Ava Scott

Ava Scott – Texas
Nomination & Photography by Juniper Bea Photography
Issue 54 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Ava Scott is a fabulous representative for this magazine. She is inspiring in many ways. Her attitude, demeanor, confidence, athletic and academic skills are all admirable. Ava is a fabulous volleyball player amongst many other talents. She has been accepted to multiple universities and I can not wait to see where she chooses to continue her education and SHINE!
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Photography by Juniper Bea Photography

​What should we definitely know about you?
I have been playing volleyball competitively for 6 years. That being said, I am 6ft tall. I am ranked number 13 out of 716 students with a 5.605 GPA. I have 4 little brothers spanning in age from 4 to 13, which I adore (sometimes). And, I’ve been traveling in airplanes by myself since I was 9 to visit my father, who lives in a separate state.

Tell us about your volleyball career. How did you get started and where are you with it now? What is your best skillset as a player?
I have been playing volleyball competitively since I was 12 years old on school and club teams. Playing volleyball at this level required me to stay involved with it year-round, starting in August and concluding in July. I also worked with a private trainer during this time to improve my physical abilities on the court. Unfortunately, I have decided to retire from the sport and not continue my athletic career in college. It was very enjoyable while it lasted, and I learned many valuable life lessons from being a part of a team.

What is your team like and what makes it unique? What is a favorite memory with your team?
I have played on many different teams, all with their own personalities. My favorite being my varsity high school team. I was one of the youngest players on the team at the time, so I had to work hard to compete with the older, more experienced girls. All my teammates were driven and hardworking. They gave me tips on how to improve my game and encouraged me when I was feeling frustrated. My favorite memories with this team were created in the locker room listening to music and getting hyped up. I was known to be the loudness and most energetic player on the court!

What is a favorite accomplishment as a player?
My favorite accomplishment as a player would be making it past the first round of playoffs senior year. A feat in which our high school volleyball program had not been able to accomplish in five years. It was so rewarding to see all my team’s hard work payoff. I have gotten my fair share of awards concerning my athletic abilities, but this feat my team overcame has been far more meaningful to me. Being a member of a team isn’t about “me”, it’s about “we”. As a teammate, I always tried to put my team first.

Photography by Juniper Bea Photography

​What drives you so hard to do so well in school?
Honestly, I have no idea. It’s just what I expect of myself. I am the type of person that doesn’t settle until I have given everything I possibly can to a cause. In my opinion, any person can be a good student if they put in the effort. All you must do is turn in your assignments on time, ask questions, and study. There are always resources available to help a person succeed if they take the time to look.

Where would others most likely find you and your friends and what would you be doing?
Others would most likely find my friends and I playing at the beach in Galveston, Texas. All my friends and I are very active people, so we like to go to the beach and run around, play in the waves, or get competitive with some sand volleyball. To us its important that we are still able to keep in-touch with our child-like selves!

What is a tradition your school holds that you attended that you will never forget?
I was not able to attend many football games since volleyball season occurred at the same time. However, I enjoyed attending football games with my friends. Usually, there would be themes for the student section to participate in so we would dress accordingly and cheers we would all chant to in the stands. The sense of comradery I got from attending those few games will remain with me forever. The joy of being able to engage with my peers and be a part of something bigger than myself, although it was just football, was very rewarding.

What is something you love doing with your little brothers that you hope they never forget?
Oh, so many things! I’m smiling just thinking about it. I hope they remember all of it to be honest: all the dance parties, all those times playing at the park, all the bath times, all the car ride jam sessions. Although they can get on my nerves sometimes, they are the most reliable and supportive people I have in my life. No matter what, I know they will always love me for who I am and look up to me.

What is the best part of being a big sister to so many boys?
Honestly, the best part of being a big sister to so many boys is not having to be girly. They always want to throw the football around with me or play wrestle. I don’t have to play with dolls or play dress-up. I also don’t have to share my things with them because they don’t want to borrow my clothes or use my body spray, anything like that!

Photography by Juniper Bea Photography

​What was the hardest thing to get used to traveling by yourself? What adventures do you hope to do by yourself after graduation?
The hardest thing to get used to traveling by myself was the independence of it. It was the first time I truly had to do something by myself, even if it was simply just sitting on a plane. As I got older, it evolved into me learning to navigate airports by myself and interact with strangers. This experience has taught me a lot about how to navigate life on my own. Although I still have much to learn regarding this, I feel it’s given me a good foundation. After graduation, I look forward to potentially going to college out-of-state and I think that will be the greatest adventure of all.

​How did you find Juniper Bea Photography and what made you decide Madison Little was the photographer for you? What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
My mother used to work with Madison Little, the owner of Juniper Bea Photography, so that’s how we discovered her amazing work. My experience with her is wonderful! She is such a talented artist and I think its so inspiring that she turned her hobby into a full-time career. I loved how Madison made me feel beautiful and confident throughout the shoot.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I am a super hard-working person. I have maintained stellar grades, while also training vigorously for volleyball day-in and day-out. On the court, I am always the loudest person and put my teammates first. Playing this sport has taught me so much about leadership and the correct way to uplift others to achieve their full potential.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on?
If I were to present a topic to a group of my peers, it would concern confidence. Everyone, especially young women, are so nervous about their looks and the way they appear to others. This impairs them from being able to let down their guards and create real connections with others. I believe that if we all could learn to accept and love ourselves, we would be more inclined to accept and love others free of judgements.

Photography by Juniper Bea Photography

What do you think are the top causes of low self esteem in young women?
I believe that the top causes of low self esteem in young women are societal expectations. We are all groomed to believe that our worth stems from what men think about our bodies. From a young age we all played with Barbie’s and watched Disney princess films in which women’s proportions were depicted unrealistically, so we adopted that as normal and the only desirable form. Women must remember that everyone’s version of healthy and beautiful looks different, and that our worth can only be determined within ourselves. These ideals are easier said than accepted, but we must try to remember that we are the only person in our life that is permanent so we must treat them with care.

What kinds of things have you done to raise your own self esteem when you're not feeling all that?
To raise my own self esteem when I’m not feeling all that, I try to think about the non-physical elements of myself that I take pride in. I am not solely defined by my outward appearance, there are many other amazing qualities that I present to the world such as my mind and kind heart. I also try to remind myself that there is not one definition of beautiful. I am beautiful in multiple ways that don’t have to do with the generic definition of the word.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I’ve accomplished so far is maintaining all A’s throughout four years of high school while taking AP and other advanced courses. This took a lot of focus and dedication to achieve. I have spent whole weekends studying and many late nights completing homework. I have had to sacrifice a lot to get to where I am today including hanging out with family and friends. However, they have all paid off and I have been admitted to several prestigious universities.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
If someone wants to be where I am today, all they must do is be persistent. It’s okay to fail, you just have to decide to learn from it and move on. Don’t give up simply because there’s a bump in the road, you’re stronger than that. The only person that can define you and what you are capable of is yourself.

Look for Ava in issue 54 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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