Grit and Grace Magazine - Summer 2021 Issue

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GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Welcome to Grit and Grace!

I know, I know pride month is over, and the rainbow is overrated, but this is a kid magazine, after all, so what better way to get our inner kid out but with the rainbow palette.

Did you know that Rainbows are a symbol of hope in many cultures? Yes, that’s just one of the reasons why we stick to this theme in this issue. We hope that every child is safe, empowered, and encouraged to be the best they can be a message we share over and over again with our readers.

We hope that you’re finally getting back to normal as more and more people getting their vaccination and in control of Covid 19 ah, the never-ending hopes, but you know what I mean.

Can you believe it this our 2nd issue already? We are so excited to have the graceful Kylie Mark, who won our first cover model contest amongst many other amazing kiddos for our summer issue. She wowed us with her heart, soul, and elegance with her kick-ass photographer, mother Lara Mark, who delivered us vibrant photos for our cover story.

And what a wonderful experience to have encouraged both kids and parents to participate as they vied for the title “Most Confident Kid” in this issue. If it was up to me, everyone should have been a winner. But alas, only one kid at a time.

Don’t worry for those who did not win. Our next fall issue is right around the corner, and this time, it might just be you.

We have incredible content in this issue because we had kids contribute contributed their skills. In addition, we have a junior writer from Canada and kid artists who share with us their artworks and made our pages glow.

We added an exciting section in this issue - the trending comic strip, where the characters are from our cartoonified readers. We were lucky to have partnered with an award nominee comic and storyboarding artist Rolo Ledesma who had a great time putting them in the paper.

There is so much more but let’s not dawdle anymore and get your read on. Enjoy! ed y R em ion Nat

BEHIND THE SCENE CHRISTA CANTILLO HEALTH/FITNESS EXPERT When Christa is not teaching she is busy raising her “lil guru”, her toddler son, Dante.

PIA RASMUSSEN PROJECT MANAGER Wife and mother of two amazing daughters.

Pia is originally from Denmark and is fluent in Spanish.

MARINELLA CIVALE INTERNATIONAL TALENT SCOUT Marinella is our Italian mother living the American dreams in Miami Beach, she‘s a hands on mom to her beautiful daughter Sofia.

SKYLAR NATION - 11 PHOTOGRAPHER Skylar is our youngest photographer at only 11. He’s homeschooled and enjoy coding, developing games, and assists his mother on photography jobs.

CASSANDRA NAVRATIL - 11 JUNIOR WRITER Charlie is at her happiest when she is curled up with a good book, snuggling with her cats, or singing and playing ukulele or guitar.

ROLO LEDESMA COMIC AND STORYBOARD ARTIST Creator of the comic book series #curvesandbullets Will Eisner Russ Manning Award nominee comic book & storyboard artist curvesandbullets.com DWIGHT SCHNEIDER PRODUCTION MANAGER It’s an honor to have one of the most Emmy award winners (12 to be exact), 2 Peabody awards, and 30 more environmental awards on video editing.

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TABLE OF CONTENT COVER PAGE - 1 Meet our first cover model contest winner Kylie Mark

VEGETARIAN EXPERIMENT 10-11 Is vegetarian lifestyle is a right way to stay healthy and enjoy food? Find out

ARTISTS TO WATCH 102 -112 Look forward again, and read on some of the kids' artists you have to be watching out for.

EDITOR'S NOTE - 2 A brief message from our founder and meet our editorial team who made this issue happened.

HOW TO BE A GREAT MALE ROLE MODEL 12-13 Use these strategies to become a great male role model:for our kids.

BEHIND EVERY GREAT KID 106-107 We asked our young readers to nominate to appreciate the people behind their success, and they deliver.

SUMMERTIME FUN FOR YOU & YOUR KIDS - 4-5 Keeping your kids entertained during the summer can be a challenge. Here's a list of things to do.

COVER STORY: KYLIE MARK 14-21 Cover story article about our cover girl. We learn about her dreams and aspirations.

THE POWER OF FAILURE 108-109 What do you think when you hear the word failure? Let's find out.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WARM SUMMER NIGHTS FOR MEDITATION - 6-7 You can have the peace and joy you deserve when you learn to meditate.

KIDS TO FOLLOW 22-25 JOHAUNNA MARTINEZ Take a peek into a day in the life of Junior Olympic winner JOHAUNNA 'Jojo' Martinez

COMIC STORY 113-120 Children around the world send in their cartoonified pictures and star in our first ever comic strip.

BE WHO YOU ARE - 8 Because you are beautiful, and you are more than enough. You are you, and that is perfect.

FEATURED KIDS 26-101 For this, we have compiled a list of talented kids guaranteed to inspire.

BACK COVER - 121 We are pleased to celebrate and recognize these outstanding cover model finalists.

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SUMMERTIME FUN FOR YOU AND YOUR KIDS

KEEPING YOUR KIDS ENTERTAINED DURING THE SUMMER CAN BE A CHALLENGE. SO WHY NOT STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILY BOND WITH ACTIVITIES THAT WILL SATISFY YOUR WHOLE FAMILY AT ONCE? THAT WAY, YOU CAN ENJOY QUALITY FAMILY TIME AND CREATE A MEMORABLE SUMMER TOGETHER BEFORE IT'S BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL. THESE FUN SUMMER ACTIVITIES ARE SURE TO BE A HIT FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR KIDS: Enjoy a family beach day.

There's really no better way to cool down on a hot summer day than with a trip to the beach. But, instead of just "going to the beach," why not make it an event?

Make it memorable by attaching meaning to the fact that your whole family is there! * Build a huge sandcastle together and take photos around it. * Play games like volleyball, soccer, and catch together instead of just sitting around soaking up the sun. * Take your family pet along and create a memorable first-time event that all of you can reminisce on years down the road.

Pack a picnic in the park A quiet, relaxing picnic day at the park is the perfect way to spend quality time with your kids and absorb the beauty of nature at the same time.

A few hours away from television and technology is just what you need for some summertime fun with the kids! * Play Frisbee with your kids instead of watching them throw it to each other. * Carry your camera and take family photos. * Take along food that you can prepare together, like tacos or PB&J sandwiches.

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* Play Pictionary and watch your kids really express themselves.

Take a camping trip You'll get to enjoy the company of your children in an unfamiliar environment and will even learn a few things about them and their abilities in the process! Camping also provides the opportunity for you and your kids to enjoy many out-of-the-ordinary activities together, like: * Putting up the tent. * Gathering wood and building a fire. * Roasting marshmallows. * Telling stories while sitting around the campfire.

Grow a garden

Summertime is the perfect time to get to know your kids and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Completing a gardening project with your kids will feel rewarding, especially if you can see the fruit of your labor for a long time to come.

You and your kids can spend a few summer days planting flowers, fruits, and vegetables that you'll all remember and be proud of in the months and years to come! * Go shopping for personalized gardening accessories like colored gloves, inscribed straw hats, and patterned mud boots. If your children are small, you can even find kid-size garden tools like shovels and rakes to make it that much more fun. * After you've planted a garden with your kids, place an inscribed stepping-stone or other garden ornaments in the garden to commemorate the occasion.

Summertime is the perfect time to get to know your kids and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Start today to make the memories of this summer ones that all of you will go back to time and time again.

