What is it like being the oldest of 5? What do you hope to pass on to your younger siblings?
Being the oldest of five is definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. However, being able to see all my other siblings build their own hobbies and mold into their own individual is really neat. We all support each other so much. One thing I hope to pass onto them is the drive I have to get things done and work for everything I want in life. ​

​What do you do with the horses and what is the most rewarding thing you have on the job?
I have done many different disciplines with horses, but my favorite would be cow and pleasure work. I am currently involved in training young horses for varying rodeo events and ranch work. The most rewarding thing I come to with these horses is the moment I make a connection with them. Every horse is different and some I cannot connect with, however when I do it makes everything so much more exciting to watch them mature and progress. 

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Look for Brittany in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
 

​What would you most like to be interviewed about?
I would like to be interviewed about my faith. While I was living in Alabama, my mom would take us to a big building every Sunday. As a little girl, sitting still for over an hour hearing a man talk wasn’t the least bit interesting. As I grew up, I began to learn the importance of my presence in a place called church. I felt like I had another home. I felt beyond safe sitting there learning about His word and living life through it. I learned what prayer was and the importance of it. Although my prayers started out as, “God is good, God is great,” I’ve learned there is so much more to God and the goodness He brings. My life was almost perfect. God was my best friend and He would be the first one I came to if something was wrong. Then, my life in Alabama abruptly came to an end and everything I once knew left before I could even blink. I was hurt by the actions of my father, and my mom no longer saw a life for us there. As my emotions were all over the place and my heart was in pieces, not once did I look to God for help. I had felt betrayed by Him just like I had felt by my father. I lived my first year here in Florida without His guidance. Going to bed every night and waking up in the morning without a prayer became a habit. I was so angry with God that my faith was sealed shut and thrown away. I blamed God for everything wrong in my life and it was the pit of my self-destruction. I grew with hatred and lost sight of who I was. It wasn’t until recently I saw what I had become. I instantly became overwhelmed with grief and was ashamed of myself. I prayed for forgiveness and started a new habit of listening to podcasts from my church in Alabama. It’s so comforting to hear my pastor’s voice and I finally felt like I was back at home. My life feels lighter and my heart is filled with the grace of God. I live through His words and follow the path He has for me. God will always by my first home and He’s someone I am extremely blessed to have in my corner.


What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
Recently, I was diagnosed with depression. As scary as it may sound, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me after finally hearing my diagnosis. I was such a happy girl and all of a sudden everything changed. Almost no one noticed that something was wrong with me. I fought with myself on the acceptance that I was not okay. I was so scared that something was wrong with me and everyone would treat me differently. I attempted to change the things that I once loved about myself. I was known as the girl who had the smile to light up a room, when behind that smile, was the pain of feeling like a disappointment in my family’s and God’s eyes, which truly diminished my spirit. Now, I shine in many different ways, ways that I am beyond proud of. I am happy to say that the smile that is on my face now has seen the good and bad that life brings, and still manages to bring warmth to those who need it most.


If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why? I am so passionate when it comes to checking on others. I’ve always been the person to put others before myself, and although their lives changed for the better, I felt like I was falling deeper into a depressive state. Years later a few people showed me how loved I was and helped me see why I couldn’t just leave this life behind. I struggled (and still struggle) with coping mechanisms to help better my life and the happiness I strive for in life. It still blows my mind how powerful words truly are. Negative words beat me down at a young age, and put me in a state that no child should ever go through. It wasn’t until recently that I was shown the other side of words, the positive side. These positive words and kindness that the almost angelic souls have brought me, saved my life. I agree with the fact that I am no longer the same girl that I was even a year ago. There are some parts that I am still working on, such as my faith, but I am beyond proud of the girl that is writing this story. The old me would have been kept to the side, afraid to take advantage of opportunities such as this one. I never would’ve had the strength to finally tell my story and reveal the parts of my story that most have yet to hear.


Tell us about your cheer career from start to where you are now.
I started cheering in middle school and it was different than what I was used to. I was always shy and timid, and cheer obviously requires you to yell, so I struggled in that department to say the least. Being the only Mexican was definitely a challenge. My school was majority white and I felt like a waste of breath, because who would want to pay attention to the Mexican, when there were pretty blondes? I then went on with joy for the sport and could never dream of quitting something I now loved. My freshman cheer tryouts really pushed me to the limit. We had so much running to do before we could begin anything related to cheer. After the grueling tryouts I made the team and was so excited for high school. My excitement quickly came to an end when practices rolled around. We heavily ran and exercised, took a small break and went on to being drilled on stunts. All of the exercise we did drained me and holding a person up in the air was not something easy for my body to handle. I dreaded going to the practices and my heart was not in it anymore. The exercising took away all the joy and spirit cheer is, and instead, turned it into something I would learn to hate. I made strong friendships through cheer, which was the only reason I kept going. After I moved during the summer before my 10th grade year it was too late to sign up for cheer and I loved the idea of taking a break, especially since I was going to a new school. As much as I loved the student section, I wanted to be down on the sidelines so badly. When tryouts came around I was very skeptical, but I knew I would regret it if I hadn’t gone for it. I was so scared to look if I had made it, and I saw that I made varsity captain and my heart dropped. I was in complete shock and fear quickly overwhelmed my body because I knew the returners would not be happy. As the year went on I noticed how different the dynamic was from this team compared to my old one. I regained my love for the sport, and my teammates made it all the better. I adored reading to elementary schools and the little traditions my school has carried. I am so happy that I found the love for cheer that I once had.


What is a favorite memory and/or accomplishment from cheer?
At my old school, we would go to a week-long cheer camp, learn material, and compete. Cheer camp was something I absolutely loved going to, and a little sad my current school doesn’t do it. We stayed on campus, walked everywhere, finished late, and woke up early. It was a little bit of a hassle, but it was all worth it in the end. Then, the last day came and it was time to compete. I was so nervous especially since it was my first time, and I didn’t want to be the girl who ruined it for everyone else. We hit everything, but everyone was still nervous for awards, since there were some amazing teams we were up against. We ended up winning 1st in every category, except for one which we got 2nd in. The feeling of hearing our name called for 1st place was amazing, especially since it was back to back. That day is something I will never forget, nor will I forget how deserving we were due to all of the hard work we put into every single detail.

What do your duties as VP of your local NHS entail? What do you love most about it?
I recently got appointed Vice President for NHS, and it honestly slapped me in my face. NHS was one of the only clubs I went to all of the meetings for and participated in. I loved being a part of it and I knew it would look really good for colleges. When I got the letter that I was chosen for Vice President I was in shock. This was such a big deal for me and I was so honored to have that title. I couldn’t begin to share my excitement and gratitude to the sponsor. For next school year I will be in charge of setting dates of meetings, volunteer services, calling businesses, double checking important dates, carrying the responsibilities of the President in her absence, and so much more. I am so excited to take on this responsibility and everything this title brings.

Share with us why you chose Candid Captures by Lexi to do your photos and what you love most about photoshoot/s with her.
I saw a photoshoot she had done on my Instagram, and I absolutely loved her work. I stalked her page and saw that she was looking for models for her senior team and I quickly signed up. I loved the fact that she was a teenager and was so passionate about her work. I wanted to book a photoshoot with her as soon as possible. I set up a senior photoshoot for my boyfriend and she considered all of my ideas and came out with exactly what I envisioned. We also threw in a few pictures of myself and some of my boyfriend and I. I was nervous on the way to the photoshoot because I really haven’t done one. She calmed all of my nerves gave me great comfort. I was by my phone for hours waiting for her to upload them. When she sent me the link, I could not believe how dreamy, romantic, and playful each photo was. The absolute talent that poured out of every single photograph was undeniable and she shined a light on the parts of my relationship that I cherish. She made me see myself in a way I never have, and I will always be thankful for her. She became someone I would consider my best friend. She has done so much for me, and created so many opportunities in the little time we’ve known each other. Lexi Valdez is a light that not everyone has the honor of sharing, but I am proud to say that I have.


