Hailey Storey

Hailey Storey – Tennessee
Nomination & Photography by Cindy B. Thymius Photography
Issue 65 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Hailey Storey is caring, loyal, and kind. She uses these gifts in her everyday life participating in school clubs and sports. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Wilson Society, and is president of the Baking Club. She is also on the bowling and tennis team at school. Outside of school, she volunteers annually at the local Memphis homeless shelter and shares the love of Jesus. Along with hanging out with friends, Hailey enjoys regularly spending time babysitting, and she works hard to build relationships with the kids and invest in their lives.
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Photography by Cindy B. Thymius Photography

What activity in Wilson Society has been your favorite?
My favorite Wilson Society activity is the Red Tubs project. This project involves students bringing gifts, toys, and clothes for specific children. The gifts are put together in large red tubs and delivered to the children. This year, our school chose 6 individuals to provide Christmas gifts to. The project benefits foster families in the Memphis area. I enjoyed this project because I got to give back to my community and I enjoyed the personal aspect of it: knowing that the gifts would be useful and appreciated by the families.

How have the service projects impacted the community?
The service projects that I have participated in have impacted the community by reaching less privileged people and spreading the word of Christ.

What duties does being the president of the Baking Club entail?
The Baking Club hosts bake sales at school almost every month. At the end of the year, the proceeds that we have collected will go to the Veterans Affairs Center in Memphis. Our monthly sales involve members of the club signing up to bring in baked goods which are then sold to students during school.

What is your best leadership quality?
In my opinion, my best leadership quality is being inclusive. I prioritize allowing everyone's voice to be heard and making sure that everyone has the opportunity to express their opinions and ideas.

Tell us about your bowling team and a favorite memory with them.
My favorite memory from bowling was making new friends and getting close with my coach! Being on the team allowed me to get closer with people that I didn’t have the opportunity to be around before. The team bond was really special and we were able to have lots of fun at practices and during matches.
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Image by Heather Storey

​What has your tennis career been like? When did you get started and where are you at with it now?
For me, tennis started as a fun, family activity with all my siblings and I taking lessons together. Once I entered high school, I was eager to get involved and picked up tennis again. I played on junior varsity freshman year, and on the varsity sophomore, junior and senior year. I enjoy practicing, being outside and being active, and being able to be part of a team. As my senior season begins, I am excited to build relationships with the underclassmen on the team, help win team matches, and hopefully have a lasting impact as I prepare to leave.

What do you do when you volunteer at the homeless shelter?
My family and I put together gift bags full of necessary items. We go down to the shelter and help serve a meal to all the men. After dinner is served my dad does a service for them, the service involves music by a local band and a sermon and spiritual invitation from my dad. When the service ends, we pass out the gift bags to each person and assist in cleaning up.

In what ways do you share your love for Jesus?
I share my love for Jesus by participating in the activities that are offered at my school. This year, I have had the opportunity to be a discipleship group leader. Me and my co-leader were assigned a group of freshmen to grow with spiritually. We meet with our girls monthly for bible studies.

How would your friends describe you?
My friends describe me as caring, kind, fun, friendly and hard-working.

What is your favorite activity to do with the kids you babysit?
Two of my favorite things to do with the kids I babysit is take them out to get ice cream. Going out to get ice cream is fun because we get to get out of the house and hearing the music they chose to play in the car is always amusing.

Tell us about your academics.
Academics have always been important to me. I strive to do my best and keep good grades. Each year of high school I have been on the academic honor roll. Sophomore, junior, and senior year, I have received the Joseph A. Clayton award for being in the top 20% of my class based on GPA. I challenge myself with the classes that I take, including honors, AP and dual enrollment courses. I was just named top 20 of my class with a GPA of 5.007.

Image by Heather Storey

​What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
My nomination does not cover my determination and success in school. I push myself to do the best I can; this means challenging myself by taking honors, AP and dual enrollment classes. I have received an award two years in a row for being in the top 20% of students in my class based on GPA. I am also part of a program at my school that pairs seniors with underclassmen to regularly do bible studies together. I love having the opportunity to form relationships with the younger girls and grow closer to the Lord with them.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be?
I would present Jesus's love for everyone. I would present on Jesus' love because I have seen the effects of Jesus in my life and want everyone to fully experience His love, grace, and mercy and help them to accept the free gift of salvation that He offers. I am passionate about this topic because Jesus’s love is unconditional; His love makes me feel worthy and seen and I want others to be able to experience it as well. I want God to use me to bring more people to Him. Presenting on His son’s love would help spread the joyful message.

How did you find and why did you choose Cindy B. Thymius Photography for your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
My mom had seen several publications with Cindy’s work featured and chose her to be our photographer for family photos three years ago. When she announced the traveling dress shoot, we immediately took hold of the opportunity. She is an amazing photographer, and the shoots are always fun and turn out great.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
I would encourage them to get involved in anything and everything possible. I would also say try your best at everything you do even if you think it is insignificant, you never know what opportunities could arise.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In 5 years I hope to have graduated college and be working as an interior designer. I plan to go to Mississippi State University in the fall and major in interior design.

3 Things on your bucket list
The top three things on my bucket list are going to a Super Bowl, seeing the northern lights, and visiting Santorini Greece.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
It is hard for me to see how I inspire others so I asked a few of my peers. In short, I inspire others to be better by always staying positive and looking at the bright side of life. I always say perspective is key and that is an encouraging thing for me and others.

Look for Hailey in issue 65 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 65

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