Meadow Kavalauskas

​Meadow Kavalauskas – Ohio
Nomination by Sarah Kavalauskas
Photography by 12.9 Dance
Issue 69 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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​Nomination: Meadow Kavalauskas is thirteen years old and in the 8th grade. She is on the Butler Kickline, Junior Expressions Elite dance team, and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Meadow is inspiring because she is amazingly kind and her passion for dance is incredible. She is also very responsible and is good at balancing her dance life with her school life. This can be especially hard for her due to her ADHD but she powers through it wonderfully! All around, Meadow is a kind and determined dancer and student who can definitely be seen as an inspiration.

Photography by 12.9 Dance

​Tell us about your dance career.
My dance career started when I was around three, taking my first ballet class at Dance Expressions Dance Studio. I fell in love with dance and joined their competition teams in 2nd grade. I have now been a part of the Tiny, Mini, and Junior Elite teams. Now, I am a soloist and a team member.

What dances do you study, which is your favorite? Why?
I study almost every style of dance, including contemporary, modern, ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and others. My favorite style, though, has to be contemporary. I like the contemporary style the most because I feel the most like myself in that style, and it really helps me express my emotions.

What do you love most about dancing?
What I love most about dance is that it is freeing. As soon as the music turns on, everything disappears. I become entirely focused on the choreo or the storytelling. It gives me a place to let my mind run free, and dance gives my ADHD something to focus on.

What do you wish others knew about dancing?
Something I wish people knew about dance is that it is more challenging than it may seem. People who don't dance may not know that it is more than jumps and twirls. Dance is made up of many things, including intense physical movement, lots of memory, and training.

Where has been your favorite place to compete and why?
My favorite place to compete is probably ShowStopper. One reason would be that they change the background to fit your dance. Another reason would be that their judge's comments are very easy to understand and are super helpful. My last reason would be that their awards ceremony is entertaining and always fun!

​How did you find your photographer, Maria Kirkland or 12.9 Dance? What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
I found Maria Kirkland’s company “12.9 dance photography” when a few of my dance friends started posting photos taken by her. I decided to apply and was accepted as an ambassador. At first, I was nervous and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing but Maria made me feel comfortable and gave me fun tips. My favorite part about working with her is the amazing people you meet and the memories you make.

Photography by 12.9 Dance

​What is a favorite accomplishment with dance?
My favorite accomplishment would be anytime I placed in the top twenty out of over one hundred people. I accomplished this after a rough year of adjusting to life with ADHD and anxiety. Not only was it hard to place against so many amazing dancers, but I felt redeemed after such a challenging year. I also feel very proud of myself any time that I place.

If you could be on any dance TV show, which one would you choose?
If I could be on any dance TV show, I would be on World of Dance. I would compete in a contemporary dance to "Never Felt So Alone" by Labrinth. I would probably wear a navy or darker-colored costume that matched the song's vibe.

What is your dance team like? Where do you fit in and where do you stand out?
My dance team is a unique group of athletes. Each of us have different interests but come together for our common love for dance. In dance, the team must perform together. One missing team member impacts the entire performance. As a team, we help each other improve and hold each other accountable. The team celebrates small wins, such as when someone learns a new skill. The team may laugh and goof around, but when the music starts, we focus on winning the next competition.

What does NJHS entail on your end, and why do you love being a part of this organization?
Being on NJHS contributes to Shoes For the Shoeless, where we fit and give free shoes to those without them, fundraisers for the school, penny wars, where the school saves up coins to help the children in the hospital, and so much more. I love being a part of this organization because it helps others in need; I get to collaborate with others to post on their social media, help with fundraisers, and run fun activities for the school.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
One thing my nomination did not cover is that I love being a leader. I was given the opportunity to be a W.E.B leader which means I get to help new 6th graders adjust, grow, and succeed in middle school. My love for the Earth was also something. I enjoy putting in my support whenever I can whether it's recycling, picking up trash, or donating to organizations that help save the Earth!

What is your best leadership quality?
My best leadership quality is my ability to easily collaborate with others. I am always open to new ideas and can easily create bonds with others.