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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WARM SUMMER NIGHTS FOR MEDITATION

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ARE YOU DROWNING IN A SEA OF CHAOS? WOULDN'T YOU LIKE MORE PEACE IN YOUR LIFE, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMONIUM AROUND YOU? YOU CAN HAVE THE PEACE AND JOY YOU DESERVE WHEN YOU LEARN TO MEDITATE. Warm summer nights provide the perfect backdrop for learning this life enhancing skill.

In the summer, it's easier to feel better about life. The warm weather, casual feeling of the season, and endless recreational opportunities bring with them an excitement about life that's hard to find in any other season. Use this positive momentum to your advantage to learn a skill that will fuel your happiness in any season.

Getting Ready to Meditate Meditation is a very personal thing.

Some people meditate in groups. But when you meditate alone, you may experience fewer distractions and a richer experience as a result. A backyard lounge or hammock is a great place to contemplate where you are and the direction your life is headed on a warm summer evening.

Sit comfortably or lie down to prepare your body for meditation. Once you begin, the flow of your contemplation is interrupted if you have to move around or adjust to a more comfortable position.

Pay attention to your breathing.

Breathe from your belly and not your chest. Take slow, deep breaths.

GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

The1 8more you practice, the better you'll become at deep breathing. Proper breathing is the key to relaxing your body and opening your mind to experience the benefits of meditation.

How you meditate will have a lot to do with what feels right to you. The goal of any meditation session is to feel centered and relaxed. If you relax and let go, your spirit will ins t in c t iv e l y move toward a meditation style that's right for you.

Supplies Like meditation itself, the supplies you'll need are largely a matter of personal preference. It's okay to experiment with different ideas until you find what works best for you. Here are some suggestions for things you might want to use in your meditation: * A religious object or symbol that means something to you * Candles or incense that provide an aromatherapy effect * Music or white noise for a calming effect * A blanket, pillow, stuffed toy, or similar object that gives you comfort

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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WARM SUMMER NIGHTS FOR MEDITATION

“Meditation is valuable for increasing your inner sense of peace.“

What If It's Not Working?

At first, meditation can feel a bit awkward. It's easy to get distracted. If you continue to practice until you find what works for you, however, you'll find that meditation calms your mind and supports the attainment of the peace you crave.

What matters most in meditation is how it makes you feel. If a particular technique feels uncomfortable or leaves you without a feeling of peace, it may be the wrong technique for you.

Shift your focus and try a different technique. Above all, do what feels right to you in this personal time of reflection.

Meditation is valuable for increasing your inner sense of peace. The warmth of summer is a perfect complement to the peacefulness you experience in your mind, body, and spirit when you practice meditation on a regular basis.

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JUNIOR

BE WHO YOU ARE HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU AREN’T ENOUGH? LIKE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE IN MAGAZINES ARE FLAWLESS, BUT YOU AREN’T? I HAVE OFTEN FELT THAT WAY, BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU ARE PERFECT. MODELING IS ALL ABOUT DRESSING UP AND HAVING FUN! THE PEOPLE YOU SEE IN MAGAZINES ARE JUST DRESSED UP, COVERED IN MAKEUP, AND HAVE ANY IMPERFECTIONS EDITED IN PHOTOSHOP. They don’t look like that every day - I should know. You have no reason to feel ugly or not skinny enough, or like you don’t belong when you look at models.

They are people just like you who are just dressing up in fancy things. You are perfect just as you are. No matter what you look like, or feel like, remember that you are made to be YOU. Do the things that make you happy, not what is in captions below, pretty photos. You do show others who you are on the inside, and that is more important than how you look.

You don’t have to be afraid that what you love is wrong. If you are a gymnast, a swimmer, a dancer, a songwriter, or anything else, that is perfect and amazing. Embrace yourself!

CHARLIE NAVRATIL ACTOR/MODEL/MUSICIAN/VOCALIST/WRITER AGE 11 GRANUM, ALBERTA, CANADA PHOTOGRAPHER: CASSANDRA NAVRATIL, SALT + BIRCH PHOTOGRAPHY @SALTANDBIRCHPHOTO.YQL

As author Adrienne Posey once wrote, “Don’t let the world tell you who you are. You get up and show the world who you are.” Never feel like you are excluded or not pretty enough; the people you see in magazines are just having fun with something they enjoy doing! Aspire to be who you are, not who society wants you to be. Be who you are because you are beautiful, and you are more than enough. You are you, and that is perfect.

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KID CONTRIBUTORS WANTED Do you have a child who loves to write? Encourage your creative son or daughter to learn more about the real-world publishing process. Submitting original work to an editor just might be the perfect summer project!

E E M M A A G G N ON age-appropriate O

Help your child get published.

What we’re looking for: Kid-friendly, original creative works done by kids and teens, including recipes, travel stories, science and technology, poetry, art, photography, and videos.

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MANY PEOPLE CAN'T IMAGINE A SINGLE DAY WITHOUT MEAT. HOWEVER, MANY OTHERS HAVE DECIDED THAT A VEGETARIAN LIFESTYLE IS A RIGHT WAY TO STAY HEALTHY AND ENJOY FOOD.

FEEL HEALTHIER IN 30 DAYS WITH THIS VEGETARIAN EXPERIMENT

Though a vegetarian lifestyle started as a fad in the Western world, it now enjoys the status of being a scientifically supported path to healthy living.

However, deciding to become a vegetarian may be challenging.

If you've considered adopting a vegetarian diet but are still sitting on the fence, a 30day trial might be the best solution. By only aiming for 30 days, the task won't seem as challenging. After 30 days, you can evaluate the results and make an informed decision about whether or not you would like to continue this way of eating.

Following these tips will help to ensure your success: 1. Get rid of all non-vegetarian foods. One thing always seems to hold: if you like eating it and it's in the house, you will eat it. * If possible, get all "noncompliant" foods out of the house.

Why give yourself the temptation?

Instead, give yourself every opportunity to be successful.

2. Find some recipes. For the 30 days to be a success, it will be helpful if you're able to find some recipes that look appealing. Being a vegetarian isn't all about eating fruit and salads.

* There are thousands of delicious recipes that do not contain meat as an ingredient. Either purchase a book or find some recipes online. * Experiment a little. If you're like most people, you probably don't eat a wide variety of foods. So now is a great time to branch out and try something new. * There's a great chance you've never even tried your authentic favorite food.

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11 “You

don’t have to cook

masterpieces

-

just good food

from fresh ingredients.”

3. Tell the appropriate people. Of course, anyone living in your household is going to notice a change in your dietary habits. But, consider which of your friends you're going to inform of your 30day vegetarian experiment. * We all have very supportive friends. However, most of us also have friends that can be less than supportive. So be picky about which friends you involve. * The best people to include will support you and challenge you to continue when the going gets tough. Avoid any social drag by keeping your vegetarian trial to yourself when it comes to those that are likely to make your experiment more difficult.

4. Remind yourself of the benefits.

So many things are exciting when first getting started but become more challenging over time. * Take a few minutes each day to remind yourself why you're experimenting with this dietary change. * List the benefits and consider how great you're going to feel when the 30 days have passed.

5. Focus on one day at a time. Looking ahead 20 days or more can make the task more daunting. By focusing only on just today, the job will be much more manageable.

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HOW TO BE A GREAT MALE ROLE MODEL

“We

have to have

positive male role models.”

THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE, YOU'VE PROBABLY LOOKED UP TO AT LEAST A FEW MEN YOU'VE KNOWN. MAYBE YOUR FATHER HAD A CALM, GENTLE NATURE WHEN YOU BOTH WENT OUT FISHING. MAYBE YOUR 10THGRADE HISTORY TEACHER MADE BEING INTELLIGENT LOOK COOL. WHOEVER THEY ARE, THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE MATTER!

Use these strategies to become a great role model: 1. Go after your dreams. Reflect on what you've always wanted out of life.

Sure, it's changed over the years. But what is it right now that you want to achieve? The importance of pursuing your passions is a beautiful message to send to younger people.

2. Show self-confidence. When you feel like you can do anything you set your mind to, you're said to have confidence.

If you're confident, it's probably evident to everyone around you. Young boys and teens, in particular, look up to men who demonstrate an air of "I can do it."

3. Hang out with your buddies regularly. When you allow time in your busy schedule to socialize with your friends, you'll have a more relaxed way of moving around the world.

8. Do something physically active.

The research shows that boys learn best when they're actively doing something. So, take a boy fishing or running with you.

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LE D O M EL O R EL A M T AE R G A E B O T W O H

4. Have a sense of humor. Usually, boys and young men can relate best when there's humor and joking around involved. So let that fun side of you come out, especially when you're around more youthful people.

5. Demonstrate a willingness to spend time with kids. Whether they're your kids, your nephews, or your friend's kids, give your own time to be there for them.

6. Be open about your work. By nature, kids are curious about what kind of workers do and how that work is accomplished. So if a young boy or teen expresses an interest in what you do, share with him about some of the projects you work on. * You might be the only man in that boy's life who has taken the time to talk just to him about the subjects he's interested in.

7. Reach out. Consider spending some time at a local Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or other social agency that works with kids and teens. Even devoting two hours a week of your time can make a dramatic impact on someone's life.

9. Give positive feedback.

Practice saying simple, positive comments. Any maturing person craves this type of care and attention. Statements like, "Wow, you did a fantastic job catching that fish" or "You're a pretty good runner" can plant seeds of confidence that will grow stronger over the years in young people.

10. Avoid macho expressions of physical strength. Although some kids might ooh and ahh if you can bench-press 200 pounds, your role as a male role model illustrates that men have different talents, skills, and interests. Since most kids have most likely already been exposed to macho stereotypes, find other ways to express yourself to them.

Being a great male role model will bring enormous personal rewards and sometimes, external accolades.

You'll feel satisfaction and pride in knowing you've contributed in some way to the healthy development of another human being. So put your efforts into becoming the best male role model you can be. Your life and the lives of others will benefit hugely!

Build a birdhouse together or ask him to help you wash your car. A kid can pick up a lot from taking part in an activity with you.

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COVER

KYLIE MARK: WANTS TO BE PHOTOGRAPHER. LIKE HER MOM.

By Remy Nation Photos by Lara Mark Photography

Kylie Mark is the winner of Grit and Grace’s first cover model At 11, she navigates her way toward contest held last month successful modeling, a dancing worldwide via our social pages. career, and very active social media She has been featured in multiple magazines, including two covers of children’s magazine and a commercial for Horizon Organic. But this American 11-year-old has long been passionate about sharing kindness, confidence, being fearless, and just being herself. She’s an influencer for #dancersagainstbullying and #gomeegirl.

pages. She shares her excellent content on promoting positive selfesteem in children to her 54 thousand plus followers compassionately. Kylie has a reputation for exceptional ability in her chosen field, courtesy, and grace. Qualities we treasure here at the Grit and Grace Magazine. She earned the title of “The Most Confident Kid” of the bunch for this issue.

Get an in-depth look at the young mind of trailblazer Kylie Mark and her willingness to take part in sharing positive vibes only.

"I am passionate about sharing kindness, confidence, being fearless, and just being myself."

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ON ROLE MODELS

'My mom has always taken pictures of me since I was a baby, so I’m used to the camera.'

Kylie Mark, a child model, represented

by Wilhelmina Models and a dancer, always wanted to be a photographer.

That is one of the first things we realized when we read Mark’s answers to her Q & A portion. She's submitted it in from her home in Highlands Mountain, Colorado - (a skiing mountain in Aspen, Colorado. famous for what some people consider some of the most intense, wild, and fun skiing in the state). And from the looks of it, she's well on her way to that goal, propelled by a mother who had taken professional pictures of her since she was a baby.

Her mother, her coach, her best friend, her number one cheerleader Lara Mark a professional photographer, is someone she aspires to be when she grows up. A mother and daughter bond that we hope never breaks and only stretches as far as Kylie can take.

The mother-daughter team spends plenty of time together, traveling to Kylie’s many activities. She plays tennis, golf, rides her bike, does flips on the trampoline, and paddleboarding. And this school year, she is going to middle school, 6th grade.

She started dancing when she was three years old and continued on and off for a few years. Then took a break and became interested in American Ninja Warrior classes, but then realized she missed dancing.

She is currently an ambassador for several dancewear and clothing companies like @cosigusa, @gomeegirl, @pineappleclothing, and @juststrong. She also love clothings from @missbehavegirls, @andreacarolaapparel, @carissastutucouture, and @werkdancewear.

When asked who she is thankful for as she accomplished all these achievements at a very young age.

The young talent replied, “my FAMILY, especially my favorite Aunt Heather.”

KYLIE’S TOP FIVE PRIORITIES IN LIFE FAMILY HERSELF SCHOOL DANCING AND MODELING FRIENDS GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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yhpargotohP kraM araL yb sotohP

“Eye on the Prize” KYLIE MARK

- 11

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Photographer: LARA MARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Model: KYLIE MARK

(11)

Stylist/Make-up and Hair: Wardrobe: Skater

LARA MARK

COLORADO

@ COSIGUSA @ GOMEEGIRL

DANCE TOP

Location:

JEWELRY

,

USA

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Wardrobe: Golfer DRESS

-

UNKNOWN

GOLF SHOES

@ ADIDAS

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Wardrobe: Skater @ MISSBEHAVEGIRLS @ GOMEEGIRL SNEAKS - LUV DANCE SKATEBOARD @ KRYPTONICS _ BRAND DRESS

JEWELRY

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KIDS TO

WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE AN ATHLETE? I knew I wanted to be an athlete when I started playing soccer at age 3. It wasn’t very competitive at that age, but I was drawn into the nature of what we were doing. The concept of having to perform better than someone else in order to win really made me fall in love with being an athlete.

SHE'S A PART OF ARMOUR A T TTHE I C UNDER | JANU ARY 2016 COMMERCIALS WITH DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON'S PROJECT ROCK. SHE ALSO RECENTLY WON A NATIONAL BOXING TITLE IN KANSAS CITY. BUT THIS 11-YEAR-OLD PROMISING YOUNG BOXING CAREER SAYS IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR. TAKE A PEEK INTO A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JUNIOR OLYMPIC WINNER JOHAUNNA 'JOJO' MARTINEZ AND HOW SHE IMPROVES HER CRAFT.

DESCRIBE YOUR MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPORTS IN THE PAST. I played a lot of soccer before I started boxing and was fortunate to win a lot of individual performance trophies like MVP, Player of the Game, etc… There were a couple different occasions where I scored 5 or 6 goals in a game.

In boxing, I won the 2019 Ringside National Championship and have won Junior Olympics at the state and regional level every year since I started boxing in 2018. I also place bronze in the 2019 USA Boxing Junior Olympics, as well as Silver in this year's USA Boxing National Championships.

