Natalia Vujas

​Natalia Vujas – Ohio
Nomination & Photography by Fischetti & Co. Photography
Issue 95 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Natalia is an inspiring teen because she is passionate about wildlife conservation. She is planning on studying zoology in college and hopes to either work in Field Biology or as a Scientific Illustrator. Natalia maintains a busy, well-rounded schedule on the Girls’ Varsity Golf team and as a cast member of the Off Broad Street Players within the High School Drama department. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and Huddle, as well as a student in Advanced Placement Art classes.

Photography by Fischetti & Co. Photography
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What inspiring qualities or accomplishments weren’t highlighted in your nomination?
I am an empathetic and reliable friend, daughter, sister, and peer. It is important to me to be a helping hand to my parents and a support system for my siblings. I strive to be a leader in school, specifically when doing projects or performing in school plays. I hold my friendships in high regard and have been extremely blessed to be surrounded by an amazing group of friends!

What else would you like to talk about?
Right now I have dedicated myself to finishing the golf season out as strong as possible, so then I can move into my last drama season. One of the final plays of my senior year is coming up, and I cannot wait to share this experience with my friends, and make the absolute most out of it!

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
I could talk about drama, and the theatre forever. I’ve loved watching musicals since I was a child, and I’ve been acting in plays since my freshman year of high school! This is one of the reasons why I wanted to have some of my senior photos done at Playhouse Square. I have so many wonderful memories of going there with my family to watch a musical!

How did you find your photographer and what did you love most about the experience?
I found Stef while searching on Instagram. I thought his pictures were absolutely gorgeous, and I knew that I wanted him to be my photographer! He is so unbelievably kind, and just made the entire experience so comfortable for me. I’m not always the most comfortable in the spotlight, so it was amazing of him to be able to work with me and help me have as much fun as possible!

What is a favorite memory with or thoughts of the person who nominated you?
Stef is extremely funny! Our entire session he was cracking jokes, and it all felt extremely natural. I honestly think that he is one of the kindest photographers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
I want people to know more about who I am! I’ve never been nominated for something like this before, so it’s a new experience that I’m so excited to have a shot at. I’ve always enjoyed reading things about what kids my age are doing, and I’m really happy that it’s my turn to possibly share the spotlight!

If you win a scholarship, what will you do with the money?
If I win a scholarship I am planning on using the money to buy myself a laptop for college. I am extremely passionate about my education, and I’m working hard to put as much money as possible towards making sure I receive the schooling I’ve dreamt of forever!

You’re considering Field Biology or Scientific Illustration—what experience or moment first made you think, “I could build a life around protecting wildlife,” and how are you exploring both paths now?
Growing up, my sister and I were both extremely into shows like Wild Kratts, Zaboomafoo, and different documentaries on Animal Planet. Shows like those have always been extremely interesting to me, and the older I got, that fascination never went away. Our natural world is in dire need of protection, and I hope that one day I get to be the person to bring about that change. I’ve also been drawing since the moment I could pick up a pencil, so it only made sense to me to blend the two things I’m most passionate about into a career choice!

Scientific Illustration blends art and accuracy. Walk us through your process for illustrating an animal: research, observation, sketching, and how you decide what details matter most.
It starts simply with observation. I place down basic shapes with minimal detail. Then, I move into research. You can’t truly capture what it is you’re trying to draw without a sense of understanding why things look and move the way they do. Usually my sketches have notes written all around them, so I can make sure that everything is exactly as it needs to be, and so I can look back on them in the future!

Varsity Golf can be a mental game. What mindset or routine helps you reset after a tough hole—and where else in life does that routine help?
In this final year of golf, I’ve had one consistent mindset the entire time: Who cares? Thinking like that has helped my game improve immensely. Why should I ruin my entire season and/or match because of one bad shot? I’m here to have as much fun as possible, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ve noticed that as soon as I flipped my mindset to something more positive, my scores have been on an upward trend as well!

As a leader in drama, what’s one time you helped a castmate (or the whole production) through a challenge and what did it teach you about leadership under pressure?
One of my first memories of high school drama was being thrust into a stage hand role that was previously held by two people. During my freshman year of high school, a friend and I were stage hands for a production of Little Women, but right before the show she got sick and had to drop out. I then had to learn everything that she previously had taken care of, and add that on top of my roles. It was hard work getting the hang of it, but I knew I couldn’t let my cast down! In the end, it all came together perfectly, and I was extremely proud of myself. This taught me that no matter how hard something may seem, it’s my responsibility to try and make sure that the people around me aren’t let down.

You’re in AP Art and NHS—describe a piece you’re most proud of this year and the story behind it. How did feedback shape the final result?
The piece I’m most proud of from the start of this year is a portrait I painted of myself. It was the first project I’ve done for an art class that I didn’t use a grid or transfer paper. I simply freehanded the whole thing, and I’ve never been more proud of a project. It also means a lot to me because it’s a photo of me from curtain call during the first show I got a lead role in. Since this was a summer project, there wasn’t anyone I could really get feedback from. However, that just meant that I learned to trust myself to make mistakes and continue to try and try again until I was happy with the final product!

Huddle emphasizes faith and community. How do your values show up in everyday choices with friends, teammates, and castmates?
I try to be as kind as possible to everyone. I know what it feels like to be left out, and so I’ve promised myself to always be the person that people can come to when they need it most. It would be extremely hypocritical to try and teach others how to make good decisions and how to be kind, if I wasn’t practicing those things myself.

You value being an empathetic and reliable sibling and friend. Share a recent moment you’re proud of where you showed up for someone who needed you.
There isn’t one moment I can pinpoint, but I know for sure that I’ve dedicated this year to being my truest, kindest self. If someone needs something from me, I’m going to try my hardest to make sure they get it. I know what it’s like to not have someone that will drop anything for you, so I strive to be that for other people no matter what.

Your senior photos at Playhouse Square celebrate a lifelong love of theatre. What show or role most shaped you as an actor—and why?
The role that shaped me the most was actually multiple roles. During the first ever show I was cast in I was cast in two or three small roles at the same time. I had maybe ten lines all together, but it was the most fun I’ve ever had! This show showed me that continuing theater was possible, and just how wonderful our program truly is. After that show, I’ve never looked back, and have been in two shows a year since.

Imagine designing a small community project that connects kids to local wildlife (a citizen-science count, a native-plants garden, a sketch-and-observe club, etc.). What would you build and how would you measure its impact?
My first step towards making a change in my community would be to simply start a watch club. How can people decide they want to make a change too, if they aren’t familiar with what they’re trying to change. By simply getting out into the outdoors kids can see for themselves the beauty that lies there, and that’s where real change starts. Then, maybe one day there will be a new generation like me who find nature fascinating as a child, and then turn around and make a future out of protecting it!

With golf season wrapping and your final drama season ahead, what does a “perfect” senior finish look like to you—and what habits are you leaning on to make it happen?
I hope that my last week of golf is as fun as possible. I don’t plan on continuing playing for a team at the collegiate level, so this is my last chance to spend time with my friends playing a sport that we all love! As for drama, I’m in the rehearsal process for a show right now, and I can say with full certainty that I’m going to have so much fun. I want my last two shows to be ones to remember. I have so many friends in this department, so my focus for the rest of this year is to make as many memories as possible with my favorite people!

Look for Natalia in issue 95 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 95

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