Inspiring Teens Magazine Features

Maddie Jackson

1/9/2020

Maddie Jackson - Alabama
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nominated by Ashley Jackson Coach/Mom
Photography by Monica Dooley Photography
Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: As Maddie’s XC and Track Coach, Maddie has been inspiring others with her running ability for several years. Her hard work and dedication began when she was 8. She has earned All-State honors since she was 12. She is a true leader on and off the track. She is active in her church youth group and has a love of hunting. As Maddie’s mom she inspires me daily with all she does while still maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Coaching your own child is one of the hardest things to do. By me nominating her, it’s just one of the many ways for me to let her know how proud I am of her and that I will always be her biggest fan!

Image by Monica Dooley Photography

What inspired you to start running?
My mom inspired me to start running. I started running 5k’s when I was 7 years old and then loved it from then on.

I can relate to you with having your mom as your coach, my mom coached my cheerleading squad for 7 years! I always loved having her around. Did you like having your mom as the coach?
Yes! I loved having her around she always pushed me harder and she knew what I was capable of doing.

Image by Wells Sports Photos

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I’ve ever accomplished is winning a state championship in 8th grade. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. We practiced every day and as hard as we could.

What was it like growing up in Alabama?
Growing up in Alabama is amazing. We live on a farm, so you have so much room to do pretty much everything. There are animals everywhere and I love animals!

Tell us a little bit about what your hunting experiences are like.
My hunting experiences are great! You get up really early and you’re done like 3 hours later and if you kill something you get to cook it and eat it!

Image by Al.MileSplit.com

What is something you will always remember from your childhood?
Something from my childhood I’ll always remember is being at the state track meet and getting a text that our house burnt down. It’s special to me because we had lived in that house my entire life.

Maddie will be featured in Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Click here for more information in issue 29

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Alyssa Martinez

8/21/2019

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Alyssa Martinez – New Mexico
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination by Athena Martinez
Photography by Anchored Memory Photography
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Alyssa Martinez is a multi-sport athlete. She has been on Varsity since her freshman year and she plays Volleyball, Basketball, and Tennis at Capital high school. She works hard on the court and equally as hard off the court. She is an honor student and is there for her teammates and classmates on and off the court and classroom. She is the true definition of STUDENT-ATHLETE. One of her goals is to be 2020 athlete of the year and if she accomplishes that goal, we believe it may be the first father daughter name on the gym wall for 1996 (her father) and 2020 athlete of the year. We can’t wait to see her enjoy this school year and to see what the future holds for Alyssa.

How did you become a multi-sport athlete?
I became a multi-sport athlete by gaining interest in basketball and being curious about other sports afterwards. I also enjoy playing several sports because it keeps me busy and is a great way to take my mind off everything and I feel like I can always be myself around teammates. I built many special friendships through playing sports and I appreciate them for all they do. I also like the different dynamics and strategies each sport offers.

How have sports been a big part of your life and of who you are today?
Sports have been a big part of my life because I've learned so much about who I am through each sport I play as well as learning life lessons. The support I get from my Jaguar family means a lot and gives me the motivation to push through anything. Playing sports has made me into a helpful, passionate, hardworking, and confident leader with so many great memories on the court and in the classroom. I have had so many great experiences and talks as well that have helped me thanks to my family, teammates, and coaches. I know I will have lifelong friends with the relationships I have built over the years with my teammates.

Why do you think you are a good role model for younger kids?
I think I am a good role model for younger kids because I manage my time well and I've learned that it is important to be a good student athlete. I've played three sports throughout high school while maintaining a 3.9 grade point average. I have also done volleyball and tennis camps with younger kids, and my favorite part about it is helping them learn the sport and skills needed to improve. I also have invited them to games to see me play and to show them how to have a good attitude, be a team player, and give hundred percent all the time.

If you could only pick one sport to play for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
It would be basketball. I've been playing since the third grade and it is my favorite sport. Basketball has been a big part of my life and I have so much fun playing it. In the future I could see myself teaching younger kids how to play it as well, just how I learned. I enjoy basketball because it involves communication, many strategies, quick decisions, and it tests your physical and mental toughness.

If you never tried playing volleyball, basketball or tennis, what other sports do you think you would have tried and why?
I think I would have tried playing soccer and softball. Sports is a good way to keep kids active and busy while having fun at the same time. I would make an effort to try each sport a few times until I found a few that fit best for me to not just play but learn skills for life as well.

Alyssa will be featured in Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Click here to nominate an inspiring teen

click here to purchase issue 25 of inspiring teens magazine

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Cory Brodmerkle

8/19/2019

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Cory Brodmerkle - Montana
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination by Jessie Brodmerke
Photography by Charlotte Rose Photography
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Cory is a good athlete and a good student. She wants to be a future teacher to help the children in her community, so she has always tried her best to be a good role model for them. With her dedications she strives to do her best to succeed with anything she sets her mind to.

How did you become involved in athletics and what is your favorite sport to play?
I was introduced to sports at a very young age. I signed up to play baseball with my brother. In First Grade, I started playing basketball. Stepping out on the court for the first time changed everything. I fell in love with the game of basketball. It truly is my favorite sport; I love everything about it. The adrenaline pumping through your body, the excitement of playing, the team bond you grow, being completely exhausted but still pushing to play your best, there is no other feeling. In high school, I participated in Volleyball, Track, and Tennis. I couldn't get enough of sports. Each sport gave me more opportunities to learn new abilities and better ways to show people my faith.