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU COME ACROSS IN GETTING TO WHERE YOU ARE AT TODAY? I used to lack a lot of confidence in myself. Boxing has helped me out tremendously because I realize my potential and know that I have the work ethic and determination to be the best. My lack of self-confidence used to be so bad that I used to talk myself down before performances. I use to tell myself things like “look how tall that girl is, I can’t hang with her” or “this girl has been boxing longer than I have, I’m going to lose”. One quote that really changed my outlook and allowed me to establish some selfconfidence is, “it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog”. I am almost always shorter than my opponent so this really helped me out.

"Knowing that the hard work that I put in today will pay off tomorrow. In every situation you get out what you put in".

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WHAT DRIVES YOU TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND GO TRAINING EVERY DAY? Knowing that the hard work that I put in today will pay off tomorrow. In every situation you get out what you put in. If you are lazy and only give something 50% of your effort then you should expect no more than 50% of your desired results. I want to be the best and that doesn’t come by wishing for it, it comes by working for it.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU THE MOST ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION AS AN ATHLETE?

JOHAUNNA 'JOJO' MARTINEZ

/ Soccer

Boxer

"I learned to keep my cool and be okay with having a bad round every once in a while."

I get very motivated when I lose a match. I can be hard on myself at times, but it’s only because I care about winning and always giving it my all. I could truly say that at the end of my Championship match at Nationals, I didn’t feel like I left it all in the ring and I absolutely hated that feeling. It has motivated me so much to get in the gym and work that much harder to make sure I never feel like that again.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? The most important thing to me would have to be my family. My mom uses to be an amateur boxer and she’s a big reason why I box today. My dad is my coach and he pushes me hard to reach my goals. They never let me forget what I am capable of achieving and achieving my goals is a lot easier with a great support system. I am very thankful for their love and support. The most important thing to me would have to be my family. My mom used to be an amateur boxer and she’s a big reason why I box today. My dad is my coach and he pushes me hard to reach my goals. They never let me forget what I am capable of achieving and achieving my goals is a lot easier with a great support system. I am very thankful for their love and support.

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WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AS BOTH AN ATHLETE AND A PERSON?

DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF SPORTS?

I have a lot of heart. As an athlete, my heart is what keeps me going. I won’t quit on a task just because it is difficult.

Nothing worth having comes easy.

Hard does not mean impossible. My heart will keep me engaged and will always produce my best effort. As a person, I care a lot about other people.

I want to speak up for those who do not have a voice and stand up for those who are afraid to stand up for themselves.

My #1 interest outside of sports would be my love for reptiles. I own a leopard gecko named Grit that I love interacting with. He loves being held and I love to feed and play with him as much as I can. My parents just moved his tank from the living room to my bedroom, so I’ve really been able to take care of him a lot more on my own lately. As for hobbies, I love long boarding. I don’t consider it a sport since I am not in competition with anyone. I love to just take my long board and go on long rides as often as possible.

WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF ACCOMPLISHING IN FIVE TO TEN YEARS? Five years from now I would love to be training to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. I think it would be so cool to represent the USA in the Olympics that are in the USA. Ten years from now I would love to be a professional boxer.

ARE THERE ANY SHORT-TERM GOALS YOU'D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO A COUPLE OF YEARS? In the next few months I would love to win the Junior Olympics taking place in Lubbock, Texas July 7 - 17. I haven’t won gold at a Junior Olympic event yet so I really want to work hard to make that happen. Over the next couple of years I would like to win as many National Championships as I can. I am eligible to make TEAM USA if I win the National Championship in December of 2022. I think it would be so cool to travel overseas and represent my country at such a young age.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE ONE OF YOUR WEAKNESSES AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO IMPROVE IT? One of my biggest weaknesses would have to be my nerves. If the stage is big enough I get really nervous and will forget the game plan. I am trying to improve it by just flooding everything out and staying as focused as I can on the task at hand, regardless of how big the stage may be.

WHICH STRENGTHS DO YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE THAT MAKE YOU A GREAT ATHLETE? My ability to not give up. No matter how hard something is, I will always give it my all. If there is a lift or a certain workout that I cannot do, I will modify it rather than giving up. For example, if I am doing pull ups and I am supposed to do a set of 10 but can’t do anymore past 7, I won’t just call it a day after 7. I will get a box and do jump pull ups to make sure I have finished what I started.

WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT PLAYING SPORTS? The competitive nature. Nine times out of ten the athlete who puts the time in and works the hardest will come out on top. I take a lot of pride in working out. I hate getting beat on laps around the track or not finishing first in whatever I am doing. I won’t beat myself up over it all the time, but I am passionate about giving it my all and that drives me to always do my best. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

IS THERE A COACH OR ATHLETE THAT YOU LOOK UP TO AS A ROLE MODEL AND WHY? I would say my dad because of his drive. He sees the potential in me that I sometimes don’t see in myself. My dad turned our garage into a boxing gym so that I could get better, and he just recently got a bigger space so that we can do more workouts.

We have traveled all over the country and have trained with a lot of different boxers and coaches. He wants me to be successful and he pushes me towards that every day.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE MOST ATHLETES ARE FACING TODAY? Athletes aren’t allowed to speak on how they feel when it comes to problems in our society. I agree that athletes should lead and be role models given their platform, but they usually receive a lot of backlash when they speak on topics such as injustice or inequality. There are issues in the world today and everybody should be able to weigh in with their opinions and speak on how they feel.

Even when the opinion is unpopular.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR ATHLETIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND OTHER OUTSIDE RECREATIONAL AND NON-RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES? I just do what I know needs to be done. If I am given an assignment at school, I get it done. If I am tasked with washing the dishes at home, I get it done. If I am told to do 1,000 burpees in the gym, I get it done.

Whatever needs to be done, I just get it done.

DESCRIBE YOUR WORST SPORTS PERFORMANCE. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE? The 3rd round of the 2020 National Championships. My opponent was moving very fluently and got me out of my element in the 2nd round. I went to the corner at the end of the 2nd round and I remember just being so frustrated that she wasn’t standing where I needed her to stand in order to land my punches. Hats off to my opponent, but I didn’t leave it all in the ring. In the 3rd round, I let off the pressure that I usually apply and I lost the fight by unanimous decision.

I learned to keep my cool and be ok with having a bad round every once in a while. In boxing, styles make fights. Her style countered mine to the brink of frustration. I have to be able to stay cool, calm, and collective in these moments moving forward and this fight taught me that lesson.

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WHAT DOES YOUR DIET AND NUTRITION PLAN LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU'RE BULKING UP OR GETTING IN SHAPE DURING TRAINING? Breakfast - Oatmeal Lunch - I will typically eat the school lunch but will try hard to not eat anything fried Dinner - My parents will make a lot of grilled chicken and turkey. Whatever lean meat they can make, they will make it.

Snacks - I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. I love celery and carrots and can snack on those two items endlessly.

I really do not find myself in a position where I have to cut weight too often. We do not run from any matchup. Whoever is in my bracket on any given tournament we will be ready to fight them. Luckily, I feel like I naturally enjoy eating healthy which makes it a lot easier.

Montana Grit is a docu-series based on me and a karate athlete located 90 miles west of Lottie Singleton. We both share the same goal of making it to Team USA, and Montana Grit highlights that journey. She is eligible to make the team this year (karate structure is different), so Season 1 will primarily highlight her journey and success.

