my career. I would like to be a fashion designer as well (including the fashion designer of clothes).

Have you turned any of your illustrations into clothing?

I have not turned any of my illustrations into designs but there's more to come. In the future I plan on doing this. Even though I have not started yet, I am the winner of 6 competitions. I also have a little work experience working with Samira Ebrahimi.

Have any clothing designers inspired your designs?

There are many famous fashion designers who have been such a big inspiration to me. I am personally so happy and proud that in all over the world there are many designers including fashion industries like: Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Fendi, Dior, Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, etc. who have interesting jobs. I’m always excited waiting for new collections, I can be inspired to sketch some more.

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Girls Make Apps

9/1/2018

Interview with Malavika Vivek By Talya Slezak and Grace Kelly

Bridging the Gender Gap in Tech

1. What was the inspiration for starting your organization?

As an eight grader, I made the decision to go to a STEM focused high school after discovering my passion for technology. One of the things that really pushed me to go to this school was the prospect of finding a community of girls who were passionate about the same things I loved that I could go with to tech competitions and conferences. However, I soon found that a lot of my female peers viewed tech as an unwelcoming field and were disinterested in attending events that they thought would be male-dominated. This led to me asking the question: where is the community? Girls Make Apps was created after my cofounder (also a high school woman in tech) and I discussed how creating free accessible programs would work to create a positive first experience in tech for girls while building a more inclusive culture in the industry.

2. How has the program been beneficial to you or other girls involved?

The program has been really beneficial and just a huge learning experience for me. When we started in 2016, I had no idea of what response to expect from our middle school participants. In our first camp, an eight-week program that combine android app development and social impact, I was blown away by the creativity and brilliance of these middle school girls. They have really taught me that anyone can make change happen if they are passionate about it. Girls Make Apps has really benefited these girls too by giving them an opportunity to discover their passion for tech. We really hope that girls from our camps leave inspired and knowing that they are capable of anything.

3. Why would you encourage young girls to become interested in science, math or technology?

Science, math and technology are more than just the future; they are fields with so many opportunities for success. At Girls Make Apps, we strive to show girls the many facets of technology and how it can be applied to virtually any field, from fashion to cinema. There is a really a world of possibilities in STEM and it is the perfect route for young girls to further their natural curiosity and create an impact on the world around them.

4. How can girls become involved?

Girls can become involved through any of the great, free resources available on the internet today. Using websites like Code.org and Made With Code, anyone can start learning how to code in just a few hours. Participating in the computer science classes offered at your school or joining an after school tech club are all great ways to start learning as well. Lastly, find out more about Girls Make Apps events in your area or donate to our cause at girlsmakeapps.org.

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