Jazmine Lara: From Micro Preemie to Future Audiologist & Artist | Inspiring Teens Magazine
- Inspiring Teens Magazine
- Aug 9
- 4 min read
Jazmine Lara
Nomination by Amanda Lara
Photography by Emma Earnheart
Nomination: Jazmine Lara was a micro premie at birth. At one pound, 24 week gestation life started rough and things didn’t look good. Today she is an aspiring artist having placed at state and national Beta for five years, she has taught herself American Sign Language and is overall academically strong and fierce. She has big dreams and is bound to succeed!
What other inspiring qualities, achievements, or experiences about you, not mentioned in your nomination, would you like readers to know about?
Im currently ranked second in my graduating class! I’m not our official salutatorian yet- as I haven’t graduated, but I’m trying my best to work toward it!
What goals, dreams, or projects are you currently working toward right now?
Im working toward being fluent in Spanish and I dream to eventually become an audiologist to help those who have trouble hearing or communicating with their peers.
What could talk about for hours, and why does it matter so much to you?
I could talk about Sign Language all day, because most people overlook the fact that ASL is only one tidbit under the entire Sign Language umbrella. There are so many different spoken languages and there are corresponding signs all around the world because of the various languages, so I could talk and talk about that all day! There are different variations of grammar, we can see this when it comes to the difference between ASL, SEE, and various others! Everybody just assumes that Sign Language is only ASL, but that’s not the case at all. It is super fascinating and I find it interesting that so many people just assume that there aren’t deeper levels to it.
What is something you have learned about yourself as a leader or influencer in the past year?
This past year I’ve learned that I have much more patience than what I once thought, I’ve become more aware and confident when signing and trying to become a better version of myself. I’ve been caught in situations that I don’t know how to handle, but when I get there I’ve been able to keep calm and try to give everything the benefit of the doubt and solve things out the right way.
What is one of your favorite memories with the person who nominated you, or something about them that means a lot to you?
Something about my mom that means a lot to me is her kindness. She has taught me to always be kind and open minded because we truly never know what anybody is going through- why they might have done the things they did, or why they said what they said. She’s helped me to become more understanding and overall more positive as I’ve grown into who I am today.
Tell us about the person who took your photo — how did you connect, and what was that experience like?
She’s my photographer, Emma and my mom have known each other for years, and she takes my pictures all the time! She’s an amazing person and a very talented photographer. She’s super sweet and such a fun soul to be around.
How did you first hear about Inspiring Teens Magazine? Why does being part of Inspiring Teens Magazine matter to you?
I was nominated! I have never heard of the “Inspiring Teens Magazine” before, but I am excited to be a part of it because I can show other people, no matter their age, that they can be bigger than what people tell them they are. As somebody who was born at one pound, I’ve never been strong enough, big enough, tall enough- I’ve only recently grown into my body and confidence, so I want to inspire others that no matter what they are born into or what they have to overcome that they are their own person at the end of the day. Your story might begin with where you started, but you determine how your story ends. Nobody else gets to decide that for you- even if they are doctors.
How will earning a scholarship through Inspiring Teens Magazine help you?
Earning a scholarship through Inspiring Teens Magazine would help me to share my story and help people overcome disabilities that they might have been born with or have started to experience with old age. Not only would the scholarship help me, but I would use it to benefit those around me. As I go to college- which is what I will use the scholarship for, I will pursue audiology and eventually be able to help those who have lost hearing, possibly be an interpreter for those who can’t communicate or afford hearing aids, help infants or elders hear for their very first time, and inspire people to keep pushing even though some things aren’t fair in life. Not everybody is born with abilities that the average human has, so I have every intention of using my scholarship to help people know that they are so much bigger than what they were born from, in, or with. I don’t intend to use the scholarship solely for myself, but for the benefit of others as well. It would make me very happy to be able to help and inspire those who need it!!
Look for Jasmine in issue 104 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
* Each interview is shared in the teen’s own words, so their authentic voice shines through.
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