Inspiring Teens Magazine Features

Maya Sheklow

4/17/2019

Maya Sheklow - California
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Main Photography by Launa Penza Photography
Featured in Issue 20 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

The Nomination: Maya Sheklow is accomplished and grounded, and beautiful with a heart of gold. She is finishing her gold award having been a girl scout for 12 years and is a volunteer at Club 21 which is an organization that helps kids with Down Syndrome and their families. She is a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, plays lacrosse and volleyball, and was selected to be school ambassador by the principal of Crescenta Valley High School where she has been a scholar athlete all three years.

How did you become interested in being a Girl Scout? What is your favorite thing about it?
I started Girl Scouts in Kindergarten when I was five years old. At that time, I thought it would be a fun experience with my friends. However, as I continued Girl Scouts, I realized it was more than a playdate; it was about a commitment to my community and becoming a strong young lady who could learn to become a leader. Over the years, Girl Scouts has brought much joy into my life, including lifelong friendships, and learning the importance of giving back to others.

Tell us about your volunteering opportunities with Club 21 and what you have accomplished.
At Club 21, which is an organization that provides support for children with Down Syndrome and their families, I spend my time supervising and assisting the children with activities. I also take pictures to update their website and create a costume box that helps the children with expressing themselves.

Image by Sandy Hesse

When did your careers begin with Lacrosse and Volleyball? If you had to pick one, which would you choose and why?
I started playing lacrosse six years ago in 6th grade, and actually did not start playing volleyball until my freshman year of high school. Even though I greatly enjoy playing both, I would pick lacrosse over volleyball because I find the competitiveness and physicality of it challenges and pushes me. I also have developed a great comradery with my teammates, and I hope to continue my career of playing lacrosse in college.

When did your career in Taekwondo start? What made you want to start?
I started Taekwondo when I was in 3rd grade to build confidence and strength. I continued to benefit from the classes by gaining flexibility and did achieve more strength and confidence. Therefore, I decided to continue for the next five years, at which point I received my second-degree black belt. Even though I am no longer taking classes, I continue benefiting in the present from the skills I learned in the past.

Are you liking high school? What are your likes and dislikes?
Like most teenagers, high school for me has had its ups and downs. For the most part, it has been a great experience- from meeting new friends to having a few inspirational teachers. There are definitely times where I can feel overwhelmed due to the amount of homework assigned. Also, there are classes that I don't necessarily enjoy, but it is all part of what will make me a strong and successful adult.

What is something you want your class remembering about you after graduation?
I hope that when I leave Crescenta Valley High School I will be remembered as someone who is kind, and a person who became friends with people regardless of their social status or what their disabilities were. I hope I was able to make people smile and laugh.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
The advice I would give would be to stay true to who you are; to do things you enjoy (not just because others are doing it), and to always smile.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?

In five years I see myself finishing my MBA and art degree. After I graduate my hope is to start taking over my family’s business, Drawn to Art, which teaches fine art, drawing and painting classes to students, ages 4 to adult.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I think that everyone is inspiring in their own way. I hope that when someone is reading my article, they see I can enjoy being a teenager, but also give back to my community, be there for my friends, and still be a scholar athlete.

How do you keep yourself organized with everything on your plate?
I keep myself organized by keeping lists and a regular schedule each week. It also helps for me to focus on things that I enjoy doing and that I am passionate about.

What is your favorite activity to pass time that wasn’t in your nomination?
To pass time, I enjoy drawing and singing even though I cannot seem to hold a tune.

Who is inspiring?
I find my great-grandmother inspiring for many reasons. My great-grandmother is someone who from day one I looked up to. She is probably the strongest woman I know, and never gives up without a fight. Although she is 95 years old, she still has the motivation and determination to keep moving forward. Through hard times she pushed through to give her children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren an amazing life - a life she thought they deserved. Without this woman in my life I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the strong, independent, and caring young lady I am today. I am so lucky to have her in my life as she continues to inspire me every day.

Pizza or Tacos? Soda or Water? Cats or Dogs?
I would have to choose tacos, water and dogs.

3 things on your bucket list?
Travel the world, take over the family business, and have a family.

Maya will be featured in Issue 20 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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Georgia Liagridonis

2/16/2019

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Interview with Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by
Heather Wanninger of Sweet Lemonade Photography
llinois

The Nomination: This girl lives and breathes dance. She has spent 6-8 hours a day after school daily dancing, then going home to study and then back to school again. She is strong, mentally tough and just amazing how she can still maintain a balance. It's incredible. As a freshman last year, she actually studied in NY with Conplexions contemporary ballet dance company as a pre-pro. The teachers back home in IL worked with her to provide her school work and give assistance online when necessary. She trained all day, then went to her hotel room and did her school work to ensure she didn't fall behind. That work ethic is incredible.