What do you love most about reaching out and helping kids in your community?
The most amazing thing is the incredible love and joy the kids share. Love and joy that only a kid can have. There is no other feeling than being stopped in the hall and having to give hugs to classes of kids with a smile on their face. That can turn any bad day into a good one. I had the amazing opportunity to work in the classroom with the teachers and see the kid learn new material every day. One of the greatest accomplishments I have had is being in the class helping a student figure out a problem. I got so much joy when they finally got it and their face lit up with a smile.

How do you strive to be a better person every day through your faith?
My Faith has given me the desire to please my Lord. This gives makes me strive to be a better person by making me think about how my actions look to others and how to be more Christ-like. Someone told me that ‘I could be the only Bible someone will ever read.’ So, I pushed myself to tell others and show through my action the amazing grace God has given me. I don’t want to disappoint Him. One day I want to hear my Lord tell me ‘Well done thy good and faithful servant.’ So, until then, I will strive to be in my faith to be a better person.

How has your faith impacted who you are as well as your daily life.
I grew up in a Christian based family, I get to see every day the love my parents shared for the Lord. When I was six years old, I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior. My faith has helped me in school it made me feel strong and not willing to be persuaded to fall short of the person I know I can become. Faith helped me make the decision of not going to parties or get wrapped up in drama. My Faith pushed me to be a better teammate, someone my parents would be proud of, to be a better role model to the kids I worked with, but most importantly I didn’t want to disappoint my God.

What is the best advice you would give to someone?
To have confidence in who you are. God made you exactly the way He wanted you. He doesn't have ‘oops’ in his vocabulary. Show people the story God gave you.

Cory will be featured in Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Click here to nominate an inspiring teen

click here to purchase issue 25 of inspiring teens magazine

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Laura Kercher

12/8/2018

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Interview with Larissa Chelius | Submitted by Laura Kercher
Nomination & Photography by Betsy Snyder of Simply Time Photography
New York

The Nomination: Laura is an amazing athlete and loves everything there is to love about playing soccer. She moved to the US from Germany when her father took a job in Upstate NY. She is one of the most upbeat, enthusiastic girls you will ever meet, and you can't help but smile and have a great time when you are around her! She is fluent in both German and English and has excelled in everything she has done from Soccer, to Academics, to Acting etc.

Everyone experiences events at one time or another that significantly impact the course of their lives and I am no different than anyone else in that aspect. When I was 7 years old my family and I moved from Germany to the United States. This adventure helped me to realize that any obstacle can be overcome when you have your family to back you up. Moving to the United States and having to adapt to a new culture has also taught me the value of being more open minded in both my thoughts and experiences. It has also helped me to recognize that love has no boundaries, and no matter how far away you are from your extended family they will always be there to support you. Moving to the States has shown me that family is not only limited to the people that you are blood related to. You build a family by forging bonds with the people that surround and love you. Through this, my family and I have found a second family that we call “Our American Family.”

When you are part of a German family it is not difficult to fall in love with soccer. As an inherent part of my culture, it was something that I was always surrounded by and effortlessly developed a passion for. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with playing the sport, and I was even lucky enough to play in college. Soccer is something that will always be a part of my life, whether or not I am an active player.
Simultaneously to my soccer career, I was introduced to acting around the age of 14 by my chorus teacher. Through her, I became involved with the drama club at my High School, which became another hobby that I grew to love and pursued through my 4 years of High School.

My aspirations for the future also include pursuing a career as a Dental Hygienist. I have been fascinated by everything revolving around teeth since the 6th grade when I got my braces. In addition to my career goals, I want to become an amazing mother. Just as my mom always has been to my brother and I, I hope to one day be as incredible of a mother as she is. One important lesson that my family has taught me is that work and money isn’t everything in life. At the end of the day, family is always there for you and collecting paychecks and experiences means nothing without having people you love to share it with. Besides, I think being a soccer mom would also be pretty cool, not going to lie!

This interview was published in Issue 15

Click here to purchase issue 15

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Maddie Jackson

Maddie Jackson - Alabama
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nominated by Ashley Jackson Coach/Mom
Photography by Monica Dooley Photography
Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Alyssa Martinez

Alyssa Martinez – New Mexico
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination by Athena Martinez
Photography by Anchored Memory Photography
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Cory Brodmerkle

Cory Brodmerkle - Montana
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination by Jessie Brodmerke
Photography by Charlotte Rose Photography
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Laura Kercher

Interview with Larissa Chelius | Submitted by Laura Kercher
Nomination & Photography by Betsy Snyder of Simply Time Photography
New York

Featured

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Maddie Jackson

Maddie Jackson - AlabamaInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNominated by Ashley Jackson Coach/MomPhotography by Monica Dooley PhotographyIssue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Alyssa Martinez

Alyssa Martinez – New MexicoInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNomination by Athena MartinezPhotography by Anchored Memory PhotographyIssue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Cory Brodmerkle

Cory Brodmerkle - MontanaInterview by Claire PlathNomination by Jessie BrodmerkePhotography by Charlotte Rose PhotographyIssue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Laura Kercher

Interview with Larissa Chelius | Submitted by Laura Kercher Nomination & Photography by Betsy Snyder of Simply Time Photography New York

Featured

Archives

Categories

Maddie Jackson - Alabama
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nominated by Ashley Jackson Coach/Mom
Photography by Monica Dooley Photography
Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Alyssa Martinez – New Mexico
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination by Athena Martinez
Photography by Anchored Memory Photography
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Cory Brodmerkle - Montana
Interview by Claire Plath
Nomination by Jessie Brodmerke
Photography by Charlotte Rose Photography
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Interview with Larissa Chelius | Submitted by Laura Kercher
Nomination & Photography by Betsy Snyder of Simply Time Photography
New York