Look for Alyssa in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Breland is senior at Greenbrier High School and represents her class exceptionally well. She is a member of her high school lacrosse team and coaches elementary school students in lacrosse. Breland takes her academics seriously and has strived to be an exceptional student and is a member of Greenbrier's National Honor Society and the Beta Club. Breland has worked very hard to balance her academics, her athletic schedule, modeling for my photography company, and working part-time and doing so successfully. She strives to do her best, she is helpful, and she treats everyone with kindness and respect.

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Tell us how you found out about Amy Honea's senior model team and how you got involved?
The first time I heard about Amy’s model team was through Instagram. I have also known Amy a few years now through church. Amy was searching for her CO’ 21 models and asked my mom if I would like to be a part of the team. I was kind of hesitant at first because I had never modeled before or even considered myself to be a photogenic person, but my mom insisted that I do it because it would be an awesome experience and she was more than right about that. Being a part of the team has been the best part of my senior year and I have also become more confident in myself along the way!

What was your first photo shoot like?
My first photoshoot was a skater girl theme! I got the opportunity to travel to downtown Augusta where we did some cool shots in front of tunnels, graffiti walls and rustic brick walls. I was pretty nervous because this was the first photoshoot and there were also about 3 other girls there with me staring at me while I got my photos taken so it was a little bit nerve racking at first, but Amy was super supportive and helped everyone along the way.

What do you love most about Amy and being on the team? 
What I love most about Amy is her passion and vision for what she does. Every photoshoot with Amy is so unique and well thought out, there is no other photographer out there like her! She does whatever it takes to get that perfect shot. I have enjoyed being on the team so much because I have gotten to meet so many new people and make great memories along the way. Also, I have a ton of pictures that I will cherish forever.

​How did the pandemic affect your goals to be where you are now?
The pandemic has definitely affected my goals and what it took to get here. The medical career pathway I take at school was supposed to go to the hospitals and do clinical rotations but because of covid-19 that was unable to happen unfortunately.

What was one surprising thing that came out of the pandemic in a good way that would have never happened otherwise?
Once the pandemic started everyone was locked inside their houses with nothing to do. After a few months of this I was so bored out of my mind that I told my mom I was going to get a job. I then began searching and landed a job at Nothing Bundt Cakes where I have now been working for a year. If the pandemic would have never happened, I would have still been playing lacrosse and not have even thought about getting a job.

Tell us about your lacrosse career from the start to where you are now. What is a favorite memory or accomplishment? Will you be playing in college?
I started playing lacrosse my freshman year up until junior year of high school. My favorite memory of being on the lacrosse team was the bond that I built with the girls on my team. Lacrosse taught me so many things about life and especially how to commit to something every single day and give your very best even if you’re not having a great day. I will not be playing lacrosse in college, but it will always have a special place in my heart, and I will always be grateful to have been a part of the Greenbrier High School lacrosse team.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why? Kindness towards each other. These days it seems as if two people don’t have the same opinion or agree it never ends okay. Instead, we should just learn to be kind to each other no matter the circumstance. To me the most inspiring people are those who truly have a heart of gold and give to others without expecting anything in return.


Look for Breland in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

How do you stay optimistic in trying times to see the bright side of every situation?
I stay optimistic and see the bright side in every situation by learning from my mistakes and figuring out how I can do better than before. I always look forward and focus on my future instead of pondering on the past. I always tell myself I can do better and move on from the past no matter how hard times get.

Give us an example of a time when you inspired someone to make the right choice.
A time that I inspired people to make the right choice would have to be when I got into high school. When i got into high school a lot of people around me started feeling pressured and obligated to do certain things that were leading them down the wrong path. I try my best to always help my friends make the right choices and steer them in the right direction.

Tell us about your cheer career from when you got started up until now.
I started cheerleading in kindergarten and I knew from the start it was a passion of mine and something I would greatly admire. I looked forward to every Friday night game in elementary school through middle school so I could mimic the older girls and I dreamed to be like them, and now that I am that cheerleader I am inspired to be. I will always better my myself as a cheerleader and not let the younger version of myself down.

What do you love most about cheer?
I love the bond that cheerleading creates. I enjoy supporting my team as well as my school. Cheerleading led me to many new friends as well as amazing memories.

What is a favorite memory and/or accomplishment with cheer?
A huge accomplishment of mine dealing with cheer would have to be the time I made varsity as a Sophomore. I have always been the person to set low expectations for myself and by me making that squad at that young of a grade it gave me a burst of confidence. I look back and realize how grateful I am to have such great parents and coaches that supported me along the way. During cheerleading I have always been the girl in the back corner who was shy and when I made the varsity cheer team a spark occurred within me creating me to be more determined and outgoing.

What legacy do you want to leave behind your younger teammates?
A legacy that I would like to leave behind for my younger teammates would be to not listen to what others have to say. Throughout my cheer career people have said words that hurt me but I never would let that get in the way of what I wanted to achieve. Use their negative comments to better yourself and be the better person.


Look for Michala in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Nomination: Tori Davey is an aspiring model and a joy to do photoshoots with. She does whatever it takes to get better and has a great attitude. Tori enjoys cheerleading at her high school. She plans on going to cosmetology school after high school. Tori then wants to go into nursing once she gets her hair license. She values her time with family and friends and also loves going to the beach.

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​What do you want us to know about the importance of family and what it means to you?
My whole life I’ve grown up with a big family. Over the years, I’ve been to endless amount of family parties for each holiday, birthday, and any event I could think of. I always get excited when we could all get together and spend time with each other especially if we hadn’t in a while. I have a special bond with each one of my family members and every time we come together, it’s always a great time. Being with family has always been important to me. One of the most important things in my life is my family. It means being by people you love and celebrating life with one another. Holidays bring joy and togetherness. Being with my family is something I always look forward to and I am extremely grateful for who my family is, and the lessons and memories brought to me.

Tell us about your cheer career.
I have been doing sideline and competitive cheerleading for the past four years. I started when I was a freshman on JV. The first year of cheering, I made more progress on my skills. By sophomore year I leveled up to Varsity and got to continue to be with all my friends who also leveled up. The hardest part about cheerleading my junior year, was saying goodbye to my senior friends on their senior night. I think cheering helped me learn a lot with the help of my friends. This year is my senior night, and it’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m happy with all of the memories I’ve made and the journey I’ve been on, but I also am sad to have to leave and start a new journey. My heart will forever be with cheerleading because it is a big part of me.

​Tell us about your experience with Michael Sullivan Photography and what you loved most about your photo shoot. 
My experience with Michael Sullivan Photography was perfect. It was my second photo shoot. The first time he took my photos was with my mom for our mother daughter shoot. Both have been insanely fun and enjoyable. My favorite part about them was that I felt comfortable, and he helped me gain more and more confidence with posing and being natural. I had no experience with taking my photo, but I feel as if now I have so much power and I will get to a great place on my modeling journey. I want to thank him especially because he guided me through it the whole time and made sure I got through it strong and left with positivity and motivation for the next shoots.

Share your thoughts on kindness
In life, I think there’s always people who spread negativity or ungratefulness. Around my family, friends, community, classmates, or any person, I make sure I project kindness. I think it’s really important to have that feature in life because you never really know what a person has been through or is currently gone through. It’s completely okay to speak up if somethings not okay or someone is not being kind to you or another. People should remember there is always someone to talk to and help them through hard times. I think being kind is one of the best features to hold and to possess as much positivity towards others. Even to yourself. Always remember to be kind to yourself. Many people put themselves down because it’s an “easy” thing to do. Kindness is important and I think it should be spread daily.

Look for Tori in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Madison Hamway is a dedicated, self-driven respectful teen in honor classes in sunny Florida. Madison loves animals, friends, and family. When she is not in school, she is playing volleyball on a travel team where she competes in her home State. She also spends weekends and free time modeling for brand apparel and high fashion photography shoots where she travels the state. Madison is a published model in several worldwide fashion magazines. Madison is hoping to pursue a career in the acting entertainment industry or become self-employed running her own business one day. She cherishes her family and friends and absolutely adores her grandparents.

​What would you most like to be interviewed about?
Modeling and Volleyball and my future plans.
  
