Maggie Page

Maggie Page – Michigan
Nomination & Photography by Freeland Photography
Issue 60 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

​Nomination: To find a teen who gives 100% to what they love is rare. To find one balancing commitments to sports, school and job is a diamond in the rough. Maggie Page, 16, is one of those teens. With a love for singing, theatre, tennis, golf, and strength & conditioning, while maintaining a 4.1 GPA shows dedication. Most adults can't even fathom that much responsibility. Maggie’s a true inspiration, proving if you love something and desire to achieve it, hard work, dedication, and passion need to collide. Her next step is playing collegiate D2 tennis and majoring in sports management.

Photography by Freeland Photography

​Tell us about your time singing and in theatre. Do the two go hand in hand?
By the time I was 5, I wanted to be in a Broadway show. Croswell Opera House, advertised for people to audition for their upcoming production of Miracle on 34th Street. We saw it the last day of open auditions. I was only 6, and I didn’t have a song prepared, but they let me try. I sang “Tomorrow” from Annie for my audition. I ended up landing the part of Hendrika, the little Dutch Girl in Miracle on 34th Street. I had to learn and perform a song in Dutch to sing a duet with Santa (Sinterklass in Dutch.)

What is your favorite genre to sing? Do you have a go-to song? If so, what is it?
I love to sing all genres, but my 2 favorites would have to be Alternative Pop and Country. I have done on YouTube was Scars to your Beautiful by Alessia Cara. I liked the song because every person should feel beautiful and not have it based on society’s norms. After I put it on YouTube, I had many private comments from people that said how moving it was and why it meant so much to them. Another song that means a lot to me is When I Meet My Maker by Tenille Townes. It brings my faith into my music.

What has been your favorite theater production you've participated in and why?
That is a tough one! I have loved working with all of the different Directors and Cast and Crew on every single show I was in, but I guess I would have to say my favorite was my first, Miracle on 34th Street, just because that is the one that introduced me to what it was like to be a part of that life. I met some amazing people along the way that act and sing professionally and I will always treasure the memories of those experiences. I, at one time, even considered going into it professionally, as well.

What have you learned about yourself on stage?
As many productions and performances as I have been in and done, every single time on stage was an adrenaline rush. It was scary, but exhilarating all at the same time.

What has been the most memorable character you've ever played?
I think my favorite has to be Annie. I played the role of Annie in 2 different productions, one when I was 9 and again when I was 12. I first saw it in New York City and knew I wanted to be in it someday. Every production was so much work, but so fun. I had many late nights of doing homework, eating dinner and sleeping in the car on the way to rehearsals. Annie was special to me because it was the last production I was able to be in due to getting into tennis more seriously.

Photography by Freeland Photography

Tell us about your golf career.
I never golfed until 9th grade. Even though I was golfing with girls that have golfed for many years, I didn’t get discouraged. I play my own game and only compete with myself. In 9th grade I was getting 140’s and 150’s on 18 holes. This year, as a Senior, I am getting into the low 90’s. Still not great compared to some, but I am very pleased with my progress. My coaches are always so patient and helpful with picking up on little changes that really made a difference.

What is one of your favorite earliest memories on the golf course?
My favorite memory is probably actually from this year, when I finally was able to get into the 90’s for my golf score.

If you could golf anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would probably have to say the St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland. I have seen pictures of it and it looks absolutely unbelievable!

When did you take up tennis and what do you love most about it?
I first started tennis the summer before 7th grade when I found out my new school had a tennis program for middle school. I knew, immediately, I was in love with the sport. I preferred playing Singles rather than Doubles because if I made a mistake, I didn’t want it to upset my Doubles partner. Playing Singles…it’s all on me. But in order to play Singles, it was going to require a lot of hard work to move up the lineup. I was more than willing to do the work and loved the challenge.

What is your favorite accomplishment with tennis?
My favorite accomplishment with tennis was actually this summer. I had a long-term goal of winning the Annual Fred Sidmore Memorial Tournament. The defending champion has won the tournament 26 times over the years and it was a major battle, but I ended up winning first place in the tournament this last August. I trained and worked very hard to accomplish that goal.

What are you looking forward to most in playing college tennis?
I am most looking forward to the team camaraderie of playing college tennis for Belmont Abbey. I have been down there twice to talk to the coaches and was able to meet the team on my official visit down there in August. They were so incredibly welcoming that I could immediately feel a sense of belonging. I can’t wait to be part of that atmosphere of helping to build each other up with encouragement and positive energy.

