Marissa Freehling

Marissa Freehling – Michigan
Nomination by Teri Freehling
Photography by Harrington Photography
Issue 86 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Marissa Freehling doesn't know the word quit. For the last several years, life has thrown many curveballs between the pandemic and navigating a journey of grief through it after losing her Dad. Marissa has never given up. She helped advocate creating a junior board for the area youth fair, which she has chaired for 2 years. She became an area representative as a community queen for the Blossomtime Festival. She volunteers with the area Lions group and countless other organizations. When she sees a need, she fills it. These are just a few reasons why Marissa is an inspiring teen.
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Photography by Harrington Photography
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How have your hardships turned you into a stronger person?
Through my hardships, I have learned to never give up. Losing my dad, I learned what it meant to be strong. This loss has turned out to be a motivation to be there for others. If I notice someone having a bad day, I will always make sure to see if they need a listening ear.

What did you learn about the world around you during the pandemic?
When the world shut down, everything was online. This has made many reliant on technology. With that being said, although there are some issues that technology can cause, it has also been a huge asset to many employees, schools, and businesses. Since no one could meet in person, everyone became acclimated to Zoom meetings and working from home. This has since benefitted many because it has allowed more flexibility in work schedules. However, it has also caused us to lose touch with being able to talk to each other in person.

What do you miss most about your dad?
The adventures that we always went on together with the work for the farm and our family’s drainage tile business for fields. I also miss spending fair with him because of all that he did as a Fair Board member. He would teach me all of the ropes of how to work with others and was such an inspiration to me with his determination and grit to always get things done.

What inspired you to create a junior board for the area youth fair?
My dad was my biggest advocate for starting the Junior Fair Board. We both worked for years on trying to persuade the Main Fair Board that this group would be a beneficial addition. The goal for this group was to inspire area youth to be “Builders of Good Citizenship.” Another goal we wanted was to consider other youth’s ideas and be a voice for them.

What roles and responsibilities do you have with it now?
As of right now, I am currently sitting as the President for my second term. I also manage our social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram. As a board we also got some fundraising events started; our most successful being Line Dancing. Another responsibility has been different projects on our fairgrounds. We’ve painted grandstand bleachers in 90 degrees and volunteered at the fair’s fundraising events, including the annual car show and our biannual Mom2Mom sale. This gets us out in the community and teaches us responsibilities that we could have if we continue on to the main Fair Board.

What did it entail to become a community queen for the Blossomtime Festival and what does that role mean to you?
To become a community queen, there is more to it than being in a pageant. The contest starts about a month prior where we learn hair and makeup skills, an opening dance (not judged), interview skills, and on-stage presence. The most important part of this was the interview. It is three judges' opinions on one day, and it just depends on their criteria. However, this also means that first impressions are crucial. Just being yourself is so important because they want to see how you will represent your community. The role is important because youth look up to community queens.

What do you love most about volunteering at the Lions group?
The Lions strive to help with opportunities to ensure eyesight health and do different glass drives, vision screenings, and some fundraising events. My favorite event is their pancake breakfast because I love getting out into the community. A lot of this generation has lost touch with getting out in their community and one of my goals is to bring back that motivation. Although I am not yet a Lion member, I have always helped as my mom has been a member for numerous years.

Which organization that you volunteer for gave you the biggest surprise and why?
The Blossomtime Pageant, which can be participated in once crowned as a community queen. When awards were being given out, they had one of the most prestigious awards; the Bob Braamse Award. This award is given out after queens fill out a form with all of their volunteer activities from high school. My list ended up being nearly 80 different volunteer activities. Never have I thought of my volunteer work as getting recognition, but as a way to give back, and hearing my name called for this award was one of the most shocking moments in my life.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
Growing up as the 6th generation on my family farm has been such an empowering thing. Especially with the field being so heavily male, taking on a leadership role on the farm has helped me move forward with my passion and future endeavors of becoming an agricultural lawyer.

What do you love most about living a farm life?
Life on the farm is no game. But knowing that with the family farm, we are feeding families, brings my heart so much gratitude and joy. It teaches so many life lessons. The most important is responsibility. Even at a young age, I was taught to care for the animals attentively. Along with this, I learned skills like running equipment, welding, and most recently how to operate a combine. Farming is very much a thinking outside-of-the-box job because there are so many problems farmers run into. If you love the job, nothing can stop your passion.