Tell us about your modeling career.
I have always had an interest in modeling.  One day my grandfather made a comment about my unique look and that I should pursue modeling.  That is all I needed to kick start my journey into modeling.  Thank you, grandpa, for inspiring me. 
 
What has been the most challenging thing about modeling and how did you overcome it or how do you get past it?
Feeling emotions while posing is most challenging for me.  I try to put myself in a situation in my head that will provoke my emotion body language and facial emotion.
 
What led you into volleyball and what is a favorite accomplishment in the sport?
I always admired the sport and wanted to try it.  My most favorite accomplishment is making the travel team.
 
If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
Be kind to everyone as you don’t know what struggles they are going through. Bullying is not cool at any age and those who were bullied, the memories last a lifetime and bullies could have crushed someone's dreams. It doesn’t take much to be kind and makes a huge difference that maybe silent but noticed for a lifetime.
 
Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
I see myself in college and traveling outside Florida in 5 years.

Look for Madison in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​What would you most like to be interviewed about?
My involvement in the equestrian community and future goals to become a veterinarian.

Please tell us more about this exciting community. How did you get started in it, what is it like for you daily as well as for “show time”?
My parents enrolled me in lessons at Goslin Nix Equestrian Center after I spent time around horses at a childhood friend’s house, at around 11 years old. I have been putting in work ever since; learning the difference between controlling the horse to do what I want and actually connecting with the animal and allowing it to show you all of its capabilities. Daily, I not only ride at the barn, but I do ranch hand work and give lessons to younger riders. During shows, we care for our horses, practice day and night, support our other barn members, learn patterns for our classes and most of all, have fun. Most people are showing different disciplines at the same time so we have to get each other and our horses ready very quickly and efficiently.

What is your favorite accomplishment in this field?
My favorite accomplishment in riding horses would be my multiple Youth National Top Tens. As I have grown and evolved in the sport, I have been given the opportunity excel, I enjoy being able to compete each year.

What are your future goals with it?
My future goals would be to become National Champion, I am hopeful that I will be able to achieve it this year. I will also be able to bring my horse to college and will continue competing on the Tarleton Equestrian Team in Stephenville.

​If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
I would talk about horses and the relationships with their riders because it is such a fascinating topic to me. Like people, no two horses are the same. I have grown to love being able to recognize and feel the personality of each horse; making a strong connection with each horse is the key to being able to work with it. Horses play off emotions, as naturally fight or flight animals, this means that whatever you are feeling, they are feeling. A frustrated attitude equals an irritated horse; a relaxed attitude equals a relaxed horse.

​What was your senior portrait experience like with Angie Read Photography?
I absolutely loved working with Angie Read Photography!  She helped me regain my confidence and learn to love the skin I am in! Every photo shoot was quick and efficient but filled with endless laughter and jokes that I will whole-heartedly cherish forever.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I have an innate ability to empathize with other people. People automatically open up to me because they know I will help them through whatever issue they are facing.

Look for Kenzie in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Brenna Cornhoff has been through one heck of a year. Brenna was in a boating accident this past summer and have endured 18 surgeries, months in the hospital, and is on her road to recovery. Brenna’s made it her goal to use her story to help overs with trauma and help people have a more positive view on life. Through everything Brenna’s been through she’s stayed positive and that’s amazing.

What do you want us to know about your injury?
My injury occurred in August of 2020. I was sucked under a boat while wakeboarding and my right leg got caught in the propeller. I was life-flighted to a hospital in Idaho where it was discovered that the propeller cut through my tibia bone, fibula bone, peroneal nerve, and I was severely cut which led to a series of 18 surgeries with current possibilities of more. My surgeon, Dr. Egeland performed a tendon, nerve, and muscle transfer that had never been done in the world before to create the opportunity for me to walk normally again without a drop foot. In total I was in the hospital for about 3 months, not ever getting out of bed. I also have a skin graft covering about 40% of my lower right leg. I’m still working, healing, and waiting for my nerve to possibly work again.

​What was your recovery like?
My recovery has been long and not at all easy. For six months now and into my foreseeable future I go to physical therapy four times a week. I had to regain all my strength to get out of bed, mobility, and now learning to walk without assistance from an AFO brace. The hardest part of my recovery was going from being an athlete to getting winded when getting out of bed. As well as, knowing that I may never be “normal” again or all the unknowns constantly swarmed my head. It’s frustrating not being able to do anything you once so easily could, but I was four millimeters away from death or being an amputee and I still have all my limbs and am lucky to be recovering. I’m still working through this all, but my motivation is celebrating every small win, only looking a day into the future at a time, and being incredibly positive, but also honest with others and myself.

What words of encouragement do you have for someone in a similar situation?
Anyone that can relate to my story I want them to understand that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to not be positive or cheery every day because losing anything or a part of yourself is awful. The hard part is getting up the next day and fighting for yourself. To get better even when it’s hard and you don’t want to. You have to celebrate every day at your progress because that positivity is so important in your recovery. The little victories matter because when you look back at your accomplishments, all those little things add up and push you when you do have that next hard day. Most importantly believe in yourself and learn to love yourself when you’re going through your worst trial because that opens your eyes to all the possibilities you’ll have moving forward in your life.

The 5K sounds super fun. Tell us more about that!
My physical therapist believes I can finish a 5k on the anniversary of my accident so my family and friends are planning a 5k and fundraising for kids who have lost lower extremities.

Look for Brenna in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Brianna Simms is a beautiful young girl, and like many others is not without scars and broken pieces. She has found strength and courage within herself to grow and learn even through adversity and loss. She pushes herself and encourages her friends and peers to try everything, even the scary things, so to never look back with regret. She believes in herself and demonstrates extreme integrity. Brianna is a girl who knows her self-worth and encourages others to find theirs as well.

​What does self-love mean to you?
Self-love means appreciating our bodies for all the amazing things it does for us. To always love ourselves no matter how we look or what we are wearing. Never allowing the words of others degrading how we appear. After all the struggles we face through life, day after day, struggling with loving our bodies shouldn’t be one of them. It goes much deeper than appearance. We should all be grateful that we are fortunate enough have the abilities that we do.

Why do you feel it is so important?
I feel that self-love is so important because life is the greatest gift any of us could ever receive. We wouldn’t be able to see the world or hear the many sounds on earth without our bodies. We are ALL special. Every single one of us. We are all beautiful. We all spend our lives trying to look a certain way for society. We should live by that. Wear what makes you happy! Go out and do things that excite you! We only get one life on this beautiful earth, we shouldn’t spend it wishing we could be different, or look different. Everyone is perfect.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
Davinda has covered so many inspiring things about me already. I would like to add that even I go through periods of time where I fall, or I have a hard day and it’s not as easy to get back to as it usually is. But even with those days we have to be strong and remember our worth and why we’re here and what our purpose is. Even the people who know and value the importance of self-love struggle. We all struggle but the willpower to fight through the hard days is what makes us strong. I believe that it is important to cover that everyone falls down. But, with the willpower to fight and love ourselves and our bodies, we can all be happy.

​Let's talk about Davinda. Why did you choose her as your senior photographer and what did you love about your experience with her?
I chose Davinda as my senior photographer because I knew she would do more than just capture my senior year. She captured me. Immediately after we met, I knew that no one could have done the job better. She took the time to get to know me. She would send me magazines and show me pictures of places and sets she would know I’d love and create a set to fit exactly how I wanted. Her husband even went as far to build me a prop completely from scratch just to create the set I that would make me happy. I love spending every minute with her.

Tell us about your nomination image and the story behind it.
My nomination image was taken in a staged room. The room was a bathroom filled with newspapers. Thousands of words on them. They covered every inch of the room. But, with all those words and everything going on, just looking into the bathroom mirror and know that you are beautiful. We all need that reminder here and there. Maybe we should say it every morning to ourselves when we look. Or maybe it’s just there to stare back at us while we’re looking at ourselves. But, in that small part of our days, in that moment when we’re alone looking at ourselves, we should always be reminded that we are beautiful.

