Inspiring Teens Magazine Features - Inspiring Teens®

Juliana Luna

12/3/2019

Juliana Luna- California
Interview by Zoe D'Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Alicia Crosson Photography
Issue 28 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Nomination: It is a privilege to nominate Julia Luna as an outstanding Teen Leader and Influencer! Julia is passionate about writing, social justice and making a difference. Her work ethic, creativity and leadership abilities are so inspiring! Julia is a National Hispanic Scholar, State Senate Scholastic Achievement Winner 2x for Academics, Leadership and Writing, and 3x Gold Medal Winner for Speech earning a perfect score in April of 2019. Julia runs Center Stage Productions, a low-fee theater camp for children. She writes the script and coaches kids in performing arts. Julia created and facilitated a creative writing club for two years which has become a class at her high school. As she embarks on college, I know she will continue to do great things! Thank you so much for considering Julia as an Inspiring Teen, and for this wonderful platform to have the opportunity to nominate her! xo

Photography by Alicia Crosson Photography

What are some of your favorite topics to write about and why?
I most enjoy writing about social justice issues. There are many causes close to my heart. Immigration Justice Campaign to Brady, Campaign Against Gun Violence, and Times Up Pay Up regarding the gender pay gap are three campaigns that are taking action and I love that. For me, writing is emotional and cognitive. Dolores Huerta said, “every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” I aspire to use my time writing as an opportunity to make a difference.

Photography by Alicia Crosson Photography

Tell us about some of the awards you have received and what they mean to you.
Being a National Hispanic Scholar and winning a scholarship from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation has validated my path in academia. I strive to do my best in school. Receiving these awards was really an honor. I also was given the California State Senate Award for Best Writer which was so cool to be recognized for what I love most.

Photography by Alicia Crosson Photography

What is it like running theater camps for kids?
Often overwhelming! It takes tons of work writing scripts, choreographing dances, and of course managing the kids. However, it is so rewarding seeing them grow in confidence and helping them find their talents. My sister was originally the Artistic Director and I taught dance and acting when we started in 2015. She passed the baton to me as she left for college a few years ago. I was thrilled to oversee all aspects of the kids’ learning experience and added art and sign language to the curriculum. I was honored my sister trusted me to make the tough decisions, and a little terrified to be managing kids without her. Kids at Center Stage camps have hard lives. Students come who have learning disabilities, financial instability, and incarcerated parents. There are kids who come hungry and ones who will not let go of our hands starving for attention. Being able to teach them self-confidence and creativity is the most rewarding leadership experience I’ve had.

Photography by Alicia Crosson Photography

Do you plan on still doing theater in college? Why or why not?
I would enjoy pursuing acting in college. It is a fun way to build a community of friends which I am sure I will want as a freshman next year. I would also love to participate in the acting category in speech and debate in college. I want to grow in debate because I would like to major in Literature, Writing and Pre-Law in college.

Photography by Alicia Crosson Photography

Julia will be featured in issue 28 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Click here to learn more about issue 28

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

Aaliyah Maurice

10/22/2019

Aaliyah Maurice - Arkansas
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Photography by Penney Lane Photography
Issue 27 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: I am inspired by Aaliyah because of her positive attitude and how she treats others around her. She is always kind and respective to everyone no matter their age. She is a very artistic person and she is a very talented artist. I have always loved seeing her drawings on facebook. She was homeschooled and has graduated early and already started college this year and I am so proud of her. I know her diligence and attitude will take her far in life.

Photography by Penney Lane Photography

Tell us about your journey as a psychology major.
Psychology is a heavy, however fascinating topic. It’s interesting because of the self-awareness I discover and the analyzation I see in others. As I’m studying the mind and its thought-process and motivation, I’m learning more about myself and my peers. I decided to study psychology because I want to be a trauma counselor, and this passion came to me as a 13-year-old and stuck ever since. I used to read stories about military families because my own dad is in the Air Force, and ever since I was a kid he would often be gone on duty. I’d always miss him and count the days until he got back. These stories would be so similar to mine; the family would be at home waiting for the wife, husband, mom, or dad to return home only to find out it’s not the same. It’s already hard enough missing my dad and I couldn’t imagine how much harder it must be for the families who welcome back soldiers who have been diagnosed with trauma. That got me thinking about how I could help these families as I delved deeper into my research. My curiosity expanded from military families and trauma, and into mental illness as a whole. Now that I’m in my first year of college I’m beginning to understand the weight of it all. It hasn’t been easy; counseling training puts me through some emotional topics. However, I’m passionate about the work, and I’m willing to explore myself and others as this journey continues.