Since I am not eligible until 2022, I will primarily be focused on Season 2 of the docu-series.

We both face similar struggles in our area when it comes to sparring. Sparring is essential in both sports because it allows you to practice what you have learned in front of live competition. However, in Montana, we have more animals than we do people, so sparring is hard to come by. We usually end up traveling 3 - 6 hours to spar instead of those in larger cities who have the luxury of traveling 15 minutes and having 3 or 4 opponents that they can spar. Montana Grit highlights these struggles and goes into detail about how we manage without other people to help us come along.

WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY ROUTINE LOOK LIKE? 6am - Wake up 7:30 - Catch the bus 8:00 - Start school 3:00 - Get out of school 3:30 - Get home, eat, and do homework 5:00 - Workout 8:00 - Shower and eat dinner 9:30 - Sleep RANK THE TOP FIVE CURRENTLY IN YOUR LIFE.

PRIORITIES

1. Boxing 2. School 3. Family 4. Learning everyday (outside of things we learn in school) 5. Being the best version of myself

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You can’t change the talents you were born with but you can work hard to develop what you have and even find hidden strengths.

BELLE BUTTERFIELD -10 MODEL/ATHLETE

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B B

ELLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BALL OF ENERGY Belle has always been a ball of energy with a big heart. She loves to model, tumble, cheer, and run. Her other passions include baking, crafting, gardening, and caring for animals. She currently wants to be a marine veterinarian when she grows up and is very serious about her schoolwork. Belle has an autistic brother and is becoming an autism advocate as she seeks to spread confidence and kindness.

Head shot photographer: Ivan Flores @iflophoto Action shot photographer: Mark Johnson, Sky Cloud Photography bellebutterfield/

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Hard work pays off in helping you achieve your goals and dreams.

GRACE MASINTER - 9 ACTOR/DANCER

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G M

GRACE IS AMBITIOUS AND DRIVEN Grace is an ambitious, driven, passionate, smart, talented, and kind 9 years old. She loves to dance and can dance hip hop, African, jazz, tap, modern, and ballet. She also enjoys singing, acting, swimming, Taekwando, and spending time with her family, friends, and 3 dogs and rabbit. @graceonthatbeat

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You can’t change the talents you were born with but you can work hard to develop what you have and even find hidden strengths.

CARMEN FERNÁNDEZ - 6 MODEL/KARATE/SWIMMING

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C F MADRID, SPAIN I come from Madrid, Spain.

I am 6 years old.

I have BIG black eyes!

I practice karate, swimming and I take musical initiation classes too.

I love animals, especially dogs and I like to walk with my mother. @carmen.f.h.6

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Aviela believes hard work is most important because only with hard work can you develop and master a skill, and become the best!

AVIELA AVENUE - 6

BALLET/SOCCER/MODEL/ ACTOR GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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A A PASSIONATE

BALLERINA SINCE THE AGE OF THREE Represented by Paloma Model and Talent. Aviela Haas is a 6year-old actress, model, and athlete who lives in Orange County, California. Aviela has been on numerous television shows and commercials. She loves playing on her all-girls soccer team and has been a passionate ballerina since the age of three. She loves to read, bake, learn about animals (especially coyotes), and spend time with her family and puppy "Friendly."

Photo Credit: Tamara Tihanyi @aviela_avenue GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I think that hard work is one of the most important things in our life. If you will work hard then you will be able to achieve all your goals and all your dreams!

KLEONIKI PAVLIDI - 10 MODEL/DANCER/GYMNASTICS/ CHEERLEADING GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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K P BECOME A FASHION MODEL

My name is Kleoniki Pavlidi. I am 10 years old. I am from Brooklyn, New York. My hobbies are dance, art, gymnastics, and cheerleading. I love going on set. My dream is to become a fashion model. @kleonikipavlidi

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Hard work and determination is the key to success.

ISIS CHANEL - 6

MODEL/ACTRESS/GYMNAST GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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PRINCESS ISIS CHANEL

I C

Isis Chanel Chambers was born July 24, 2015. That makes her a Leo, so she can be a little bossy.

She booked her first commercial when she was six weeks old as the Hero baby for a Bill and Melinda Gates PSA. Since then she has booked quite a few things. Isis loves the camera and the camera loves her. Isis started dancing when she was just a little baby and was given the nickname shakes.

She dances to all types of music… pretty much anything with a beat.

She started dance classes at the age of two. She started taking gymnastics classes when she was eight months old and is still currently in gymnastics. She also loves to play soccer and swim. She is quite a busy body and has so much energy. She loves road trips and traveling. She has seen sites such as the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Catalina Island where she fell in love with the snow and she loves the beach. She acquired the name Princess Isis Chanel because she loves everything pink and girly.

Most of her wardrobe is Fashionably Pink. Princess Isis Chanel is looking forward to all that life has to offer her. @isischanelchambers

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Parker said hard work is important: “Because I want to work hard so I can be a person that helps people and gives them money when I grow up.

PETER PARKER - 5 MODEL/GAMER

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P P

PARKER AKA PETER PARKER AKA SPIDERMAN Parker aka Peter Parker aka Spiderman, a young boy of many nicknames and filled with tons of energy. Parker is the middle child and has a big brother named Liam and a younger sister named Mila Paige. He has one dog named Dax and he is Parker’s best buddy! Parker loves to play Roblox and go swimming now that it's summertime! His favorite color is red and Heidi's favorite snack is edamame with salt.

Parker loves hats and fashion and enjoys being a ham in front of the camera! Parker is about to start his next grand adventure… kindergarten! @_parkermatheson GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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You can’t change the talents you were born with but you can work hard to develop what you have and even find hidden strengths.

NEONILA KRICHKOVSKAYA MODEL/BALLERINA

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N K

INTERNATIONAL MODEL From an early age, she loves to dance. She is engaged in the school of classical choreography. She is a model of the international modeling agency Fashion Kids Models.

She enjoys taking part in various photography projects. At such a young age, she already has experience in filming in advertising projects, as well as several publications in various magazines. She took part in MOSCOW FASHION WEEK 2021. In 2019 she took part in the online contest "The Most Beautiful Girl of Russia". She dreams of participating in international advertising projects and fashion shows.

Photographer: Владлена @neonila_ballerina GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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You cannot expect everything in life to be given to you. You have to put in the hard work and let your passion show to succeed in what you do!

MCKENNA - 7

MODEL/GYMNAST/ICE SKATER GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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M K

COMPETITIVE GYMNAST McKenna is a model, competitive gymnast, and loves to ice skate in her free time.

•Model •Competitive Gymnast •Figure Skater •South Carolina •Acct managed by Mom! •Rep’d by: @millielewischs @manikinagency @profpretty Photo Credits: Simply Grace Photography @mcg9_13 GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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You can’t change the talents you were born with but you can work hard to develop what you have and even find hidden strengths.

DANIEL BURTSEV

-7

MODEL/RUNNER GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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ADVERTISING MODEL OF THE YEAR 2019 Daniel is a very active and curious child. He finished 1st grade with excellent marks, for which he received letters of thanks, a medal and a diploma.

Participated in the Olympiads in mathematics (1st degree diploma) and logic (3rd degree diploma).

He is engaged in football, modeling and creativity.

