Vote for Lauren Keyes for our Issue 88 Scholarship & Cover Winner! (Thanks for your donation!)
See InspiringTeens.com/88 for more details on prizes this teen can win with your help!
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Lauren Keyes – Indiana
Nomination & Photography by PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE ANN
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What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
As an aspiring leader, I act as a volunteer in many projects within my community but also within my school. I have tutored younger children who needed the extra help as well as being a leader for the middle school student council. Not only do I take action as a volunteer, I also take action within the classroom. Throughout my high school years I have stood first in my class all four years. I have excelled in advanced classes and ended this year as a part of the top ten academic teenagers in my county.
What else would you like to talk about?
A topic that I did not discuss during my nomination is my love for showing animals. I used to show horses all across the country when I was twelve to sixteen. While I don’t show across the country anymore I still show locally. At one point during my time showing I ended the year as one of the top five youth in the nation. Four years ago I learned how to show and care for sheep as well. I have shown sheep at my county fair every year since and have also taken home a winning banner every year.
What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
A topic that I feel incredibly passionate about is the stigma around mental health treatment in the justice system. I believe there are unstable individuals who are deemed as "criminals" and are not getting help. While I am not justifying their crime in any way, these individuals need treatment for the illness they have inside their mind. A certain amount of these people are taken over by their mind and cannot comprehend or explain the actions they have committed. If extensive mental health treatment were required we could have the chance to create assets to society instead of liabilities.
How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most?
I found my photographer through Instagram! She had done my older cousin's senior pictures the year before so I was looking at those on her page. I realized how much I liked the pictures and soon started looking at more. My experience with Leslie has been nothing short of amazing! She has always been down to make my ideas come true. Leslie has always gone above and beyond with communicating with me and making me feel like the best version of myself. I love her outgoing personality and her dedication to her clients.
What is a favorite memory with or thoughts of the person who nominated you?
I was nominated by my wonderful photographer. My favorite memory with Leslie is our group session at a park in Indiana. The reason for the selection of this park was for a few gorgeous waterfalls that it offered. During this shoot, most of us team members were wearing dresses. All of us, including Leslie, had to do something close to parkour to make our way across the rocks into the waterfall. Leslie stood in the pond area below the waterfall, up to her waist, for close to three hours taking pictures of us. It was such a fun day!
Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
My purpose for wanting to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine is to do just that: inspire. I want to be able to share my story and continue to be a leader to younger teenagers out there. If I can inspire just one person to be their best self, then I have fulfilled my purpose. There is so much negativity existing in the world of teenagers and I want to be proof that there is so much more that they are worthy of. If I were to be a part of Inspiring Teens Magazine I could help make a change.
If you win a scholarship, what will you do with the money?
If I were to win a scholarship, I would put the money towards costs for my college education. After graduation this year I plan to attend Butler University to study Criminology and Psychology. With this scholarship money, that education would become more affordable and more available to me. After I complete undergraduate school I plan to obtain my Masters degree and this scholarship money could help me achieve my goal of getting that degree.
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Nomination: Lauren Keyes is beautiful both inside and out! She is a Senior at South Knox High School, and she holds leaderships roles in all of the following school clubs; Interact Club, Foreign Language Club, BPA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, National Honor Society, and FFA. She also participates in many community service projects within her county. Traveling is one of her favorite things to do, and she recently had the opportunity to go to Italy on a school trip. After graduation she plans to go to Butler University and major in Criminology and Psychology. Lauren’s truly an Inspiring Teen!
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Inspiring Teens is one of our "by teens for teens" productions to celebrate teens doing amazing things with their lives – such as the teen listed above!
Each vote is $5.00 and goes towards our scholarships, magazine production, awards, prizes, and other fun stuff that are included for the teens who participate in our fundraising and magazine endeavors. It also goes towards nonprofits and teen sponsored events as our extra profits allow.
We have given away over $180,000 in scholarships & over $100,000 to non-profits!
Thank you for helping us help them out!
* Teens must be between ages 13-19 and live in the continental USA to win a scholarship. Teens cannot win more than $1000 in a year's time.