Inspiring Teens Magazine Features

Jenna Pallaci

1/18/2020

Jenna Pallaci - Ohio
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Meagan Lynn Photography
Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Jenna Pallaci is such a unique individual! She coaches the Special Gymnastics Olympics for one of the most elite Gymnastic Facility in Columbus, Ohio. For the past 3 years she has been a varsity gymnast. Jenna is also a 3 year-scholar-athlete, 8th in the nation at the cheerleading competition at The Summit championships and a varsity competitive cheerleading for school ranked 10th in the state! She is an amazing athlete and with a heart to match!

Photography by Meagan Lynn Photography

Why did you start doing gymnastics? Did someone inspire you? If so, who?
As a toddler, I treated everything around me as if it were a jungle gym. I was always climbing on everything and hanging off furniture even when I wasn’t supposed to. My mom decided to put me in preschool gymnastics classes when I was 4 years old. I became hooked from the very instant I stepped into the gym and continued to gain skills and confidence throughout my journey with this sport until I was 12 years old. From there I switched to competitive cheerleading because I wanted to continue tumbling. Presently I’m coaching gymnastics and using my skills to instruct other athletes. My mom is my biggest inspiration as she has inspired me to continue with my passion, from age 4 up until the present.

What is your favorite event when it comes to gymnastics?
My favorite gymnastics event is floor exercise. Tumbling across the mat is my passion. The power and skill required to move your body and stick your landing for challenging tumble passes motivates me to work hard on core strength and technique. I also love the dance and leaps that are part of the floor routines. Floor exercise has never been my highest scoring event, but it’s still my favorite.

Photography by Meagan Lynn Photography

What are some thoughts that go through your head when you are just about to take the floor at a cheerleading competition?
Before taking the floor at a cheerleading competition, I can’t help but imagine how great it would feel to come home with a win. I always remind myself and my teammates that the only way we can achieve this is by working together. Competitive cheerleading is all about teamwork and supporting each other, and that is the first and last thing that I think about during a competition.

When you are not cheering, or coaching gymnastics, what is something you like to do in your free time?
Aside from cheering and coaching gymnastics, I also play lacrosse for my school’s varsity team. I am a midfielder which means I play both offense and defense! I am a dancer as well. My favorite type of dance is hip hop. Lastly, I love to babysit. Building relationships with the children that I watch is very important to me. Luckily it comes pretty easily!

Photography by Meagan Lynn Photography

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?
I have learned over the years that time management skills are very important to obtain. When I first entered high school, I struggled a lot in this area. Now that I am a junior and have been exposed to many situations in which I have felt pressed for time, I have a set routine that helps me to get everything done on time. My work ethic and dedication, combined with my time management skills have come in handy in many situations throughout my high school career.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?
I love to run. I have finished several 5k’s throughout my life, and a 4-miler where we finished on the Ohio State University football field. This past November in 2019, I finished a 15k for the first time! (9.33 miles) This was a big accomplishment for me, as I have never run in a race that long before.

Photography by a friend

Tell us what it is like coaching the Special Olympics Gymnastics team?
The athletes that I coach vary in age from about 5 to 40. They all have different disabilities and require different coaching styles which makes what I do extra special. I love how unique each of our athletes really are. It is so rewarding seeing their progress from week to week. The feeling is incredible because I know that I am helping to provide a life-changing experience for them. Their big hugs and kind words make me realize that this is what I was meant to do.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?
In 5 years, I see myself graduating from a university in Ohio, possibly Kent State University, with a degree in either psychology or special education. I would like to take the skills I have developed through coaching and use them with my future career.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
I am a middle child. I have a 19 year old brother (my best friend), a 12 year old younger sister, and an 8 year old foster brother. We also have a dog named Nico.

If you have an idea for a teen who is inspiring enough to be interviewed, please list them here and tell us why you think they would be perfect for the next issue of our magazine. (They wouldn't be contacted until your issue is closed):
I think Amanda Sugerik would be a good teen to interview! She is very inspiring with her work to save our environment and has even won at least 1 award for it! She is also a dancer!