Has the title "Advertising model of the year 2019" Has many diplomas and cups. Takes part in children's fashion shows, fashion weeks in Moscow, Sochi and Rostov. He starred for the cover of the children's glossy magazine kids in style and is their ambassador. He also took part in photo projects for other children's magazines, starred for advertising the Exhibition Expo Center in Rostov-on-Don Photographer

D B

@kotlova_natali GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Talent will only take you so far, but hard work, true ambition and dedication will build the roads you seek to travel

VERA LEIGH ARIAS - 3 MODEL/DANCER

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V L CHARISMATIC & OUTGOING Vera Leigh is a charismatic and outgoing 3 year old.

She has a strong personality and loves to be the center of attention. Vera Leigh enjoys dancing and making music with her dad. On her spare time, you could always catch her playing with her many pets. @veraleigh_ GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe that you have to try and work really hard to achieve your dreams. But even more important is to enjoy what you do. Otherwise it will be boring.

MINNI LIEPA - 6 ACTOR/DANCER

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M BUBBLY, L ENERGETIC, CONFIDENT

I'm a bubbly, energetic, confident 6 year old girl, who loves being in front of camera. I am attending stagecoach school of acting, singing and dancing.

I also like swimming and gymnastics. When I grow up I want to be a fashion designer, because they get to create amazing and colourful designs. from different materials.

Photo credits - Danni Geddes Make up - Luxe By Lou Agency - Spotted Talent Management @miniliepa GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe that you have to try and work really hard to achieve your dreams.

But even more important is to enjoy what you do. Otherwise it will be boring.

ALEXA SMITH - 8 DANCER/SOCCER

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A S HIP HOP

DANCER AT DANCE CITY She is a child model, represented by Edge Agency. She is 8 years old and loves to play soccer, swim, penny board and go on bike rides. She is a hip hop dancer at Dance City. @sisteract_lilia_alexa Model Agency – Edge Agency Photographer – Ramanpreet Singh Sohal Make Up Artist – Glow Beauty Regina Hair Stylist – Sara Reiss @sisteract_lilia_alexa GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe that you have to try and work really hard to achieve your dreams. But even more important is to enjoy what you do. Otherwise it will be boring.

LILIA SMITH -10

SOCCER/SWIMMING GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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L S

LOVES HER CHIHUAHUA CHARLIE She is a child model, represented by Edge Agency. She is 10 years old and loves to play soccer and swim. She also loves her chihuahua Charlie very much.

Model Agency – Edge Agency Photographer – Ramanpreet Singh Sohal Make Up Artist – Glow Beauty Regina Hair Stylist – Sara Reiss @sisteract_lilia_alexa GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Talent is not enough for success, you have to work hard, be patient and positive and then you will reach the stars and change the world!

ANDREI ELISEEV - 10 ACTOR/MODEL

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A E MODEL AND ACTOR BASED IN ENGLAND, UK

Andrei is a 10-year-old model and actor based in England, UK. He plays the piano and has his own YouTube travel channel called Andrei's Adventures with inspiring ideas and tips for great family days out.

Andrei modelled for Upper Class Fashion company and was recently cast for Superkids Feature Film! @andreliseev_official

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I believe hard work is important, because hard work is the base that builds talent.

Some dancers have natural talent, however, I'm sure they work hard every day to be their best!

MCKENLEIGH RAE - 7 MODEL/DANCER

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M R BUBBLY,

ENERGETIC, CONFIDENT I'm a bubbly, energetic, confident 6 year old girl, who loves being in front of camera. I am attending stagecoach school of acting, singing and dancing.

I also like swimming and gymnastics. When I grow up I want to be a fashion designer, because they get to create amazing and colourful designs. from different materials.Creative team is me!!: Mom (Dominique) Photo Credit: Shana Nicole Photo @shana_banana Creative Team: Dominique (mom) @mckenleigh_rae GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Talent comes from being a hard worker. If you have the courage and persistent you can achieved whatever you desire.

JUNITH DYMPHNA LAMPAOG - 8 MODEL/KARATE

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J L

VERY FUNNY AND VERY ACTIVE Junith Dymphna Lampaog from Huntington Beach California, 8 years old. She’s very funny and very active kid. She does Ballet, Karate and she loves to sing, dance. This summer she wants to do dance class.

She also loves Bike riding, roller skating and skate boarding. She’s very independent and very persistent. And very loving Big sister. @myblessingjj GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe hard work is important, because hard work is the base that builds talent. Some dancers have natural talent, however, I'm sure they work hard every day to be their best!

ZARA RANIA PUTRI - 8 MODEL/ATHLETE

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Z P

PROUD MALAY + KADAZAN + CHINESE

Malaysia Proud Malay + Kadazan + Chinese FACE OF ASIA JUNIOR 2021( LS ) Runway Catwalk Photoshoot KGRM Gym Rhythmic athlete Photographer: @amiez_signature Venue: @dataranmerdeka @mama_zubaidah_yusoff/

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Being talented at anything is a blessing. But working hard to go places with that talent is what its all about.

THEODORE DALTON - 9 MODEL/ACTOR

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T D

MODEL AND ASPIRING ACTOR Theodore Dalton is 9 year old model and aspiring actor based in Brooklyn, NY. He enjoys bringing all of his energy and creativity to his photo shoots and auditions. He also loves rocking out with his drums, singing old school classic songs and watching his favorite soccer team, Manchester City, as much as possible. He is represented by Zuri Agency and Nouveaux Talent management.

Photographer: Denise Demarast @theodore.dalton GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe hard work is important, because hard work is the base that builds talent.

Some dancers have natural talent, however, I'm sure they work hard every day to be their best!

SHAYNNA ALLEN - 7

MODEL/DANCER/PIANIST/MARTIAL ARTS GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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S A AN ASPIRING ASTRONAUT

Shaynna is cheeky, energetic and mature for her age. She is always eager to try new things and figure things out by herself. Her hobbies are singing, swimming, tap dancing, play the piano, and martial arts.

Shaynna has a strong personality with a big heart for her family and friends.

She loves to sing, swim, and spends time with her sister.

When she grows up, she wants to be an astronaut.

Photos by @toldina.photo @shaynnaallen GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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When you are talented and work hard, you can accomplish more than working hard without having a talent.

KIARA - 16

MODEL/PIANIST GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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K SHE'S FROM THE NETHERLANDS Kiara is 16 yrs old, loves to play piano and modeling.

She also likes hanging out with friend and She's from The Netherlands. @justmelibet GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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When you are talented and work hard, you can accomplish more than working hard without having a talent.

KIMBERLY WIJAYA - 9 MODEL/SINGER

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K W SHE LIKES TO WEAR NICE CLOTHES

Kimberly Evangelina Wijaya - 9 years old is from : Indonesia She wants to be a model because she likes to wear nice clothes and being stylish in front of the camera.

She also want to be a singer because by singing songs, she fell happy and can also entertain other people Headshot : Syaifudin Zukhri Location : el Kartika hotel Action Shot: DickyPhotographie Location : palimananrestocafe Stylist : Glndd OMI Surabaya MUA : beautebynr @kimberly_evangelina_wijaya GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Hard work because it can take talent to the next level. Plus we love the saying work hard play hard. Working hard makes all the fun even better.

ANNIE MELONE - 7 MODEL/DANCER

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A M FUN LOVING MODEL Annie is a fun-loving sevenyear-old. She loves to be active and jump on the trampoline or go on bike rides. She is in gymnastics, dance, and basketball. Annie is a new model repped by kidsxolhlsson.