​You sent in a second image of you with a nose ... brace? on. Tell us about that.
I chose the image of my nose because I believed it was very fitting for the topic of self-love. I had a rhinoplasty done in February. Some people could argue that getting a nose job isn’t self love at all, but I disagree. My point is to do whatever makes YOU happy. I was unhappy with my nose for many years. Finally, after turning eighteen I thought to myself, that this was something I really wanted. I knew that doing it would make me very happy. I can say that two months post surgery I am extremely happy and confident. I don’t look much different, some people who knew me before couldn’t even tell a difference. But it changed my life and helped me feel more comfortable with myself.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
I would present the benefits and outcomes of loving yourself. Ways to achieve our goals of what it takes for each of us to understand our worth. Also, making sure that we all know it is more important to be beautiful on the inside than the outside.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished was trying to figure out who I was after my dad passed away. Being a teenager and still in your prime years of growing and figuring life out is difficult alone. To lose a parent while learning about yourself and the world was much more difficult. After his death, my grades and attendance at school started to slip. I am a student who loves attending and has a 3.8 GPA. I was struggling very hard to get back to my old life.
In this sense, COVID-19 helped me. When school got shut down, I needed that time at home to heal. After a year later I am not sure where I would be without the time I had to heal during the pandemic. I am so thankful for all my friends and family who supported me and helped me get through what was definitely the hardest part of my life. Although I can’t say I have completely accomplished this, but I have come very far from the beginning.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
 In five years, I will either be graduating or graduated from college with my bachelors in nursing. I will be waiting to see if I have gotten accepted into CRNA school, to get my doctorate in nursing and become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. While working as a registered nurse in the meantime.

3 Things on your bucket list.
Number one on my bucket list is to go through life being happy. Being happy is my greatest value, it trumps everything in the world. I wouldn’t know who I was if I wasn’t happy.
Number two would be to travel to all fifty states and as many countries as I could possibly travel to in a lifetime. I want to see the world and experience different cultures. Learning new ways to simply live life inspires me.
And number three would be to work with a charity. It has always been a dream of mine to travel with charity groups and help around the world. I want to make the change that we wish to see. Doing this would make me feel like I fulfilled my purpose.

Who do you find inspiring?
 I find it incredibly inspiring when anyone talks about their goals in life. When hearing all the different passions and values in life, to see their faces light up like there is nothing better in life, that inspires me. I hope to be having that conversation with someone and my eyes lighting up. I want to strive for my goals and work hard and feel that sense of accomplishment in the end.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
Something about me that I find inspiring is that I am me. I have accepted that I am who I am. I love myself and nothing could ever change that. My friends always talk about how they admire me for the fact that I know who I am and don’t wish to be anyone else. I feel that the sooner everyone comes to that realization and loves themselves for who they are, the world will be a happier place.

Look for Brianna in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
Be true to and love yourself. Believe you are worthy of all of the great successes’ life has to offer if you set your goals high, work hard, serve others and don't let the ways of the world get in your way of fulfilling your dreams. Be the light in someone's day. Be a friend to all and do not pass judgement as you do not know what someone is going through. Being there for someone or doing something kind can impact their life more than one would think. Even just a compliment or a smile can go a long way and make someone's day. One of my favorite quotes is "Bring love wherever you go. Shine light wherever it's dark. Leave blessings wherever you've been. Be kind wherever you are." Mary Davis

​How did the pandemic affect your progress of Honors and school in general?
The pandemic was a very unsure time for students and teachers alike. The start date of my senior year kept getting pushed back farther and farther. Once we were finally able to get back to an In-Person style learning environment, it was a big shift. Yet this was hard, I kept a positive attitude and made the best of the situation. This mindset helped me to work hard in my AP and Dual Enrollment classes, and now I am finishing my senior year on the All “A” Honor Roll.

What does your role as president of the Juniors in Service Organization entail?
As the president of Juniors in Service, I attend service events and meetings, and help the younger members with any questions they may have. This year, we participated in painting a playground at an elementary school in my community, unloaded pumpkins at a church to make a pumpkin patch, and helped to clean up a high school after it was damaged by a hurricane earlier this year. I have been in this organization for two years now and have loved every minute that I was able to help my community.

​What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Believe in yourself, and never give up! Follow your dreams, set goals for yourself, and do not stop climbing the ladder to achieving them until you reach your goals. The sky is the limit, so shoot for the stars. You can do anything you put your mind to!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In 5 years, I see myself as a Registered Nurse at a local hospital. Being a nurse has always been my dream, so serving and caring for the people in my hometown would mean the world to me.

Look for Kaitlyn in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Nomination: Nic, 19 is wrapping up his freshman year at Georgia Southern University majoring in Business with a minor in Theater! At the end of 2020 fall semester, Nic earned a spot on the Dean's List with his 3.7 GPA. Nic has made a name for himself as an influencer through his viral dance videos on TikTok but outside of social media he is focusing on his career as a model and actor. Nic loves social media, dancing and hanging out with his friends and family. Nic likes to surround himself around positive vibes, good people! Nic is currently signed to DJQ Artist Management and he's an inspiring teen and role model for all models and influencers.

​What would you most like to be interviewed about?
I would love to talk about my journey as a Social Media Influencer, how it all got started, and how it has opened doors for me and led me into my greatest passion which is modeling and acting.

Tell us all about this.
I started out with Musical.ly. I really enjoy dancing. It is probably one of my favorite things to do. I started making videos in my backyard. Once TikTok took over, I just continued on that platform. I spend a lot of my time working on creative and entertaining vids for my followers. Through a lot of hard work, I have built a fan base just slightly less than one million. I also merged over to the Instagram platform and currently have a following of 113K on Instagram. I am working on starting a YouTube platform soon.

What doors has it opened?
As my social media influence expanded, I began to be contacted by management teams wanting to help further develop my career. I was able to sign with a manager who has really helped me find great opportunities to expand my horizons and getting in to acting and modeling.

How do you get to combine modeling and acting with being a SMI?
It is a very busy life for sure. This is my first year of college so trying to balance college with staying socially active and driving to a lot of auditions for modeling and acting gigs can be quite the juggling act. I believe getting an education is very important so I have had times that I had to make the tough decisions to focus on school, but I think my family, my manager, and I all do a great job of making sure I have a healthy balance.

What are a few first steps to share with others who may want to get into the SMI business?
I always tell people to just be themselves. We are all unique in our own way and find those qualities that make you unique, believe in yourself, and just be confident in putting yourself out there.

How has covid affected your roles both as an SMI and with modeling and acting?
We were all greatly affected by Covid. It has been a long journey that challenged me in many ways. I always try to focus on the positive in things, so I took the opportunity while spending so much time at home to really focus on my social media and pay attention to what my fans wanted to see from me. It actually allowed me to have the time and energy to really expand my following and I tried really hard to put a smile on people's faces that viewed my videos and pictures because I know it has been a difficult time for all. The comments from fans that mean the most to me are when they tell me I put a smile on their face or made their day brighter. Covid did put a temporary slowdown on the modeling and acting gigs as so many things have had to shut down. As things have slowly begun to open back up, I have recently been able to have more opportunities to work on my modeling and acting passions.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I am the fifth child of nine. I grew up in a very challenging environment with limited material things and resources, but I have been able to overcome these challenges and I am the first in my family to go to college. I try to give it my best in whatever I do and always look for the positives in every person and every situation. I have looked at the obstacles in my life as life lessons and it has given me the determination and strength to stay focused on the goals I want to accomplish in life. I am very blessed to have a very supportive intimate group around me that are mentors, friends and family.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
I think I would talk about my family. I grew up in a very large household. We were very poor and had many struggles. I lost a sister at a very young age and there were many hard times. I was very blessed though because I was able to have an extended family and others who took me under their wing and made me part of their family too. By staying focused and positive and determined to show my family you can overcome all the things life throws at you, I am hoping it will inspire not only my siblings but other teens going through difficult times to believe in themselves and know they can overcome anything.

​What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
I grew up in a tough environment, so I had to grow up really fast and figure out how to take care of myself. I am the first in my family to finish high school and I just believe determination to bring myself out of that environment gave me the drive and inspiration to overcome.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Stay focused and positive and determined and you can overcome all odds.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
 I would like to have my college degree in Business Management and hope to either be running my own company or being a successful SMI.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
 I love to play the keyboard. I also enjoy swimming, going to the beach, and traveling.
Do you have a hidden talent? What is it? I can crack most any of my bones at any time to the point that it grosses people out.