Photography by Penney Lane Photography

Walk us through your process of your fiction writing.
Ever since I was a kid I loved to write. I use writing as a sort of mechanism of expression because it helps me sort through my own thoughts. I’m such an analyzer, so seeing my ideas put down on paper brings me an unhealthy amount of joy. It usually starts with a sketch. As I’m creating a body or face, I think about the character’s life, where they’ve been, and what they do. Then I think of where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and compare the two. I usually add elements of my own life into stories or characters to convey them as more realistic and relatable. There’s never a story that doesn’t have a moral. And while a lot of stories lay unfinished in a multitude of notebooks under my bed, I’m guilty to say, I return to them still because I know one day, I’ll return to see them on bookshelves in Barnes and Noble. I recognize the power in writing, and the emotions and lessons a well-constructed author can convey, especially if it’s through the mouth of a person who will never exist. That’s the cool thing about fiction. We attach ourselves to people and places we’ve never seen, yet we understand them so intensely. A good writer will make common civilians understand the struggles and triumphs of a war hero.

Do you think creative writing should be a more important subject at school? Why or why not?
I wouldn’t say that it’s something that needs to be incorporated more heavily or less heavily; rather its already existing role should be altered. A lot of people tell me they don’t like writing, and maybe it’s because it’s being taught wrong. Anyone can sit at a computer and regurgitate a bunch of info about a classic novel, or places they’ve been or lived (very common topics schools have you write about that many of you can testify to). I think education as a whole should be far more personalized to the person’s interests, careers, and the like, and writing is the gateway into these aspects. A lot of teachers are required by the state to follow a strict curriculum. It makes teaching processes narrow-minded and puts a negative connotation on creative writing. Students can be writing about topics they’re passionate about if the topics in mind were new and unique, and that hasn’t become so repetitive and stagnant. A lot of the lessons that come with writing today is outdated. There is a lot of new literature that has come out that schools haven’t accepted, and teachers are passing up on those opportunities. The classics are definitely iconic, but they’ve had their time in the limelight. How can new classics be created if we keep reverting to the same old, same old? It’s become repetitive and unoriginal. Creative writing needs a makeover, and it should be up to the students to decide. They are the ones who are experiencing the changes, variety, and influence of their generation.

Photography by Penney Lane Photography

Either as a child or now, what are two of your favorite books? Why?
The Help by Kathryn Stockett, to me, is timeless. It’s what all historical fiction should be. The story follows the lives of three Black women and their overcoming of stigma in the segregated ’60s. Being a minority myself, I love hearing stories about people of my culture accomplishing their goals, making breakthroughs, and not succumbing to the judgment and discouragement of their surroundings. To understand the history and what it’s been like for people really puts into perspective how things are now and why these things shouldn’t be forgotten. It’s amazing to hear about the people who were told they couldn’t do anything who did the most for the world they lived in. If they can do it, I can too. Kathryn describes this perfectly; highlighting equally the trials and achievements of her main characters. David Finkel’s Thank You for Your Service follows close behind. This was one of the books that really influenced my decision in becoming a counselor. It follows true stories of soldiers, families, and the aftermath of war. Their testimonies were eye-opening. It’s impossible to read such unfiltered truths without being compelled to try and help. Both stories motivate me to make changes in my lifestyle so I can help those around me.

Do you see writing in your future? Why or why not?
I want to use my fictional stories to entertain and educate. I’m hoping my future readers will put down my book and think hard about what they’ve just learned. Maybe the way Stockett’s and Finkel’s stories motivated me to choose the career path I did and made me aware of how I can be a helper and lover to people can have the same impact on the readers of my stories. For that reason, I’m planning on incorporating writing into my counseling work and not just fiction for fun. I’ve also been considering using my experience in counseling, once I’m older, to write a book about how one can take care of themselves, emotionally and mentally. Whatever work I do has to mean something to others by simply caring for them. I want my work to carry on in the form of words because it’s one of the most timeless things we have.

Aaliyah will be featured in issue 27 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

Click here to purchase Issue 27

click here to nominate an inspiring teen

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6/13/2019