She has 3 younger brothers and loves to do art projects. @annie.melone GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Hard work is important for you to feel like you accomplished something. Hard work is rewarding. Hard work makes you feel good about yourself.

KYLE SPAVEN - 11

GAMER/SOCCER/ARTIST GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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K S FUN ENERGETIC BOY Kyle is a fun energetic boy. He likes soccer, youtube, and playing Xbox. Kyle is an amazing drawer and hopes to be a famous artist someday. @haylee.ann.s

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Hard work can compensate for raw talent with time and dedication. When talent doesn’t put in the hard work, they can quickly be beat by those who are dedicated and hard working.

MORGAN BURDICK - 10 MODEL/CHEERLEADER

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M DEDICATED TO ALL OF HER ENDEAVORS B Morgan is a 10 year old cheerleader from Media, PA. Morgan has been cheering since age 4 and is a Youth Level 2 cheerleader with TSC Allstars in Havertown, PA. Morgan has autism and epilepsy but has never let either of these challenges hold her back from cheerleading or any of her other goals. She works hard and is dedicated to all of her endeavors. In addition to cheerleading, Morgan enjoys drawing and has a natural talent for art. She aspires to be an artist one day.

Photo credits: Jerry Hughes Photography Talent Barbara M. Weyler Photography @morgansavannahcheers GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Hard work is important for gratitude and accomplishments. Working hard makes you feel better about yourself.

HAYLEE ANN - 7

MODEL/CHEERLEADER GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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H A SWEET LOVING GIRL Haylee is a sweet loving girl.

She brand reps for some amazing shops. Haylee loves modeling, singing, dancing, and doing acrobatics. Her hobbies include swimming, drawing, shopping and tik tok.

Haylee loves animals and hopes to be an animal rescuer when she grows up.

Photo credit: lifetouch.com @haylee.ann.s/ GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe hard work is important, because hard work is the base that builds talent. Some dancers have natural talent, however, I'm sure they work hard every day to be their best!

SKYLEEN RAE - 3 MODEL/YOUTUBER

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S R LEARNING TO GET TALENTED India Skyleen is so small. She is just starting to learn to get talented.

Skyleen loves to do a lot of fun activities, and she likes dancing, singing, etc. @skyleen20 GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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You can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t put forth the effort and work hard all that talent will be wasted. Hard work does pay off.

LEXI - 13

MODEL/DANCER GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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L LOVES VOLUNTEERING Lexi is a 13-year-old from Florida who loves volunteering with Special Olympics and making others happy. She enjoys doing tik toks and repping her favorite brands.

Photographer: Robert Rainbow @cheerlexi0114 GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Hard works beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” I always strive to work hard in everything I do, wether that be at cheer, modeling, or my educational institution.

KAITLYN WALLS - 14 MODEL/DANCER

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K W COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADER I am 14 years old, and I am a competitive cheerleader at Legends Cheer Academy 2 in Plainfield Indiana. I strive to reach my tumbling and stunting goals to one day be on the level 6 team Double O at Top Gun Miami. I am also a “Moments in Time by Kimberly” model. When I’m not in the cheer gym or modeling I am spending time with friends and family or putting in hard work to achieve my academic goals. @kaitlyn.walls_ GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Hard work pays off in helping you achieve your goals and dreams.

SIENNA GIGI - 5

MODEL/DANCER/SWIMMING GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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S G THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY FROM TORONTO, CANADA Very charismatic, confident, kind & loving.

Very chatty, cheerful & sociable.

Lights up a room with her big smile.

Has lots of energy, loves the beach, and loves arts and crafts.

Special Skills: Trampoline, gymnastics, cycling. swimming, freestyle modeling & dancing.

Photo Credt: @nick.reuper

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You can’t change the talents you were born with but you can work hard to develop what you have and even find hidden strengths.

LULIA VILLAREAL - 2 MODEL

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L V

PHILIPPINES SYRIAN TURKISH FILIPINO Lulia is a very curious little girl who loves to explore new things around her. She is bubbly and always camera-ready.

Photographer : Jeanil Sajo

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Riyah believes hard work is most important because only with hard work can you develop and master a skill, and become the best!

RIYAH LILY- 7

MODEL/HORSEBACK RIDING/DANCING GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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R L PRINT AND COMMERCIAL MODEL SOUTH FL Print and commercial model. Past work includes Carter's, Target, Burt's Bees, KidiChic USA. Enjoys horseback riding, Irish dancing and, gardening. @riyahlily Photographer: @lilyta_photography Wardrobe & style: @kidichicusa Location: South Florida

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I think that hard work is one of the most important things in our life. If you will work hard then you will be able to achieve all your goals and all your dreams!

LILY ROSE SIBBALD MODEL/AERIALIST

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L S

SAN DIEGO, CA AERIALIST Lily Rose has always loved to creatively express herself through fashion and other arts. She found gymnastics at a very young age but found her true passion in the aerial arts more recently. Both in gymnastics and aerial she thrives on the thrill and excitement of flying through the air! She aspires to continue to grow her skills and compete in aerialolympics and perform for other large communities.

Photo credits: (Action photo) Alexander Sibbald IV (Beauty photo) Sylwia Urbaniak

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Hard work and determination is the key to success.

JAXLI RAE - 8

MODEL/ACTRESS GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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J R CHARLOTTE, NC Besides spending time with family and friends, Jaxli finds excitement in the modeling and acting industry and is always up for something new.

Photographer: Evgenia Karica HMUA: @lukamuakids

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"A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work."

ANNA GIRTAKOVSKA -9 MODEL/SINGER/PIANIST

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A G ANNA IS 9 YEARS OLD ASPIRING MODEL FROM DALLAS, TEXAS. She has an amazing, strong, fun personality and loves to use her imagination in everything she does.

Anna loves dancing, singing, reading and playing piano. In her free time Anna enjoys riding the bike, scooter and roller skates. She loves spending time with her friends and family and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She is also fluent in English and Russian languages.

Photo by Kimberly Carrier Dress by Joyfolie GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe hard work is important, because hard work is the base that builds talent. Some dancers have natural talent, however, I'm sure they work hard every day to be their best!

ASHLYN LEIGH KISH - 11 MODEL/DANCER/ACTRESS

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A K MODELING SINCE 6 YEARS OLD USA I have been modeling since I was 6 years old and will be a background extra for a new HBO Mini-series next year. I enjoy dancing and love lyrical, jazz, and hip hop. @ashlyn_leigh07 GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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I believe hard work is important, because hard work is the base that builds talent. Some dancers have natural talent, however, I'm sure they work hard every day to be their best!

EMMA ROSE SMITH - 11 MODEL/SOCCER/ART

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E BEST INDIVIDUALS PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL OF ROCK

Emma is an 11-year-old actress from Atlanta, GA. She has a bright, energetic personality and loves performing! She has appeared in numerous musicals, even winning an award for Best Individual Performance in School of Rock.

In her very first year of pursuing TV/film acting, she has already booked roles in a feature film, 2 short films, and a commercial.

In addition to acting, Emma loves playing soccer, drawing, and Broadway musicals.

Pics by: @hollywoodheadshots emmarosesmith11/ GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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Joshua has a strong work ethic. He works daily on his acting craft and is currently learning to speak Spanish on his own.