3 Things on your bucket list:
I would love to walk in New York Fashion Week. I am also focused and determined to be the first in my family to get a college degree. I also hope to visit California one day.

Who do you find inspiring?
I would say my uncle. He was very supportive of me growing up. He always worked to keep our family together. I lost him very tragically this past fall shortly after I went off to college, but I know he watches over me.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
 I hope it is because of my positivity. I reached a very low point in my life at an early age and have had a lot of difficulties and tragedies in my life. I got through it but staying positive and believing the best was yet to come. I want to always portray that message to others. Stay positive and good things will gravitate towards that energy. I hope to always bring a smile to people and hope they find joy in my social content.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I want to tell people to never give up on your dreams and if you are having a bad moment in life, remember tomorrow is just around the corner. Embrace your life and make it the best for you.


Look for Nic in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Kaitlyn Swaim has overcome many obstacles in her high school years. She has wanted to be a NICU nurse ever since her little brother was in the NICU when he was born. Kaitlyn completed her CNA at our local community college while also attending high school with a 3.9 GPA. Kaitlyn has cheered for 12 years, been on her high school track and field team for 4 years and works part time. She will continue her studies in nursing when she graduates in June.

How has the pandemic affected your school life and what is one unexpected, good thing that came out of it with school?
I made the decision to go 100% remote at the beginning of this year. This gave me more time to work at my job, as well as work to better myself. This time away from class taught me responsibility and how to hold myself accountable. It gave me a new sense of independence, and I learned how to better manage my time.

Was it hard doing both high school and community college at the same time? How did you manage?
Doing both high school as well as community college definitely came with it’s struggles. One particular day my class was scheduled to have a clinical at 4:00pm, and my high school cheer tryouts had been scheduled on the same day at 3:30pm. I remember coming to class straight from school and changing from my cheer clothes into my scrubs in the college restroom!

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What do you love most about cheerleading and what has been your biggest accomplishment?
There are so many things I love about cheer, but my most favorite is seeing all the young children at ball games. I vividly remember being that age and wanting so badly to be where I am currently. I absolutely love being able to make a difference in the lives of those girls who were just like myself.

What encouraged you to stay in cheer for 12 years and what is a favorite memory?
I have been faced with many obstacles over the years that would have given me every excuse to quit, however, I wanted more than anything to be an example for my little sister. I know that she looks up to me, and I want her to see that no matter what happens, you can still come out on the other side strong.

​What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I’ve struggled with my mental health for many years. I have also been faced with difficult relationships and events that made me question my self-worth. In February of 2020, I dedicated my life to the Lord through baptism, and I can confidently say that I would do it again every day. I want more than anything to help young girls who have faced adversity and are struggling to love themselves. I hope to spread mental health awareness and be a positive light to those who are in need.

What are your goals for the future?
After graduation, I plan to attend Davidson-Davie Community College for two years, before transferring to a four-year university to major in Nursing. I hope to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as I have dreamed of doing since I was very young. It has also always been a dream of mine to be a mother one day, and I hope to eventually have a family of my own.

What was your photoshoot experience like with Twin Exposure Photo and what did you love most about it? What is a favorite memory that will always stick with you about getting to spend this time doing your senior portraits?
My experience with Twin Exposure Photography was absolutely wonderful! Eric Hinkle does an amazing job and is so much fun to work with. I was constantly laughing, and I felt like I could just be myself. His ideas were always spot on, and I cannot say enough great things about my experience. I love my small hometown, and I will forever remember walking around downtown Thomasville and taking pictures in my favorite places.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
The best advice I can give someone would be to never give up. You are so much stronger than you think you are, and your worth is immeasurable. I am a strong believer in faith, and I believe that trusting the Lord’s plan and giving your heart to him, is the absolute best thing a person can do.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In five years I hope to have successfully completed the Registered Nursing Program at my local community college and continuing my education at a four year university. I hope to work at a pediatric office, while completing my Bachelor’s degree.

Look for Kaitlyn in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: I am nominating Faith Lynn Dickinson for inspiring teen because of the tragedies she has overcome in the last four years. Faith lost her big sister, Katarina, four years ago in a tragic car accident & in the last year several close family pets. Despite everything she’s been through, Faith has persevered and is enrolled in advanced classes at school with a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and is a starter on her school's Varsity Volleyball and Basketball Teams. Faith also takes 6 dance classes several days a week. Faith is following in her sister’s footsteps.

How did you get into modeling and acting & what do you love about it?
When I was younger, and my sister was alive she was a model and actress. I went on all her castings and the photo shoots and always admired what she did. She got to meet so many people and wear different fashion from so many designers.
I love modeling and acting because you get to meet so many different types of people, you get to travel, and you get to wear all kinds of clothing. Keeps you very busy.

What was the scariest moment and acting and how did you get past it?
During pre-production in a film called Cat6, I have to crawl on my hands and knees through a small hallway in a motel with strobe lights flashing. I couldn’t see anything and had to pretend someone was chasing me and holding me. I just put myself in the character’s shoes & connected by being really scared in crowds to go super-fast to get this thing over with.

What is your favorite model memory?
In the Fashion and Art show Scene to Be Seen, I got to be a living model on a pedestal while hundreds of people walked around and watched me model a wearable art by Turk and Turk called “Play Ball”. It was so much fun. I loved interacting with all the people who came to see us.

What do you love most about school?
I go to an all-sports school call Sky Academy, so I would have to say all the sport activities I get to participate in - but I also love my Soar language arts class. I love to write stories from my heart.
What do you hope to study if you don’t stay with acting and modeling?
As of now only being in 7th grade I hope to accomplish graduating with an associate degree while going to a collegiate high school. Then maybe pursuing a career in the orthodontics field. I love children and the flexibility of being an orthodontist.

What was the hardest thing you ever had to accomplish and how did you go about doing it?
Going on and supporting family members after my sister passed in a car accident. I know I want her to be proud of me and she would want me to be happy. So, I get up every day and do my best to accomplish goals I set for myself. I keep my Faith in God knowing I will see her again. Pain never goes away, but you learn to manage it with good friends and family support.

What’s your favorite past time that was not in your nomination?
I love to play volleyball, basketball and I take six day of classes a week. I love any sport but I also love being a traveling mermaid.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Swimming with the sharks, taking a trip to Paris to see all the sites and fashions, going to Hawaii to learn to surf.

Look for Faith Lynn in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Nomination: Logan Bluffin is a hard-working inspiring teen! He is a Senior at Southside High School. He has maintained honor roll while working as a server and in Lafayette Fire Department Explorer Program. When not in school or working, he enjoys spending time with family and friends! He is pursuing a career as a firefighter to serve in his community. Following in the footsteps of his mom who is a nurse and his dad who was in the military. We look forward to watching Logan live his dream, he won’t let any fire stand in the way of his goals!
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What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I am currently a server at Surge Entertainment. I enjoy serving and talking to all my customers. It’s a great job for me while in school and I am able to save a lot of money as well.

What has been a memorable experience or a favorite memory working at Surge Entertainment?
I enjoy being a server because I like interacting with people. Making people laugh and put a smile on their face has always been something i am personally good at and I love to see. Seeing people happy and stuffing them with great food brings me joy and hopefully them as well.

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Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
I am hopeful that in 5 years I will be a great firefighter! I would love to have my own place that I can call home. All I hope for is to live a happy, successful life where others can look up to me and say “he did it”!

Tell us about that decision. What or who persuaded you?
I have wanted to become a firefighter as long as I can remember. Being able to help others in need I find amazing! I also considered the military like my dad but keeps me home and still helping others which is exactly what I want to do!

What did you need to do to officially become a firefighter?
I am currently in the Explorer Program learning basic skills. After graduation, I will have to take my states civil service test and apply for the fire department. If accepted, you must first pass an agility test, interviews and go through the fire training academy for 4 months. I am looking forward to the future!