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

Click here for more information on issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

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Grace Hendrickson

8/8/2019

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Grace Hendrickson - Oklahoma
Interview by Larissa Chelius
Nomination & Photography by Traci Hendrickson
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Two years ago, as Grace Hendrickson was starting 6th grade, she was given the student mentor class as an elective. Being a student mentor involved helping and guiding the special needs students at the school. Grace fell in LOVE with the kids. They became her friends and even-though she is the mentor, I believe they have made an even greater impact in her life. She loves spending her day with the students and helping them with schoolwork and day to day activities. During her 7th grade year, she continued as a mentor and formed even closer bonds with the kids.
Grace chose to eat lunch everyday with one of her best friends, Shawn, who she has now mentored for 2 years. They bring a joy to her life like I've never seen before. She attended special Olympics with them and had a wonderful time. She has now started volunteering at our church with the special needs class as well. Grace inspires me and those around her. I have even seen her younger siblings take an interest in the special needs kids because of her example. She will continue mentoring in 8th grade and has decided she would like to pursue a future working with them through teaching or occupational therapy. She truly has a gift and I've loved watching her use it. Thank you for the opportunity to recognize how amazing Grace is!

What did you love about being a mentor for the special needs students?
I love mentoring special needs kids because I love helping them work through their everyday challenges that they face. Their courage inspires me to confront my own fears and challenges. I have so much fun hanging out with them. These kids are always there for me and don’t care what you look like or what you wear. They love you for who you are.

How did mentoring these students impact your life for the better?
Mentoring the special needs students has definitely made a huge impact on my life. They have taught me so many life lessons and have showed me what a good friend is. These kids have led me closer to God by showing me his love. By nature, I am a very cautious person. However, as a mentor, these kids need me to be a leader and push them beyond their comfort zones. In order to do that, I have learned to push myself out of my own comfort zone.

Tell me a little bit about the Special Olympics, and what it meant to you and the kids you mentor.
Special Olympics is where people with special needs from all around Oklahoma come together to compete in different sports. I was able to compete with the kids I mentor in basketball and bocce ball. My partner, Diego, and I earned the gold medal in bocce ball. Winning or losing didn’t matter to the kids. Either way they were the happiest kids in the world and seeing them so happy put a huge smile on my face.

Going to the Special Olympics was a life changing experience for me that I will never forget. As a mentor, I had to opportunity to stay in a dorm with a student who has down syndrome, named Kayley. She has such a fun personality and is always a great friend to me. Kayley and I have hung out outside of school several times and our friendship continues to grow stronger.

As a mentor, what have the kids taught you over the years?
Over the past few years, special needs kids have been amazing friends to me and have taught me to be a better friend. They have taught me to be myself and not worry about what others think of me. These students have shown me to see people for who they are on the inside and not by the way they look.

Image by Grace

Do you plan to continue to work with special needs kids as you get older?
I plan to continue being a student mentor in the Owasso school system. As I get older, there will be opportunities to volunteer that involve working with special needs students outside of school. My dream is to have a career working with children who have disabilities. I plan to become a special education teacher or an occupational therapist. I know that working with special needs students is my passion.

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

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Peyton Fearin

3/20/2019

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Peyton Fearin - Texas
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Kingston Photography
Featured in Issue 19 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Peyton is a beautiful girl but her true beauty shines from within. She is a loved by her peers and is kind to everyone she meets. She is a youth leader at her church and loves helping with the Special Olympics. She is a member of the National Honors Society at Prosper high school. It is a 6A school, so you can see how competitive that is. She has been on the PHS cheer team all four years of high school but has been cheering most of her life. She also coaches youth cheerleading at PYSA. She is involved in several high school clubs and various volunteer activities in and outside of school.

Tell me about your involvement with the Special Olympics and your favorite part about it.
As a Prosper cheerleader, we attend Special Olympics every year to help support all the athletes who compete at the event. I love being able to work with and get to know all the people attending the event. It truly is a heartwarming experience and very eye opening. It has taught me to look at situations with positivity.

How did your career in cheerleading begin?
I started cheering my freshman year of high school after doing competitive cheerleading for one year. After being a gymnast for ten years, I decided I wanted a change, so I chose to cheer. I am extremely happy I decided to try out for cheer because I have made lifelong friends and memories.