What do you wish others knew about agriculture?
Farmers arguably have one of the most important jobs, as we feed the world. A lot of people go into stores but what they don’t realize is that if there were no farmers, there wouldn’t be any food. With that being said, I feel that it is important to appreciate our farmers. If you know of any located near you, try your best to support them to the best of your ability because it is so crucial that we become more close-knit in a world where people have forgotten the importance.

What do you hope to achieve as an agricultural lawyer?
Currently, my goal as an agricultural lawyer is to advocate for the farmers. With so many new laws to abide by with agriculture, I feel that it is crucial the farmers have a voice and someone willing to stand up for them. Many say farmers are a dying breed. This has to do with so much new land development. One of the hardest things to watch is fields of farmers you knew being put up for sale and turned into housing. Building relationships with these farmers is crucial because it helps to make connections once I have gone through college.

What else would you like to talk about?
Always get involved, and if you can't think of a way, find someone who may have those opportunities. If you see a need, you should always fill it because that is what being a role model is. Always trying to help improve in all aspects of life.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
My passion is definitely volunteering. This is something that I have grown up learning to love. Being so involved with everything my mom does in the community has always taught me service over self. I feel that so much of our youth has lost touch with this. Finding even small things to do can be so beneficial because every job is important. We should show our youth of tomorrow why it is so important to be as involved as possible! However, also show them that if you are to get involved in a lot, don't spread yourself too thin.

How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most?
My photographer has taken my sports pictures since elementary school. I had heard from social media that they were looking for people interested in becoming a part of their senior model team and so I decided to go and see what it was all about! I have truly enjoyed working with the Harringtons as they know how to tell each aspect of my story. Probably my favorite thing so far has been being able to let loose and be myself!

What do you do with the senior model team and how has it helped shape you as a person?
With the senior model team, the group has done studio shoots and beach shoots. We have even traveled all the way up to Mackinac Island and Chicago with most of the team. Harrington Photography’s main goal is to tell each model's story. He finds our passion and tries to make that the focus of each of the photos taken. Having this opportunity has opened up so many doors for me. The confidence I have gained working with the team has been such a blessing. Working together to come up with creative ideas, allows me to think outside of the box.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
This is an opportunity of a lifetime and with it, I would promote the Inspiring Teens Magazine to others locally. I feel that it is so empowering knowing that people see what you do. However, you should just try to be perfect on paper, you have to be willing to put in the work. Finding out I was nominated was probably one of the most amazing moments ever and I would love to see others have the same experience!

What is a favorite memory with or thoughts of the person who nominated you?
After talking with my mom, I found out that she nominated me. I truly can't choose just one memory. However, some of my favorite moments with her have been spent on Mackinac Island. We have had countless family adventures here and go almost every year for our family vacation. I am grateful for all of the lessons my mom has taught me in life. Anything from learning how to get out in the community to facing your biggest challenges. She is my definition of a role model.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
I think it is safe to say that I would either be out in our woods fishing in our pond or doing work on different pieces of equipment in the shop. Fishing is peaceful and allows me to take a moment and slow down. It also teaches a lot of patience. Working on equipment also takes patience because it may take a while to determine what needs work. That being said, it also allows for problem-solving and understanding the concepts of our equipment.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
Currently, being a senior means a lot of lasts. However, it also means a lot of new beginnings. My hope is to continue my volunteerism and also to attend college. I want to leave a lasting impression on underclassmen and help them understand the importance of working hard and being involved.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
Starting the Junior Fair Board took a lot of determination and dedication. The idea started about 8 years ago when I realized that the fair is a youth fair and I wanted to have a voice.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Just be yourself! You must believe you can do it to accomplish your goals and ambitions.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
Currently, I plan to be running the family farm and working on completing my degree in agricultural law.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
Running is a pastime that maybe isn’t my favorite thing to do sometimes. However, running is a good habit and allows me to let go of anything going on in my life.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
Welding is one of my greatest talents because it allows me to express my creativity. I have welded for 7 years; since I started at the age of 10.

3 Things on your bucket list
Traveling, joining the main Fair Board, and going to Michigan State University

Who do you find inspiring?
My mom is one of my biggest inspirations as she has taught me so much throughout life. She is able to balance being a mom of two, her job, and all of the volunteering she does.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
My heart to serve when I see a need. Not because of the attention or recognition, but because of the passion and dedication instilled through it.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I hope that by being able to share my passions and how my life has shaped me, I will inspire at least one person. I also hope to inspire the younger generation and teach them about why agriculture is so important.

Look for Marissa in issue 86 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 86

click here to nominate an inspiring teen