 
Nomination: Maddie is a 14 year old in 8th grade. She has participated in National Charity League (The Woodlands Chapter) for the last two years. In early 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, without prompting, Maddie organized and collected food donations to be delivered to the Interfaith Food Bank and received a Terrific Ticktocker Award for her efforts from her NCL chapter. She  also organized and collected donations for homeless animals at Citizens for Animal Protection (a no-kill shelter that she has  adopted pets from over the years) in Katy, Texas.

Tell us about your sports career - how you got started, what led to your injuries, and your recovery and how that is going.
I started playing recreational softball at the age of four. As time went on, I grew to love it. When I was in sixth grade, I decided to play competitive select softball. Unfortunately, as time has gone on, I have had multiple injuries throughout the years. I have always played my absolute best and give my all, but my body has taken a beating because of it. Currently, I have a fractured spine and femur and have to rest. But hopefully in time I will be back at it by the summer. I also play basketball and volleyball, at my junior high school. It’s extremely difficult to have to sit and watch when all I want to do is play with my teammates. Once I have recovered, I plan to start playing next year in high school then college.

Volunteer work:
I am a member in National Charity League in my hometown and love working with our local food bank and local resale shop that supports my local community.

Favorite volunteer memory:
During Covid-19 I gathered donations for the local food bank from friends and neighbors. I was able to donate an entire truck full of food to help those struggling during the pandemic.

Look for Maddie in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Nomination: Elle Tidwell is a smart, witty, talented, strong, generous, artistic, independent high school junior whose inner beauty surely matches her outer beauty! Dancing has been Elle’s passion her entire life, but she made the tough personal decision this year to give up dancing with the high school team to work part time and start saving her own money. Covid has presented many challenges for high school students, but Elle’s learning to overcome these by continuing to “dance” in her own way through the storms and become the best version of herself before entering her senior year.
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​What would you most like to be interviewed about?
Staying true to yourself and following your own heart's path even if it isn’t what people think you should do.

Give us an example of how this has been for you and why it's so important.
This is important to me because I decided to leave the high school dance team this year after two years. Everyone was shocked and didn’t think I should leave. It was a very hard decision. I’ve always loved dancing and being with my friends, but I decided to utilize my time after school by getting a part-time job so I could start saving money. Covid has been tough on my dad’s roofing business and my mom’s fitness business. I wanted to be able to have and save my own money, so I don’t always have to burden my parents by asking for it.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I try not to be part of any one clique. There’s too much of that in high school and I feel cliques can be very exclusive and not inclusive. I can be a bit shy, so sometimes I know people may think I’m unapproachable, when the opposite is true. I’ve encountered many mean people in my life, so I appreciate people who are kind, real and understanding. I have friends from every walk of life. Social status and skin color have never mattered to me. I simply appreciate good people who are kind to me and others.

How are you teaching yourself guitar and what is your favorite type of music to play?
To destress, I watch videos and teach myself to play guitar. I like to listen to most genres of music and try to play all genres, but I’m especially drawn to classic rock on the guitar. Before Covid hit, my dad and I (and sometimes my mom and brothers) would attend live music concerts of bands, old and new, that we appreciate. It was truly something my dad and I were bonding over. Many of our planned concerts were cancelled last year, due to Covid, and I can’t wait to be able to go to concerts again in the near future.

What was your photoshoot experience like with Heather Blackmar Photography and what did you love most about it and her?
My photoshoots with Heather Blackmar are really so much fun!! As I mentioned above, I can be shy. However, Heather knows how to make me feel comfortable in my skin and make each session special. She believes in me and my talents and tells me that I inspire her. This gives me the confidence I need to help her get the photos she artistically envisions. Heather’s such a fun-loving, extremely-kind person and we always laugh so hard during shoots!! Her personality puts me at complete ease! She’s the talented one! I'm honored that she asks me to work with her!

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why? Music...it’s a passion of mine! I’d talk about the bands and musicians I listen to and why.

Also, I’m certainly not an expert on this topic, but I’d love to start a conversation about street drugs that teens are easily getting their hands on. I’ve had three friends die this past year from drug related deaths that could have been avoided if they had truly known the incredible danger they were putting themselves in by using these drugs. It only takes one time. Many teens are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression during Covid and I fear more and more kids might choose to try drugs.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I see myself finishing up college with a degree that will lead me to a job that brings me joy. I'll have grown and matured throughout college and feel very prepared to begin and exciting life!

Look for Elle in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Tell us about your college plans and what made you decide to go that route.
This fall I will be attending the University of Arkansas to study Business Administration. After that, I plan on attending dental school and then going on to specialize in orthodontics. I chose this route because I am a Registered Dental Assistant and have loved the dental world so far and being a part of the dental field gives you a chance to make people smile that may have not felt confident doing so before.

What are your future aspirations?
In the future, I see myself opening my own orthodontic practice. I also see myself continuing to advocate for those who feel unheard, such as those with disabilities and those who have been bullied.

​What is it like doing a photo shoot with Johnson + Co. and what do you love most about it?
Shooting with Johnson + Co. is always so much fun! I’ve known Renee for a few years now so I’m very comfortable with her, which makes for the best shots. It’s been very cool to watch Renee grow as a photographer and Johnson + Co. as a business. I’m very proud of all of her hard work and look forward to continuing to work with her for a long time!

What does your job as a social media assistant with them entail?
As the Johnson + Co. social media assistant, I help bring fresh ideas to the business, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook accounts, help choose models and which pictures are used for different projects, and help Renee with anything else she may need me for.
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​The Nomination: Faith Alvior is an inspirational to me because she just launched her own bathing suit line. She wanted to create her own style and design the print. Also, she wanted to make sure they are affordable and looks good on any shapes of people.

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​Tell us about what inspired you to start your business and how you got started.
My mom and growing up on the beautiful island of Maui have inspired me to start my own bathing suit line. My mom has inspired me by her owning her own business and seeing her hustle every day. Growing up in Hawaiʻi you live super close to beaches and you want to always take cute pictures in your bikini. I always dreamed about seeing my creations on others and one day having my business grow bigger and bigger. I got started on my business by seeing my mom sell her clothes and markets and just seeing her have fun doing it. Also, how expensive bathing suits are nowadays I would love to help kids around my age afford these bathing suits.

Share with us your designs and how you chose them.
The designs that I have chosen have endless meaning that represents my culture and the native flowers. My first design is the Protea flower. This symbolizes courage and diversity and that’s what I have and hope I can inspire other teens to become.
The second design is the Pua Kenikeni lei. Pua Kenikeni has a sweet fragrance that can be smelled from far away. the Lei represents “aloha”. A lei is given to you on special occasions, celebrations, and any time of the day. These designs and styles that I chose represent who I am and where I am from.

What has been the biggest obstacle in your business and how did you overcome it?
The biggest obstacle in my business has been trying to get my bathing suit out there. The recent tragedy of covid also opened up many opportunities such as opening their own business. With that, there is much competition with others. Also, being at such a young age I still have to worry about school, homework, projects, sports, and lastly keeping up with all my orders. I havenʻt really overcame this problem but with a lot of support, I can lean on people for help.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
When I first launched my line I sold over 100 pcs within an hour. I could not reach that without social media and my family's help. I have Instagram followers asking to model, Instagram celebrities liking my page, and small businesses asking to sell my product at their stores.
I continue to maintain a 3.7gpa as a sophomore. After high school, I do not plan on going to school for business, but I definitely would keep my brand alive. I would like to major in nursing and put smiles on little kids' faces when they are going through a lot.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
I would present the topic "homelessness" because I strongly believe our government is doing so little about this huge issue. From my point of view on the Island of Maui, our homeless issue is not getting any better it is getting worse day by day. We have MANY abandoned buildings just sitting there waiting to rot we could easily turn that into a homeless shelter. There are many different ideas we could figure out what to do for these people living on the streets. Instead, we decide to stare and watch them suffer, watch them beg for anything, watch them lay on cement, and having their lives flash before their eyes. We need to find a solution! A way I could personally help the homeless is by putting together some of my profits from my business and giving homeless food, water, self-care needs, and etc.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished was ignoring the haters on social media. Our generation has become so cruel to others and it's like we donʻt care for others anymore. We need more love and caring in this world. I have overcome this by just ignoring and looking forward to the future because I know they arenʻt going to helping me get where I need to be in the future,

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
If you feel like you are giving up, keep pushing. You are not going to get where you won't be if you give up and donʻt try your hardest. Ignore your haters and just be you!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
I see myself in college trying to get my Bachelor's in nursing and continuing my bathing suit line.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
My favorite activity or pastime is Volleyball and track. I play volleyball for Maui encore volleyball club, Beach volleyball, and school.

