Jordan Malion

Jordan Malion - South Carolina
Nomination & Photography by Wendy Kovac Photography
Issue 96 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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​Nomination: Jordan Malion is a high school senior from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A passionate performer, Jordan shines both on stage and in the band room—singing and dancing in local theater productions and playing the euphonium. Above all, Jordan’s faith is at the center of everything, guiding each step with love and purpose.

Photography by Wendy Kovac Photography
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What inspiring qualities or accomplishments weren’t highlighted in your nomination?
I am an honor student at Carolina Forest high school. I participate in the wind ensemble band class. We are recognized as one of the top high school band programs in the state of South Carolina playing all master works level music.

What else would you like to talk about?
A current project I am working on would be portraying the role of Meg in Phantom of the Opera with Myrtle Beach Area Children’s Theater. This will be my 13th performance with MBACT. I am not trained in ballet and the role of Meg is a ballerina. It has been challenging to learn ballet while learning my parts on stage. I have pushed myself to take more ballet classes to understand the role of Meg as thoroughly as I can.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
I am passionate about God and spreading his word by helping other teens through a club at my school called FCA. FCA stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes where it allows me to spread the gospel during the lunch hour and have fellowship with other Christians my age. I took a class my sophomore year and became certified to become a leader to which I can share sermons during our lunch period.

What inspired you to get involved in local theater productions, and do you remember your very first role?
I was taking an after-school art class in middle school and the kids were talking about theater. I told my mom about it and she agreed to sign me up. I started out as a princess in the Little Mermaid Jr., and I have been there ever since.

How are you preparing physically and mentally for the role of Meg in Phantom of the Opera, especially since ballet is new for you?
I started out monologuing each part I sang in a song and each scene I was in. I wrote everything out and went through and wrote down my character’s feelings, purpose in that song/scene, and what she was thinking. To prepare physically I took ballet classes, stretched daily, and practiced for numerous hours at home.

How has being part of 13 productions with Myrtle Beach Area Children’s Theater shaped you as both a performer and a person?
It has shaped me as a performer and a person because it has taught me how to separate personal and professional in the theater world. I work with so many different personalities, beliefs, and attitudes. God has taught me to love everyone I come in contact with even if they don’t treat me well.

What drew you to the euphonium, and what do you love most about playing it in your award-winning wind ensemble?
I would say the euphonium chose me. I originally wanted to play the flute when I joined the band in sixth grade, but when we tested out instruments the euphonium was the only instrument I could make a proper note on. I love the sound it makes and how I can express myself musically through it. I love playing in the wind ensemble because it grows me to be a better musician daily since the expectations are so high.

How do you balance the demands of being an honor student, musician, and performer while still making time for your faith and friends?
I would say it is incredibly difficult. My circle has grown smaller because I don’t always have time to hang out with people. It’s definitely important to have friends who understand you aren’t always available and to always make time for God above all else. I’ve had to learn it’s okay to miss out on things because I love being a part of all these activities. I wouldn’t be the person I am without them.

You mentioned your faith guides everything you do — can you share a moment when your faith helped you through a difficult or uncertain time?
I’ve always been close with my grandparents and this year has been an especially hard year for us. My grandmothers on each side of my family have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and unfortunately do not recognize my family and I any longer. I have had to lean on my faith so I can remind myself that I will be reunited with her in heaven.

What inspired you to take on a leadership role in FCA, and what kind of messages do you enjoy sharing with your peers?
I wanted to center myself with a group of people at my school who were rooted in the same beliefs as me. I also wanted to be a resource for kids who haven’t had the opportunity to learn about God and who He is.

How has being involved in FCA allowed you to grow as a leader and deepen your faith?
Being a leader has made it easier for me to walk with God daily. In my classes and in the hallways I am expected to be fruitful and a representation of a saved Christian. This has pushed me to not only be this way in school but in my daily life. I remind myself constantly that I may be the only bible some kids read.

What lessons have you learned through music and theater that have helped you off the stage — in school, friendships, or leadership?
I have learned consistency, displacement, how to take positive criticism, and the importance of hard-work. I’ve also learned it’s okay to fail because mistakes are what lead to success.

What message would you share with other teens who want to use their talents and faith to make a positive difference in their communities?
I would tell them to pray about it first and to be bold in their faith and not to let the ways of the world distract them from following God. I would also say to know that most of the time the right thing is not always the easiest thing.

What is your ideal dream job if it were offered to you today?
I would love to be a disney princess in the parks or an actress on tv.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank for helping you to get where you are today?
I would like to thank my parents for always supporting me. I would also thank my mom for her constant guidance emotionally and mentally. Without her I’d be at a complete loss of what to do or where to go. I would also like to thank God because He has blessed me with every single opportunity.

How did you find your photographer and what did you love most about the experience?
When my mom was pregnant with my older brother she reached out to a photographer in our neighborhood offering newborn sessions. I met Wendy when I was a few days old and she took my first photos. Our families quickly became close friends. We have been blessed to have Wendy take all our family photos for the last 22 years. What I love most about doing photoshoots with Wendy is she makes it incredibly easy to be comfortable in front of the camera. She allows me to be myself with her and is willing to take risks.

What is a favorite memory with or thoughts of the person who nominated you?
Wendy is a photographer who is not only professional but also passionate about her job. You can see her passion through the time and effort that she puts into each photo that she takes. Wendy is also a sister in Christ and that shines through her work. She truly has a God-given talent and is able to see things through a special lens that the average person cannot see.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
It would be an honor to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine in hopes that I would inspire other teens to have the courage to speak up about their faith and to do what they truly love. In the world today with so much turmoil and uncertainty, it is vital that teens feel comfortable to speak their truth and not conform to the ways of the world but to stand up to for what they believe in.

If you win a scholarship, what will you do with the money?
If I win the scholarship I choose to use the money towards college. When I graduate I plan to become a Diagnostic Sonographer. I know the fees and textbooks along with college funds will be extremely expensive. If I win the scholarship I know that it would help towards my finances to reach my goals of helping others in the medical field.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
I would most definitely be at Disney World pin trading, Disney bounding, eating, or going on all the rides.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to go to New York in February with a group of kids and teachers from my theater. We are planning on seeing three broadway shows and taking broadway-level classes.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
I would say my junior year of high school was my hardest year educationally and mentally. My best friend and I have been side by side since pre-school but she decided to make a choice for her future and transfer schools. I was very proud of her but scared to face the reality of making new friends. Now looking back I am so glad God gave me the opportunity to branch out to people and allow us to grow our friendship..

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
I see myself graduating college, working in radiology, and hopefully starting a family.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I would say I am inspiring because of my ability to have faith through everything. I truly hope when people get to know me they feel the love of God through me because that is my ultimate goal. My purpose is to be used as a vessel for whatever God has planned for me.

Look for Jordan in issue 96 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
*Interviews are not edited after received from our inspiring teens - what you read is who they genuinely are!

click here for more information on issue 96

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