Photography by 12.9 Dance

Tell us more about your love for the Earth and efforts to save it.
Lately, my love for the Earth has been growing, and I plan for it to keep growing. I have always loved helping on Earth Day or picking up trash that I saw, but now I have completely realized the extent of how bad the Earth has gotten. So, I've done my best to help wherever I can, and I've even downloaded an app that plants a tree every 10,000 steps I take to help with deforestation.

How can others help?
Other people can help the Earth by simply doing their research and doing their best to recycle, pick up trash, and reuse resources that are reusable.

What do you have coming up that are planning in this endeavor?
Something that I am planning in this endeavor would be to promote upcycling, recycling, or awareness for mental health.

What else would you like to talk about?
Something else I would like to talk about would probably be mental health awareness. I struggled for more than 5 years before realizing I had a mental health issue. My mom was the first to realize and took me to see a doctor. Turns out that I had ADHD. Although it took time to work through, I did my best with the support of my friends and family. If I hadn’t had their support and knowledge I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
Something I could talk about forever would be dance. I started dancing when I was three and fell in love. As I got older I started to find peace in it. It became my own personal way to express my emotions or feelings. I love the stage, the costumes, the music, the routines, classes, and even the long practices that feel like they will never end. Dance is like my second home and I have a ton of fun memories from it.

Photography by 12.9 Dance

​If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
If I had nothing to do all day, you would probably find me in my basement working on dance skills or watching Grey's Anatomy with my dog because we all need a break sometimes to chill out with our pets.

What is up next for you and you're super excited about?
Something coming up that I am super excited about is my next photoshoot with 12.9 Photography or my intensive with Dayton Dance Conservatory because I love learning new things with new people!

What is the hardest thing you were able to accomplish, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished is helping my team win grand champions. This was hard for me because I was new to the team, and I felt super pressured because the team had already won two times in the past. Plus, with the added pressure of starting my ADHD and anxiety medications. Yet, I was able to pull through and help the team achieve one of their biggest goals.

What advice would you give someone who wants to be where you are today?
The advice I would give someone who wants to be where I am today would be to consistently work hard and not to care what anyone else thinks. If I had taken criticism from every person who didn't like what I was doing, I would not be where I am today. I also try my best to live by my favorite quote, which is, "Don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from." This quote has helped me so much and has helped me realize the more essential things in life to think about.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/ what are your plans?
In five years, I will be finishing up my senior year of high school and then hopefully be headed off to a good college. Then I will work hard to achieve my dream job, which is to be an anesthesiologist.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
My favorite activity to pass the time is practicing the flute, color relaxing coloring pages, or trying to learn new skills I find on Instagram/ tik tok.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
I'm not sure if this is a hidden talent but a hidden talent I have is that I am incredibly flexible. For example, I can bend my legs over my head, I can turn myself into a pretzel, and I can pretty much extend my leg all the way over. Another hidden talent I have is that I have a photographic memory of words. This means I can remember what page, which book, and what that sentence said precisely. My photographic memory only works for school, though, sadly.

​3 things on your bucket list?
Three things on my bucket list would be to be in a horror movie, to be a Taylor Swift backup dancer, and to ride the scariest roller coaster in the world.

Who do you find inspiring?
Someone I find inspiring is Anne Sullivan. She is famous for being Hellen Keller's teacher. She taught a blind and deaf child how to read and talk. Basically, she did what others told her was impossible. She also did that while partly blind due to an eye disease she developed as a little girl. I could go on and on about how she did the impossible and helped a little girl that everyone else saw as a "lost cause," but I'm going to say Anne is very inspiring and do what others see as impossible.

What about you inspires others/ why do you think you are inspiring?
What others find inspiring about me is that I am talented, intelligent, kind, and a fighter. I'm talented due to the fact that I am a dancer who dances all styles, a flute player, and a tumbler. I can be seen as intelligent because of my grades and scores. I am kind because of my ability to make friends and love for helping others. Last, but not least, I am a fighter because of my fight with ADHD and anxiety, and I will fight for what I believe is right.

Look for Meadow in issue 69 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 69

click here to nominate an inspiring teen