Hayden Lawrence

Hayden Lawrence - Virginia
Nomination by Sarah
Photography by Melissa Waller Photography
Issue 72 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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​Nomination: Hayden is the true meaning of compassion for all. She keeps a special place in her heart for special needs kids, elderly, and animals. Since elementary school, Hayden would always take time from her own tasks to make sure she helped those in class that needed it. Most recently she volunteered her time to help local kids with disabilities learn to play baseball. She also loves to teach little girls the sport of cheerleading. Along with being a cheerleader, Hayden has volunteered her time at a farm that provides counseling services to the community. She leads her peers by example.

Photography by Melissa Waller Photography

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​What are your favorite things to do with children?
Recently I have been asked to do a lot of babysitting. When I spend time with little kids, I enjoy baking with them the most. I also like to take them for walks and point out interesting things to them. We play sports outside. And when are all done and tired, I like to sit with them in my lap and watch a movie.

What do you love most about spending time with the elderly?
I enjoy meeting new people, especially the elderly. I think they are so cute. I love hearing stories about their lives and looking at old pictures. I just think the elderly population is so interesting. The events they have witnessed or things they lived through. They have a lot of knowledge and I think there is a lot to learn if we just take the time to listen.

What is your favorite animal and why?
My favorite animal is a horse. I have grown up riding horses all my life. Horses are gentle and caring animals, and they are so smart. They make great companions. My favorite style of riding is western. I have competed in a few shows and had a great time doing that. I hope to one day own my own horse.

Tell us about your volunteer time with kids with disabilities.
In my hometown, little league has a team just for kids with disabilities called the sunshine league. As a senior softball player, I will team up with one kid from the sunshine league and help them play a game. I encourage my player to swing and hit the ball the best they can, and then we hold hands and run the bases. The kids are usually scared so it takes a lot of encouragement to get them up to the plate. I help them get over their fears. Usually after the first inning, the kids really start enjoying the game.

What has your cheer career been like?
I cheered a little over the years, but over the past year I really started to invest a lot of time and energy into the sport of cheerleading. I am currently on two cheer teams. I am on a competition cheer team called USA all stars. We will travel all over the nation this coming year to compete against other teams. It will be my first season and I am very excited. I am also on my high school’s football sideline cheer team. Though they are very different styles of cheerleading, I love them both.

What is your favorite memory helping little girls with cheer?
Most little girls love cheerleading and look up to cheerleaders. I like to teach little girls that I babysit a few chants from sideline cheer. My favorite memory is having friends over and teaching their little sisters how to stunt in the pool. Sometimes my mom will help and be a base, that’s really fun. My high school is supposed to host a cheer camp this year for kids. I am really looking forward to volunteering for that.

What do you do when you volunteer at the farm?
I have volunteered for summer horse camps. Usually getting horses ready for lessons and cleaning stalls. Sometimes I will lead horses for kids during lessons for beginning riders. I have also volunteered at farms during Christmas time for special events. We set up stations for horseback rides, coloring, and other fun activities. I’m hoping I get the chance to do that again this year.

What is a favorite family memory you will never forget?
We make a lot of good memories as a family. I think my favorite family memory is going on a big cruise ship. It was just me, my parents, and my brother. We were celebrating my 13th birthday. The ship had so many fun things to do. It had games, shows, waterslides, and so much more. The food was delicious, and you could get desert at any time of the day. We visited some cool islands in other countries like Bahamas, San Juan, and St. Marteen. I definitely cannot wait to do that again.

Where have you most loved to travel to?
I love to go to the beach, any beach. My favorite beach is the Outer Banks. We get to go a few times a year in our camper with friends. It’s so much fun. We hang out on the beach all day and swim. There are so many other teenagers there. My brother and I always make new friends, and we get to drive our golfcart all around the campground. I also get to take my 3 dogs along with us, they like the beach too.

Photography by Melissa Waller Photography

​What are you most looking forward to in school this year?
This is my first year in high school. I am most looking forward to all the new clubs, sports, and activities. The year so far, I have joined DECA, Turning Point USA, Future Farmers of America, and Rooted. I am also looking forward to the formal events, like homecoming. I am really enjoying high school so far. I got to choose classes that really interest me, like small animal care and strength and conditioning. It's also been fun meeting different people and making new friends.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I never give up on things I may struggle with at first, like schoolwork or sports. I have also been working really hard on diet, nutrition, and physical fitness. I love to make others laugh and smile. I always try to be happy, even on rough days.

What else would you like to talk about?
Fashion is also something that I am really into. I love shopping rather in person or online for clothes, accessories, and shoes. That is another reason that I love being on a teen modeling team, I get to put outfits together and see how it all goes together in photos. I also love doing my own hair and makeup. Right now, I am most into western style clothes, and prints. Almost anything looks good with a cute pair of boots! I think one day I would like to be a professional model.

How did you find your photographer, Melissa Waller Photography? What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
I am on the teen modeling team for my photographer, Melissa Waller. This is my second year being an ambassador for her. We have so much fun doing different shoots throughout the year. I love working with Melissa and feel really comfortable in front of the camera with her. Melissa is really good at putting together inspiration boards for the team and finding new places to shoot. She has helped me build confidence, buy taking amazing photos and always telling me how beautiful I am inside and out. I plan to stay on her team through my senior year of high school.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
You would probably find me in my room relaxing. I do not get a lot of downtime right now. So, when I do I like to catch up with friends on social media, see what’s new on IG or TikTok, and maybe take in a good movie. And just be at home with my parents, they do not get much downtime either.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
My competition cheer team is starting in November. I am really excited to travel and experience that. So far, we have competitions in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and maybe Florida. My family is also going to take a cruise in December for Christmas, and I am really excited to go to Aruba for the first time. After that, I will start preparing for my first high school softball season.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
I was really struggling with my health and weight over the past few years. Over the past year I have lost over 60 pounds. With the help of my mom, I really focused on fitness and nutrition. We spent a lot of time looking up new recipes and prepping healthy food. I learned that I love working out and going to the gym. I feel so much better in my own skin.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Just never give up on things that are important to you. Even when you feel like you can’t do something, I promise you can. Not everything comes natural to everyone, but with practice and patience, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In 5 years, I see myself attending my dream college Florida State University, and hopefully playing softball for them. I want to be a dental hygienist when I grow up. I am going to work really hard on my grades while in high school so I can get into FSU. I would love to attend school and relax on the Florida beaches when I am able to.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
I love to bake. I look and find different desert recipes to make for my family. I also enjoy cake decorating. I try to make a cake for each holiday. I have collected so many baking accessories over the years, I enjoy getting everything out and seeing what I can come up with.

3 Things on your bucket list
Attend Florida State University
Travel to the Maldives
Meet Dolly Parton

Who do you find inspiring?
My mom is the most inspiring person to me. She teaches and helps me so much with anything that I need. She is the one that has taught me to never give up. My mom is always there for me and my brother, even when she is tired.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I have really enjoyed this experience so much. Thank you for the opportunity.

Look for Hayden in issue 72 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 72

click here to nominate an inspiring teen