How were you introduced to dancing?
I started dancing at 3 years old and dancing competitively at 4 years old. After my first time performing on stage, I realized that dance made me the happiest.

Tell me about your Freshmen year in New York?
I was asked to join a pre-professional dance program for one month in New York City with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. At first, I thought it would be impossible to step away from everything for a month during the school year. I sat down with my parents, school, and dance studio and came up with a plan to work it out. With the graciousness of my family, my school, teachers and dance studio we got everything organized and planned out and soon I was packing to leave.
Once I made it to New York I was overwhelmed, being a small-town girl in such a big city. I did school work in my hotel room during the day and trained with my pre-professional group every evening. The school work was a huge challenge considering I was working on my own each day with communication via email with my teachers.
Every evening I would train with the founders of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and my pre-professional group. It is like a high school football player training with the NFL players. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be in such an amazing dance environment.
We also worked on a performance piece which we would perform at the end of the month at the Complexions Gala. It was a dream come true, this opportunity to perform and share the stage with the Complexions dancers whom I have admired and looked up to for years. The day of the show was surreal. I was stretching and preparing alongside the professional dancers. The feeling of performing that night was one I will never forget. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What I learned from that one month away was more than just dance. I learned what it means to work hard for what you want, what it takes and the life of a professional dancer, and the strength it takes to be independent and take ownership of yourself and your dreams.

What are some ways that you balance your school work, dance life and personal life?
Pre-planning and organizing my days, keeping focus at each task and continued reevaluation of my goals. This allows me to have time for all three which are very important to me.

Do you plan on continuing to dance in the future as you become older?
Yes, I would love to major in dance and my dream job would be to be a company dancer at Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

Georgia was featured in issue 15.

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Marisa Krasusky

2/14/2019

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Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by
Catherine Cella of Joyful Reflections Photography
Texas

The Nomination: Marisa loves horses. She wanted one but couldn't afford it. So, she approached a horse barn. When Marisa offered to do farm chores in order to ride and care for a horse, the owner graciously accepted. It's been 6 years. Marisa and Melody truly connect. See, dreams do come true!

How did your liking of horses begin?
I began with my interest of horses when I was in kindergarten and participated in a summer camp, but I started taking regular lessons at Newberry Farm in Columbia in 5th grade. I am now a senior in high school and I love it just as much as I did when I was a kid!

When you offered to do horse chores, what were some of the things you had to do?
I begged to start helping! I started with putting hay outside to our feeding area and it took me all day to complete because I wasn’t very strong. Now that I have been working here for about 6 years, I can finish things a lot faster. Other tasks that I had to complete was cleaning out the fields that the horses live in, filling all the water tubs, and other jobs would be to keep up the general cleanliness of the farm. I’ve begun teaching children that attend lessons at Newberry Farm and some of these kids are a part of our therapeutic riding program.

How often would you do those chores?
I started out with helping on Saturdays, but last year I started working there on Tuesdays too. Ever since I have started volunteering there on Saturdays in 5th grade, I have spent almost every single Saturday there.

Tell me a little bit about Melody.
Melody is a is very headstrong horse but is also a great to work with. When riding a horse, you are working to achieve something as a team and learn how to work together. She has things that are difficult for her to do physically, but she has been getting a lot stronger in the past three years that I have been working with her.

Do you plan on continuing to work with horses as you grow up?
I would love to continue working with horses as I get older. It isn’t an activity that you can really grow out of. I would eventually like to own my own horse and either have it live at my house, or board it at Newberry Farm. I love all the aspects of taking care of a horse and being outside. I’m not sure if I would like to continue teaching as a profession though.

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Maya Sheklow

Maya Sheklow - California
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Main Photography by Launa Penza Photography
Featured in Issue 20 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Georgia Liagridonis

Interview with Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by
Heather Wanninger of Sweet Lemonade Photography
llinois

Marisa Krasusky

Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by
Catherine Cella of Joyful Reflections Photography
Texas

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Maya Sheklow

Maya Sheklow - CaliforniaInterview by Zoe D’AngeloNomination and Main Photography by Launa Penza PhotographyFeatured in Issue 20 of Inspiring Teens Magazine​

Georgia Liagridonis

Interview with Zoe D’Angelo Nomination & Photography by Heather Wanninger of Sweet Lemonade Photography llinois

Marisa Krasusky

Interview by Zoe D’Angelo Nomination & Photography byCatherine Cella of Joyful Reflections PhotographyTexas

Featured

Archives

Categories

Maya Sheklow - California
Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination and Main Photography by Launa Penza Photography
Featured in Issue 20 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Interview with Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by
Heather Wanninger of Sweet Lemonade Photography
llinois

Interview by Zoe D’Angelo
Nomination & Photography by
Catherine Cella of Joyful Reflections Photography
Texas