3 Things on your bucket list
- Go to China
-Get a scholarship
-Play College volleyball

Who do you find inspiring?
I find my mom very inspiring. She inspires me every day to become a smart and independent woman.

Look for Faith in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: The entertainment industry is undergoing a revolution, and Lex has every intention to be a part of it. After receiving her education in screenwriting and production, she will go on to push boundaries, opening new pathways for LGBT+ representation in media. Despite time commitments as the president of her high school's GSA Committee and working part-time as a tutor, Lex has dominated the academic scene, having been recognized as one of the top ten students in her over six hundred graduating class. Fortune favors the bold. With full-throttled determination, Lex will leave a better future for oncoming generations.

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What are your plans to broaden LGBT and representation in media?
One of the most remarkable aspects of the LGBT+ community is that we are a united force across all of humanity. Race, culture, religion, and socio-economic background all have zero impact on a person's gender and sexuality. Not everyone is an LGBT+ member, but an LGBT+ member can come from anywhere. There is no other community on earth whose identity transcends all of these long-standing boundaries. Because of this unique bond, we have a chance to start breaking down some of these barriers from the inside; all we need to do is start writing and producing stories with LGBT+ characters who come from varying backgrounds.​

Tell us about GSA and your roles and responsibilities in it.
As president of the Gay Stright Alliance (GSA) Committee, I am responsible for a small and particularly vulnerable percentage of my high school's student body. It is a balancing act that one has to be passionate about to manage. Throughout the year, the club must be thriving and accessible to those who need it, while also being discrete so that the club and its closeted members go un-outed and unharassed. Outside of club hours, I am responsible for evaluating my school's treatment of its LGBT+ members. Overall, the most significant aspect of my job is creating awareness and attracting members while simultaneously protecting members' privacy. In special cases, I need to evaluate certain club members' safety to see if joining GSA or coming out of the closet is a safe option for them.

​What have your writing accomplishments been?
When I was in the eighth grade, we had to write a novel in eight months. I finished in six. I knew then that this was not only what I wanted but also what I needed to do for the rest of my life. That novel is now published, and now I have over fifty pieces ranging from short stories to screenplays. My most recent success was writing and producing a trailer for a feature-length film I plan to fully develop in the coming years.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Be exactly who you are. Artists tend to see beyond the exterior level of things, feeling and articulating their ideas in an unconventional way. If you have an artist's soul, you're never going to be fully in sync with other people, and that's okay, but always be open to change. You should always be a little too curious and ambitious for your own good, but make sure you keep your wits about you. Embrace and take pride in your talents, but never settle; keep learning and testing your ceiling. If you want to impact history, then you can't let the world happen to you; you must happen to the world.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
Since I was eight, I have participated in sports; I have a competitive streak, and athletics helped me learn how to focus that energy. Tennis and archery are my current favorite pastimes. As an introvert, athletics provided an opportunity to focus through my body as opposed to my mind. The exercise is good for me physically and mentally, and a little vitamin D doesn't hurt.

3 Things on your bucket list
Earning a pilot's license
Visiting every capital in the world
Participate in an archery competition

Look for Lex in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​What would you most like to be interviewed about?
I like to be interviewed on becoming an actor/director and the journey it can take me.

Tell us about your acting/directing journey.
I got started as a young child. Christmas and school plays. I always had a love to act. As I got older, I started making YouTube videos. Now, I direct school projects and YouTube videos. And have been on auditions.

What is a favorite performance you have acted in or directed?
A munchkin in the Wizard of Oz. Loved the costumes and being up on the big stage.

What are you doing now to get to where you would like to be?
Doing more auditions. In July, going to Los Angeles to do a few auditions.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
When I find an interest, I do my research and practice. An example is, Aikido. When I first heard of it, I didn't know anything about it, Now, 3 years later, I greatly improved my skills and I have inspired my friends to practice and learn. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Keep following your dreams and believe in yourself. And never let someone tell you that you can't. Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans? After college, still doing auditions and directing small films.

Look for Ethan in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Nomination: Kailey is such a beautiful and inspiring young lady. She is involved in multiple sports and is a model on the Johnson + Co Senior team. She is a role model for young girls. She promotes positivity on her social media platforms and markets on social media for Johnson + Co photography.

How do you inspire the younger generation?
I encourage them to follow their dreams and accomplish their goals.

What do you love about modeling on the Johnson + co. senior team?
It makes me more confident in myself and makes me come out of my shell.

What has been my favorite experience on their senior team?
The friendships I have made, I have become really close with most of the girls.

Share about cheer career from start to now.
I started cheering when I was 4 years old. I have always loved cheering on the boys and
supporting everyone. After I finished pee wee cheer I moved on to middle school and made it both years. Once I got into high school, I made junior varsity as a freshman and varsity as a sophomore. I am now going into tryouts for my junior year. I love cheer and I want to continue to cheer through college.

What is a favorite accomplishment or memory from cheer?
When I got over my mental block and actually started tumbling and believing in myself.

Look for Kailey in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Briley may be small, but she’s mighty! Despite being bullied at times, Briley is proof that mental toughness trumps physical strength. In the summer before her Junior year, she backpacked across the mountains of Europe with eleven strangers as part of a leadership program. Her journey took her across four countries in 23 days. There were times when Briley was crying in pain, asthma inhaler in hand. Instead of giving up she showed steadfast determination and persevered. As a result of that experience, Briley now confidently stands up for herself as well as others who are otherwise seen as weak.

What would you most like to be interviewed about? Tell us about it!
The summer going into my junior year, I decided to take a step out of my comfort zone and go on a backpacking trip through the Alps and Pyrenees in Europe. When I got to the airport and saw 10 girls I have never met, I immediately knew it would be the best and most challenging three weeks of my life. We hiked and slept in hostels, living out of a backpack the whole time, which is not something I was used to. We also got to go sea kayaking in Spain. This does not seem like a traditional “fun” trip, but I turned out to be the best experience of my life.

What is a favorite memory from that trip?
We were sea kayaking and my arms just gave out; I couldn’t paddle anymore, so me and my friend got clipped to the back of a speed boat and dragged behind the boat on our kayaks. It was the best time and definitely an unforgettable experience.

What is one tip you'd advise someone taking the same trip in the future that you learned?
I would suggest that you go into the trip with an open mind and a willingness to be pushed outside your comfort zone. The trip is 100% what you make out of it, and you have to have an open mind and a positive attitude, or you won’t have any fun. Make the best out of every moment because it flies by.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LSS) Student of the Year Fundraiser, which is an eight week fundraising event for LLS. I was able to raise $15K over the course of 8 weeks by giving business presentations at the corporate and personal level. All the teams that participated were able to jointly raise over $1.6 million for LLS.

What was your senior portrait experience like with Stephanie Q Durham Photography and what did you love most about it?
Stephanie truly is a miracle worker! She made everything so fun and tailored the whole shoot to my personality. She put so much time and consideration into the shoot. Surprisingly, I hate having my picture taken. But with Stephanie, I was laughing the whole time and actually excited to continue the shoot.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
The importance of staying true to who you are even when it gets hard. These days, especially with social media, it is so easy to get caught up in comparison. However, it is so important to realize people show the highlights on social media. Never change for anyone. It sounds difficult to do, but your differences make you stand out, so you should embrace them!

Look for Briley in issue 45 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​Nomination: Christian is a gifted multimedia designer, videographer, and social media influencer. He specializes in extracting thoughts and creatively bringing them to life. Having realized his purpose, he's positioned to continue to grow and nurture the gifts God has blessed him with. You know when he's on the scene because not only does he always have a camera in his hand, he's also wearing the latest in men's fashion.

