Elizabeth Hansen

Elizabeth Hansen - Florida
Interview by Olivia Bush
Nomination and Photography by Erin Hansen Photography
Issue 36 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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​The Nomination: Elizabeth Hansen is a 2021 Senior at Niceville High School! She is a Varsity Cheerleader and her team placed 2nd at the 2020 National Championships. She is a member of the Varsity Tennis Team with an undefeated doubles season and was awarded Best District Record along with her teammates for 2020. Elizabeth maintains a 4.6 GPA. She is an accomplished pianist and enjoys sharing her love of music. She volunteers in the community through Key Club, a national service organization and takes part in mission projects with the Crosspoint Student Ministry. Elizabeth inspires others with the joy in her heart and a genuine kindness that is felt by all who know her. Her smile is heartwarming and contagious. She is a shining example of the commitment it takes to be a successful and inspiring teen.

Photography by Erin Hansen Photography

​Tell me more about how you got involved with cheer and tennis!
I’ve been cheering since age 6. I began with competitive all star cheer which continued through fifth grade. By 6th grade, I was ready for school sideline and competition cheer. I have been a cheerleader ever since. My high school team placed second in the nation at the 2020 UCA Cheerleading National Championship. It was a dream competition season for Niceville Cheerleading. I felt honored to be a part of it.

My love of tennis began at a very young age. My parents both play tennis so they passed on their love for the sport to my younger brother and I. I began lessons at age 6. I trained during the elementary years to play on the middle school team all three years and then on to play for the high school varsity team all four years. It is a great honor for me to play on the Niceville High School team. Niceville Tennis has quite the reputation for excellence. I am proud to be a part of the program. Before Covid hit this year, we were on our way to a dream tennis season. We were undefeated and had broken several district records. It all came to an abrupt halt. We did not return to school after spring break so like many schools all over the country, spring sports were cancelled. It was disappointing but if anything we are stronger for it.

Photography by Erin Hansen Photography

What do you love about playing those two sports?
As a cheerleader, I love that I can help be an ambassador in the community for the school I love. We hold clinics for younger girls interested in cheer. We also serve in the community at various charity and local events. Representing my school is an honor. I also love being on the sidelines cheering for my favorite team the EAGLES! There is an excitement in the stadium on game day, the energy of the crowd, the amazing Eagle Pride Band and the superior athletes who perform each week are just a few of the many parts that make cheering such an incredible experience. There is just nothing like Friday Night Lights in Niceville!
As a tennis player, the best part about tennis is being part of a team. Being gracious under pressure, maintaining concentration, being disciplined to train hard and learning from your mistakes are the biggest lessons I will always hold dear from the game of tennis. My best friend Callie and I are doubles partners. We rely on each other to make points happen. We fight for the point together. I’m lucky to have been able to play with her all these years of team tennis. Playing the game I love with my best friend is incredible. Tennis is also a game you keep forever. Once you know how to play, you can keep on playing.

Tell me more about your music! How long have you been playing and why do you like playing so much?
Piano has been a part of my life since the age of 6 and I have been taking lessons ever since. There is nothing quite like the feeling of bringing a song to life on the piano keys. The time and effort necessary is all worth it once a song is perfected. I love sharing the gift of music with others, as music has the capacity to lift spirits, invite peace, share love, bring joy, and change lives.

Photography by Erin Hansen Photography

What different volunteer projects have you been a part of and which has been your favorite so far? 
As a member of the Student Ministry of Crosspoint Church I have been able to serve my community in many ways. Each year the church hosts what is called “Mission Northwest.” We leave our families for a week to go out in our local community and help those in need. Some of the projects have included: demolition and rebuild of a women’s and children’s shelter, hosting a prom for special needs students, building a new playground in a local neighborhood, serving as mentors to foster teenagers, working at our church Bargain Box organizing donated items clothes, toys, etc. The first year I participated in Mission Northwest, my group was involved in a project titled CALM House construction. The house was going to be a shelter for single mothers and their children. Even though we had to get our hands dirty, from taking out insulation, to painting, removing carpet, laying new flooring and more...it was all worth it, just to know what special moments those buildings would hold in the near future. To be a small part of the beginning of the CALM House journey, is something I will never forget, as this would go on to show light to many in need of love and support. I also served as a mentor to foster care teens. My week with these young women was truly a blessing to me. I got to listen to them, serve as a confidant, encourage them, and just spend quality time getting to know them. We did art projects, took them for a little pampering session, went canoeing together and for a few moments reminded each of them what it was like to just enjoy life. I was honored to have been asked to be part of this ministry.

Tell me more about "Supper on Saturday" what is this organization? How did you get involved and what do you do with them?
“Supper on Saturday” is an outreach program put together by Crosspoint Church in Niceville. I actually got involved through the Key Club at Niceville High School, which is a service based organization. Volunteers get together to prepare and deliver meals to families and to elderly in need in our community. It is so heart warming to be a part of bringing joy to others. Seeing the smile on people’s faces and knowing that I had a small part in making their day a little brighter is a feeling like no other. It’s the simple things like providing a few encouraging words for them, or sharing a warm smile, that make the biggest difference. I would love to see more communities take on a project to serve people in need. I promise, the good will escalate.

Photography by Erin Hansen Photography

​How do you stay balanced between sports, clubs and volunteering while maintaining a 4.6!
I make mental checklists almost every day of the tasks that I need to complete. I’ll often bring these to existence on a notecard, and I make sure I put it in a place where I constantly see it, like my desk. No matter what the task is, I try my best to be 100% present and devote my full attention to it. I find that that is when I get my best work done, when I focus on the task at hand, rather than worrying about the other tasks I need to do.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Set high standards for yourself. Know that the small decisions you make every day to work hard, be kind, and be involved, are worth the investment because they will set you up for success. Failure isn’t something to fear. It gives us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and become stronger than ever. Be faithful and thankful in all circumstances. Look for the good, even if it’s hard to find.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?
I would love to be finishing my first year of medical school. I’m interested in being a scientist. I would love for something I do or create to help someone else.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?
I have several. I love to read! I enjoy spending time with the people I love, walks on the beach, 80’s music, playing with my two goldendoodles Brody and Wrigley, sunsets, and creating personalized greeting cards for all the special people in my life.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find Erin Napier inspiring. She and her husband Ben are the host of HGTV’s Hometown. On TV, Erin shows such intentionality and kindness to everyone she meets. She makes a personal home painting for each family that moves in to their new home, which I believe is so thoughtful, and makes her show a little different. I feel that if I were to meet Erin in person, she would show me the same qualities of intentionality and kindness that she does on the show. Her genuineness is inspiring to me, because although she is on television, she carries herself just as she would away from the camera.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
Well no matter what, I am always positive. I find the good in everyone and everything around me. I work hard and do my best on everything I am part of. I share kindness and respect with everyone around me.

Elizabeth will be featured in issue 36 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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click here for more information on issue 36

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