How do you find time to do everything you do and still maintain such a high gpa?
It may seem like a sacrifice to decline some invitations for lunch or shopping due to homework, practice or working out, but to me, it isn’t. I spend time with friends at school and while watching athletic events, but during the week, I’m occupied from 7 a.m. until sometimes 9 pm with practice, homework and working out. Tennis also ties in with a degree in Sports Management. My choices, although unconventional to most high schoolers, are not an obligation…it’s what I love. I’ve met some amazing people through tennis that have helped me along the way. I’m so incredibly grateful.

Why did you choose sports management for college?
I was first interested in a Sports Management Degree because I want to Coach Tennis someday. Between my private coach, high school coach and soon to be college coach, I see the difference they can make in a player’s life. They are more than a coach, they lead by example and I feel very blessed to have them in my life.
I also like the fact that as life situations change, there is so much I can do with that degree as life changes.

Photography by Freeland Photography

​How did you find and why did you choose Freeland Photography for your photographer? 
I’ve known since 9th grade that I wanted Carrie Stadleman from Freeland Photography for my Senior Pictures after years of seeing her work pop up from upper classmen. I could always spot her work before I even saw the name in the corner. She is absolutely amazing! She loves her work and it shows. She has a way of bringing out all the things about the person she is photographing and immediately had me comfortable working with her as we got the shots we both wanted. Not only is she a great photographer, a great person all the way around.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
I journal in and read my Bible every single day. I have read the entire Bible through more than twice now. I use it in every part of my daily life. My faith is everything to me.

What else would you like to talk about?
My faith and the path it has led me down in my life. I believe that every single thing that happens, happens for a reason. There was a crazy chain of events that led me to going to school at Lumen Christi and therefore the people and coaches that have come into my life because of my tennis connections.

If you were to present a topic to a group of your peers, what would it be? 
It would be expressing the importance of being your own person and not another cookie cutter teen. Do your own thing, do what you love, and do it well! Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough to achieve your dreams or that your dreams are stupid.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished was probably reaching the level of tennis play to get onto a D2 college tennis team. I train every single day, whether it’s weight training, performance training, tennis lessons, tennis tournaments and even my job helped to get me where I am. Last summer, I was asked to be a Co-Pro for Tennis at the local Country Club. It was the absolute perfect job, allowing me to play/work 3 days per week all summer long. It helped me to reach my goals and solidified my decision to pursue a Sports Management Degree.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
If you truly love it, it doesn’t seem like work. When I added in weight lifting and performance athletic training to my tennis lessons and tournament play, it added another level to my game. It gave me the strength to hit harder and the speed and agility to move faster. There is always work to be done, but if you’re willing to put in the time and skip a shopping trip here and there, anything is possible.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
 In 5 years, I will likely be pursuing my Master’s Degree and hopefully doing an internship as an Assistant Tennis Coach until I can reach my goal of being a Head Coach.
What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
When I am not playing tennis or golf, I love to be out on the lake or playing and singing music. I sit down and play piano and sing 2-3 songs every morning before I even leave for school. If I have time on the weekends, I also have a YouTube channel that I like to record videos of songs that either are requested by friends or family or songs that mean something to me.

DO YOU HAVE A HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?
Even though I don’t have time to perform musically anymore, I am told that I should never stop singing, and I definitely won’t. It is a big part of me. I have also been writing my own songs and music for the past 2 years and would love to have them professionally recorded and someday perform them.

3 Things on your bucket list
I would have to say, first, I want to be a Tennis Coach, in order to make a difference in someone’s life like my coaches have made a difference in mine. Second, I would say I would like to publically perform again. Whether it’s coffee shop singing or maybe Nashville, I would love to do it someday. Third, I would love to find the time to go to the Wimbledon some year and watch the tennis greats!

Who do you find inspiring?
I find my parents inspiring because I am blessed to say they have always put me first. Whether it was nightly, late night, long distance theater rehearsals, never missing one of my tennis matches, or taking me to lessons and tournaments. I hope to be the same kind of parent that they’ve been to me. My coaches are also so inspiring. From the youngest, my high school coach, to the oldest, my Strength and Conditioning Coach, they all lead by example. They’re all amazing people and believe hard work pays off and have helped me to reach my goals.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I never considered myself a person that inspires others until people said to me that they admire my dedication or the fact that I’m not afraid to sing or speak publicly or even the fact that as a girl, working out in a gym full of guys and not to be intimidated, but to just look at it as we are all there to help reach our own personal goals. When I leave the gym, sweaty and exhausted, I like knowing that I’m not only helping myself achieve my goals, but hopefully giving others courage to do the same.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Yes! Thank you so much to everyone involved in this! From all of you that put this magazine and interviews together and to Freeland Photography for nominating me! This has been a fun experience to put my thoughts down about everything I am trying to accomplish and hoping I can inspire others to remember that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

Look for Maggie in issue 60 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 60

click here to nominate an inspiring teen