​What do you love about videography? What do you like to film/create the most?
What I love most about videography is bringing the crazy visuals in my head to life! I honestly like to film and create my own content the most, for example I push out content every week for my social media platforms as an influencer. The type of content I create for myself is fashion videos (YouTube videos, Reels, TikToks, IGTV Post) and of course pictures.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I have a multimedia business creating graphics, videography, and photography. I love men’s fashion!

Tell us about your Graphics business. What got you interested, how did you get started, and what do you love working on most?
I started my Graphics business last year in the middle of the pandemic, and it unexpectedly took off. At a very young age you could catch me looking out the window or wondering looking at a poster of some kind, the different styles, fonts, and mixture of colors is what caught my attention. My favorite type of Graphics to work on is Birthday Graphics.

What interests you about men's fashion? What would you say your style is?
The different styles and colors in men’s fashion is what grabbed my attention. My style is Casual/Streetwear. I don’t go too deep in casual; I don’t go too deep in streetwear. Take the two and mix them together then you have my style!

What will it entail for you to be a n upcoming social media influencer? How did you get involved and what about this endeavor excites you?
A Consistency of new and fresh content is mainly what it takes to become an influencer. I was thinking to myself one day, here are my exact words “You spend all this money on clothes and shoes and you’re not getting anything back from it”. Then I started thinking deeper, I could become an influencer then soon after growing my base monetize my social media platforms to gain profit from it. Not knowing what will happen as far as growth, viral videos, and new opportunities is what excites me the most.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be on and why?
I could talk about being successful and wealthy in life FOREVER. Me and my friends have long talks about our future now. I love it, having these talks with my friends opens my eyes up and makes me realize it’s really possible!

Look for Christian in issue 44 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​
Nomination: Madison Winkler is an outstanding academic achiever with a 4.3 High School GPA she has maintained since 3rd Grade and a 4.0 College GPA. She is dually enrolled as both a full-time college student and a high school junior. She is also an outstanding softball player who inspires all her teammates and also the younger players she coaches to be the very best in all that they do. She has a heart of gold and will do anything for family and friends.

Tell us about your softball career from where you started to where you are now.
When I started playing softball, I truly had no idea how much it would impact my life. I started with the Little Lady Colonels, a team that played locally just to have fun.  Now, I play for The Louisville Lady Sluggers 18u National Team and I play coast to coast. In November, I committed to the University of Louisville to continue the opportunity to play a sport I've loved all my life.

What has been your favorite experience and or accomplishment with softball?
My favorite experience/accomplishment was winning the TV pool championship in Colorado. It was a straight 7 inning game streamed on Flosoftball. We won 12-10 and I was 2-2 with 3 walks, and 3 RBI. We had walked out of the toughest bracket in the tournament undefeated.

Why has getting such a high GPA been such an important goal of yours?
When I was younger, having a high GPA was important because if I kept straight A's, I'd get $100. Now, my goal is to be Valedictorian and to go through my entire grade school career without making a B.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to strengthen their GPA
My advice would be to learn how to study, even if you don't think you need to do so. School always came easy to me, but the higher level classes I started taking made it hard to stay confident in my work. I had to force myself to learn how to study.

What are your plans for college?
My plans for college are to go into Sports Administration and minor in journalism and entrepreneurship.
​
What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I've ever had to accomplish was committing to college. Due to recruiting rules, I wasn't allowed to talk to college coaches until my junior year. So when I was finally able to, it was as if the world hit me in the face. It was so new to me, because I hadn't done it since 7th grade, and many things changed in that time. Then Covid-19 came around and it stacked dead period upon dead period. I couldn't go on campuses or see coaches in person. I was recruited virtually. It made me lose confidence and made me so stressed. But in the end, I'm right where I've always wanted to be.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
-In 5 years, I hope to be running my own business giving lessons here in my hometown. We have a very athletic town, but there are not many opportunities here to help the talent develop. I hope to be able to teach the younger players here and give them a chance to learn and grow. With my journalism degree, I hope to start my own blog and interview the kids and write them their own specific article. When I was younger, that always made me feel special, so I hope to give that feeling to them. A lot of the time, sports writers will focus only on the professional players, or collegiate stars. I want to be able to shift the focus on the younger players, so they have peers to look up to as well as professionals. 

Who do you find inspiring?
I find Griffin Joiner inspiring. Griffin is the assistant coach at the University of Louisville, but she played at UK and played professionally for the Akron Racers. She is from my hometown, which isn't very large. She showed me that you make your own future. You can choose to stay here, or you can choose to get out and make a name for yourself, while doing what you love. 

Look for Madison in issue 44 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

​ 
Nomination: I am nominating Liliana because of the passion that she has for dance and her love for others. In the year that I have been working with her, not only has she grown as a dancer, but she has shown me how much she loves other dancers and wants them to succeed. From her willingness to help other dancers at photoshoots, to taking younger dancers under her wing and inspiring those around her, she embraces all of the qualities of a great ballerina and more. She is a mentor to the younger girls at her studio and I look forward to seeing what doors open up for her in the years to come.

​Tell us your dance story from when you started to where you are now.
I have lived my entire life in the dance studio. My mom is a dancer, and she would take me to the dance studio with her when I was a baby. I loved watching her dance and when the dance teacher saw how much I loved to dance myself, she allowed me to start my first dance class at the age of 2. I began my training with the Ballet Folklorico of Dallas, trained at Forcher’s Dance Center, and now train at the dance studio my parents own, Baila Irving Performing Arts Academy. I have attended summer intensives with Momentum Dance Company, Ballet Austin, and was accepted into the Junior Intensive Program at the School of American Ballet in New York. I am currently part of the elite competition team Dance Force and a company member in the corps de ballet for Momentum Dance Company.

What do you love most about dance?
When I’m dancing, I feel like I can do anything. I feel almost magical, like I can fly! No matter what kind of day I’m having, I just leave it all on the dance floor. I love expressing my feelings through dance and being able to tell a story without using any words. To be able to use movement and your body to communicate a feeling or emotion is a powerful thing.

What is a favorite memory and/or accomplishment from dance?
My favorite memory and my greatest accomplishment has been playing the role of Clara in the 15th Anniversary production of my dance company’s Nutcracker. It was a dream come true. Not only did I get to play Clara, but my own parents played my parents in the Nutcracker and my best friends were all in the party scene. It was so special to be be able to share the stage with my Mom and Dad and so many of my best friends. I will carry those memories in my heart forever.

​What do you love most about dance photo shoots with Lyons Photography and what has been your most memorable shoot & photo from it?
Photo shoots have helped me gain a lot of confidence and have helped me grow as a dancer. I feel I am more comfortable in my own skin and I hope that translates when I perform on stage. I love the way Tyler captures the beauty of a single movement. He’s so talented!
My favorite photo shoot was my 13th birthday shoot because I got to spend time with some of my closest friends. We just had so much fun together and every time I look at those pictures I smile.

What is it like to mentor the younger girls at dance and what legacy do you hope to leave behind for them?
It is really fun to mentor girls that are younger than me because I get to share tips with them that I wish that I knew when I was their age. I also love helping them evolve as dancers. To think that I could play even a small part in making someone a better dancer, gives me so much joy.

I want to be remembered as a dancer that was strong, worked hard, but always stayed humble. No matter how good you are or how far you come, there’s always more to learn. Like most things in life, success requires hard work. If you put your heart into it, your feet will follow.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In 5 years I’ll be 18 years old. I hope to be accepted to Juilliard and pursuing my dream of becoming a professional dancer.

​3 Things on your bucket list:
To dance on Broadway, to be in a movie, and to live in New York.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find my parents inspiring because during the pandemic my they bought my hometown dance studio. On April 1, 2020, the dance studio that I called home announced that it was closing its doors due to the impact of the pandemic. I was heartbroken. Our community was devastated. The dance studio had been a part of my life for over 8 years and a part of our community for 62 years. It was then that my parents decided to invest their entire savings into buying and remodeling the dance studio. I’m super proud of what my family has done for me and for an entire community of dancers. They inspire me to work hard and to do good things. I hope our dance studio is around for another 62 years and brings as much happiness to others as it has brought to me.

Look for Liliana in issue 44 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!