Kaetlyn Carnley

Kaetlyn Carnley – Tennessee
Nomination & Photography by Ashlea Brooke Photography
Issue 102 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
​

Nomination: Kate is the definition of joyful and involved, shining through three years of varsity cheer and her senior year on the LFO Dance Team. A leader in FCA, she shares devotions and encourages others in their faith while also expressing her creativity through art and painting. Kate plans to attend Tennessee Wesleyan University to pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist. She loves all things pink, listens to Morgan Wallen on repeat, and proudly cheers on the Tennessee Vols. Bubbly, bright, and kind hearted, Kate is truly beautiful inside and out.

Photography by Ashlea Brooke Photography

What other inspiring qualities, achievements, or experiences about you, not mentioned in your nomination, would you like readers to know about?
I am extremely hard-working, maintaining a 3.9 GPA throughout high school, as well as obtaining her Patient Care Tech, Medical Assistant, and Phlebotomist certifications.

What inspired you to pursue certifications in the medical field while still in high school?
I chose this path because we need more healthcare workers as a whole, and I feel as though even if my career is in a different direction, starting early will help me gain experience and connections, as well as being able to help people.

How do you balance your academic goals, extracurricular activities, and personal life while staying grounded?
Over time, I have learned to properly manage my time and compartmentalize what is most important at that moment, and then achieve each task to the best of my ability. I also have so much help from my family and friends who support me in all my achievements.

What goals, dreams, or projects are you currently working toward right now?
My dream is to work as an Occupational Therapist. To do this, I am attending Tennessee Wesleyan University and majoring in OT while continuing my 14 year cheerleading career.

What inspired you to pursue Occupational Therapy, and what draws you specifically to that field?
In my time as an all-star cheerleader, I had a coach who had a below-the-knee amputation due to a car accident that he was in. However, that did not stop him from becoming a cheerleading coach and pushing us to be the best we could be. I watched him go back to school for Occupational Therapy and saw how rewarding and fulfilling it was. Since then, I have always felt called to make sure that people who are also going through the same thing feel seen and can try their best to get back to their day to day tasks.


In what ways do you hope to make a difference in people’s lives as a future Occupational Therapist?
To be able to make people, who have had so many opportunities taken from them, see the light in the situation. I also want to be able to help people gain parts of themselves back and hopefully help in their faith journey along the way.

What could you talk about for hours, and why does it matter so much to you?
I could talk about how much it means to keep going. I started high school after moving away from my hometown and everything that was familiar to me, and along the way, I have experienced loss, grief, injury, stress, burn out, and so much more. As graduation creeps closer I look back at those experiences and know how worth it, it truly is to make it to this point, because unfortunately some people don’t. That’s why I encourage anyone out there struggling with anything to pray and trust God’s plans for your life.

How has your faith shaped the way you approach challenges and uncertain seasons in your life?
In different situations in my life, it has been very easy for me to doubt God and be unsure with where I stood in my faith. However, even in those times, God has met me exactly where I am and has helped me to climb out of depression and anxiety and self-sabotage, and made me realize that I have a purpose and that He has a plan for me and my life.

What does being part of FCA mean to you on a personal level, and how has it influenced your perspective?
FCA means the world to me, I love having the opportunity to make my school a ministry. Having fellow students come to me asking questions about Jesus and giving them the strength to pray and ask God for guidance in a difficult situation. It has definitely opened my perspective on what people go through and how much one encouraging word or prayer can help someone who really needs it, as stated in Proverbs 12:25.

What is something you have learned about yourself as a leader or influencer in the past year?
I have learned that sometimes things will not go the way you plan them to, people will try to stand in the way, make up rumors, whatever the case may be. However, those people have taught me to reflect on the mission of what I am trying to accomplish and know I am doing to inspire someone else.

Can you share a moment from cheer or dance that pushed you beyond your comfort zone and helped you grow?
Trying dance for the first time after cheering for 14 years was definitely something that pushed me out of my comfort zone. However, it did help be grow in my confidence and know that I can do anything I set my mind to and it was refreshing to be doing something new before continuing my cheerleading career in college.

What role does creativity, like art and painting, play in helping you express yourself or reset when life feels overwhelming?
Art has become a way for me to escape the monotony of life and the stresses that come with it. I can really just put my thoughts into whatever art I am making whether that is a painting or something made on the pottery wheel.

Who has been one of your biggest influences or role models, and what have you learned from them?
My mom is one of my biggest role models. As I was growing up, she was a single mother who was trying her best to give me the best childhood possible. She showed me how to be independent and be more confident in my personality and has shown me that she will always be in my corner no matter what.

What advice would you give to someone who is going through a tough season and struggling to keep going?
I would tell someone to lay it all at God’s feet. Which sounds easier said than done, especially in the thick of the dark times. However, it is in the dark times that God is working in your life and as hard as it may seem right now, there is a light that will guide you through.

As you look ahead to college and this next chapter, what excites you most about the journey in front of you?
The unknown, not knowing what is next is scary but fun for me. I am so excited to see where this journey and career takes me, and I am confident in God’s plan and knowing that even though I may not know, he knew before I was even created so He will guide me where He wants me to go.

What is one of your favorite memories with the person who nominated you, or something about them that means a lot to you?
My favorite memory is when I was so upset about my boyfriend leaving for army basic training and so I had this crazy idea to honor him in my photos and instead of judging me, she shared what it was like being in a military family, and it became something we bonded over and I felt as though I could truly go to Ashlea for anything!

Tell us about the person who took your photo — how did you connect, and what was that experience like?
Ashlea is the most personable person ever. She will make you feel so beautiful, and she is so appreciative of everyone she works with. She is also so willing to be spontaneous and make all out visions happen, she is truly one of the best photographers I have ever worked with!

Are you part of a model team with your photographer? If so, tell us about it.
I am on the Ashlea Brooke Senior Team for the class of 2026. It has been so amazing to capture all the major moments in my senior year, especially with my boyfriend being away in the Army and not being able to attend my senior events. She has made that experience so much better for me and let me honor him at all my photoshoots. She is our personal hypewoman. She made me feel overall more confident while being on her team.

How did you first hear about Inspiring Teens Magazine? Why does being part of Inspiring Teens Magazine matter to you?
I heard about it when I saw the email in my inbox and did more research into the organization! Being part of this would mean the world to me, I have a very lengthy and complicated testimony, but this would help give me peace of mind that all of my hard work can inspire someone else to do the same!

How will winning a scholarship through Inspiring Teens Magazine help you?
The scholarship will help me with college funds and help pay some upcoming student loans! I would be so honored to win!

What made you say “yes” to the Inspiring Teens challenge, and how did you feel when you first started?
I would love to just spread awareness for anxiety and darkness and how God has helped me through my years in high school. I said “yes” because I was excited to be an inspiration for other teens out there who could be going through the same situations.

Now that you have your interview, which leaderboard level are you most looking forward to and why?
The pink graduation cord, because it just shows how much I have grown and is a tangible representation of how many people I have already impacted.

If another teen is thinking about joining the Inspiring Teens Magazine Leadership Challenge but feels unsure, what would you tell them?
I would tell them that it is totally worth it and that it made me realize how influential I get to be to other teens around me.
Beyond votes or placements, what are you hoping to gain from this experience—and what would make you feel truly successful at the end?
I just want to be able to know that my story has impacted someone in some way.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank for helping you get where you are today?
I would like to thank my photographer Ashlea Riden and my mom Wyndi Brown.

Look for Kaetlyn in issue 102 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
* Each interview is shared in the teen’s own words, so their authentic voice shines through.

click here for more information on issue 102

click here to nominate an inspiring teen