How do you keep yourself organized and earn yourself a position in NHS with all your amazing extracurricular activities?
The National Honors Society is an extremely prestigious program with rigorous requirements to be inducted. I really pushed myself to stay on top of my grades, do community service, and make myself a prominent figure at school in order to get into NHS. I’ve had to learn to balance school, cheer, and work in order to achieve being in the program.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I hope to be working in the medical field as a Trauma Nurse! My goal in life has always been to help others and the medical field is the perfect place to do it! I hope I am happy and surrounded by people who love me and support me.

Do you plan on continuing with cheerleading? Why or why not?
Although cheerleading has given me the memories and opportunities, I will not be continuing my career. I have suffered many injuries in which prevent me from doing what I love. Therefore, I chose not to cheer at a collegiate level.

Peyton will be featured in Issue 19 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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click here to purchase inspiring teens magazine

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Zach Smith

3/1/2019

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Zach Smith
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by David Hamrick Photography
Texas
Issue 15

The Nomination: The very first thing we noticed about Zach Smith was how polite and respectful he is. He has a servant’s heart and loves working with others. He’s a great leader. He has worked with the special needs kids, including their special Olympics. He is a currently involved with P.A.L.S. (Peer assistance and leadership) at school which is a mentor program for the youth. Zach has been involved with theatre arts since the fifth grade, even winning best actor in UIL competition his 8th grade year. Even though his schedule didn’t allow him to take theatre arts this year, he still volunteered his time and helped with the annual haunted house. He is active in Football and Basketball, but Zach’s biggest passion is baseball. He aspires to play college ball and obtain a business degree and hopefully start his own business one day.

Tell me about P.A.L.S that you are involved in at your school.
P.A.L.S. is a program in which you help kids from Kindergarten all the way up to 8th grade. You help them with schoolwork and spend quality time with them learning about them as they learn about you and build a relationship with the kids. It is a guidance program to help kids with struggles. It is an amazing program.

Why do you think you are so inspiring?
I feel like I am a strong leader and follow what I believe in even if it goes against what is normal, I like letting people know how important they are, and I have a strong work ethic.

What are your favorite sports and why?
I love baseball because it has helped me realize how much a team can impact you for the better and I think that in life as in baseball, you may fail a lot, but it teaches you to handle adversity and try harder to better yourself and those around you.

How did you become interested in theatre arts?
I was in 7th grade when I first tried my hand at Theatre Arts, I really loved it not only because of the plays and rehearsals but the relationships you build with those involved. You make many new friends while bringing a play to life and putting on a show to entertain and audience is truly an amazing experience.

What are your plans for after graduation?
I plan to go to college and get my business degree while playing college baseball and then start my own construction business.

Zach was published in Issue 15 of Inspiring Teens Magazine.

click here to buy issue 15

click here to nominate an inspiring teen you know.

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Jenna Pallaci

Jenna Pallaci - Ohio
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Meagan Lynn Photography
Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Grace Hendrickson

Grace Hendrickson - Oklahoma
Interview by Larissa Chelius
Nomination & Photography by Traci Hendrickson
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Peyton Fearin

Peyton Fearin - Texas
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Kingston Photography
Featured in Issue 19 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Zach Smith

Zach Smith
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by David Hamrick Photography
Texas
Issue 15

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Jenna Pallaci

Jenna Pallaci - OhioInterview by Zoe D'AngeloNomination and Photography by Meagan Lynn PhotographyIssue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Grace Hendrickson

​Grace Hendrickson - OklahomaInterview by Larissa CheliusNomination & Photography by Traci HendricksonIssue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Peyton Fearin

Peyton Fearin - TexasInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNomination and Photography by Kingston PhotographyFeatured in Issue 19 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Zach Smith

Zach SmithInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNomination & Photography by David Hamrick PhotographyTexasIssue 15

Featured

Archives

Categories

Jenna Pallaci - Ohio
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Meagan Lynn Photography
Issue 29 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Grace Hendrickson - Oklahoma
Interview by Larissa Chelius
Nomination & Photography by Traci Hendrickson
Issue 25 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Peyton Fearin - Texas
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Kingston Photography
Featured in Issue 19 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Zach Smith
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by David Hamrick Photography
Texas
Issue 15