JOSHUA ARCURI - 12 ACTOR

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BRINGING AWARENESS TO LEARNING DISABILITIES Joshua Arcuri, is 12 years old and originally from Katy, TX. Joshua found his love of acting at school. He is very appreciative of his parents for allowing him to pursue his dreams. Joshua is very grateful to Nikki Pederson and her team for their faith in him. Having learning disabilities himself, he has made it his mission to bring awareness to learning disabilities so that other kids can seek early intervention in school which will in effect help kids with their self-esteem and mental health. This summer, Joshua plans on spending 10 days in Los Angeles. Joshua enjoys hanging out with his friends and managing his social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok. You can find him on both platforms @awesomejoshuaarcuri

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FUN FACT Born in Celebration, FL

Artist to watch ANASTASIA SAMUEL - 9

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Anastasia Samuel is a Uniquely Radiant Artist in the making! At nine years old, Anastasia is a role model for her sevenyear-old sister, Bella. Progressing from her past practice of “scribbling with colors,” Anastasia sharpens her craft with various activities, such as attending Art Camp and co-illustrating Corporal Freddie Stowers for the LSN KIDS Youth-Build-A-Book project.

UNIQUELY RADIANT

Anastasia has mastered the art of defining “Tinkerbell,” in a delightful painting she crafted from start to finish. Always kind to others, Anastasia volunteers her time to her community with the youth group, Lionheart Youth. The brightest future awaits Anastasia on her journey to creative majesty!

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Artist to watch CHLOE CHRISTENSEN - 8

@chlo_lo_kid_model

ABOUT THE ARTIST Chloe is 8-years-old. She started sewing at age 6. "One day, I took my old 10-year-old sewing machine out of storage, because she had some clothes that needed mending. The second she laid eyes on the sewing machine, she was fascinated". say's her mother.

That night I taught her how to wind the bobbin and thread the machine. She picked it up instantly, and she has been sewing every day since. Chloe’s other love is animals. She could watch the birds and squirrels in our backyard all day. She has a dog named Shadow, who follows her around everywhere.

FUTURE FASHION DESIGNER One day Chloe decided to make Shadow a dog toy, out of the old clothes that she uses as fabric scraps.

Shadow loved it.

Chloe decided to make a few more toys for our neighbor’s dogs, and from there, her passion took off.

This summer she plans on making 100 dog toys from her old clothes and will be donating them to our local animal shelter here in Martinez. It’s her way of making a difference and giving back to society. She hopes that this will make other kids her age realize that they can make a difference too.

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This drawing represents the unbreakable bond between myself and my best friend Jayda. Our friendship is a sisterhood that knows no bounds and can withstand any obstacles.

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Acrylic on canvas | 20” x 16” | 2020 Kid Artist SoleilNation.com

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BEHIND EVERY GREAT KID IS A FEATURED FROM: @MORGANSAVANNAHCHEERS

I want to nominate Coach Kristyn Smith (@kristynmarie511 ) from TSC Allstars in Havertown, PA. Coach Kristyn was my coach on my team Black Magic this past year. Kristyn is an amazing coach, and she has a proven track record of developing winning teams.

This year, our team Black Magic placed top three in every competition during our competition season and brought home numerous medals and 3 championship jackets.

Kristyn inspires her athletes to be their best and work together as a team. She is a strong coach who is a leader, and that shows through the close bond among the team and their strong performance. She holds the athletes accountable and is strict but is never unkind.

During one of our performances, I made an error. I could not get to my spot in time, so the stunt did not go as intended. I thought this might cost us first place. It was day 2 of the competition, and we were sitting in first place out of 20 teams, and I made an error. I felt like I let down my whole team. I was crushed. Kristyn pulled me aside and talked to me. She made me realize it was not the end of the world. I understood that I could learn from the error and, next time, good out there and do better. Fortunately, we still took first place. Kristyn develops strong teams, but she genuinely cares about her athletes and their well-being.

Coach Kristyn Smith GRIT & GRACE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

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BEHIND EVERY GREAT KID IS A FEATURED

Coach Sam Hendrick (@samanthamarra2) Sam owns TSC Allstars in Havertown, PA. Sam is not only the owner of the gym but she also coaches numerous teams.

Sam is personally invested in ensuring that every athlete at TSC reaches their fullest potential; whether that athlete is a member of a novice team or a level 5 summit team. Sam genuinely cares about all of her athletes.

I am on the autism spectrum and so I struggle with motor planning. This makes learning tumbling skills very challenging for me. Sam told me that I can still be an asset to the team because I have strong basing and back spotting skills. She told me about another athlete on a level 5 team that could not tumble either but was an excellent base. She gave me the encouragement I needed to know I could still succeed despite my challenges.

Last year at team reveals when I received my team placement, Sam made it a point to tell me that I hit every level 2 stunting skill at evaluations so she moved me up from level 1 to level 2. She told me she was proud of me and that meant the world to me.

Sam has been instrumental in developing me from the shy 6 years old who could not even do a forward roll or cartwheel that started at TSC Allstars 4 years ago; to the confident 10-year-old who has a clean round off, solid stunting skills, and knows she will always have a place at TSC Allstars.

In addition to developing strong cheerleaders, Sam develops strong teams with a winning track record.

Certain TSC Allstars teams have received bids to the D2 Summit for multiple years and in the last couple of years multiple teams have finished in the finals and placed well. My own team last year, while too young for D2 Summit, placed top three in every competition throughout the competition season and won 3 championship jackets. Sam has incredible talent and she is an outstanding coach.

I am so lucky to have Sam in my life, she has made me stronger, more confident, a better cheerleader, and more resilient.

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THE POWER OF FAILURE What do you think when you hear the word failure? You probably are thinking that you're not good enough and that you should give up.

While failure can involve those thoughts and emotions, failure can also make us stronger or wiser.

A simple definition of failure is: An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.

When I think of this definition of failure, I'm reminded of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. While there are many conflicting stories of how many times Edison "failed" at inventing the electric light bulb, most agree it was in the thousands before he found the right combination of materials.

One of Edison's most famous quotes is, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."

If you adopt this same attitude, you'll overcome your feelings of failure and be able to see your dreams and desires come to fruition.

Robert Schuller stated these famous words,

”" Failure

doesn ' t

mean you ' re a failure ; it just means you haven ' t succeeded yet ."

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THE POWER OF FAILURE Henry Ford said, "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."

When you consider those words from these wise and successful people, you'll truly begin to understand the power of failure.

The truth is, you only fail when you give up!

When you keep trying until you've found the answer or the solution, you're successful.

You'd never say Thomas Edison, Robert Schuller or Henry Ford were failures, would you? Sure, they were unsuccessful many, many times, but they didn't give up until they found the answer, the right procedure, or the right materials to solve their dilemma.

In case those quotes weren't enough to make you believe failure has a positive power and strength, here are some more you might relate to: "A failure is an event, never a person." William D. Brown The next time you try your hand at something and don't achieve the desired result immediately, remember a failure is an event; it's not you.

Katie Couric also said it well when she said, "You can't please everyone, and you can't make everyone like you."

If you're trying to please everyone, you can't possibly succeed!

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." - F. Scott Fitzgerald "You can't have any successes until you can accept failures." - George Cukor Just because you've failed once, twice or 10,000 times at something, it doesn't mean you're a failure. You only fail when you stop trying.

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CAST & CHARACTERS Kyle Spaven -11

Morgan Burdick - 10

Nariyah Simpson-6

Javonne Davidson - 10

Haylee Ann - 9

Parker Batalon -3

Indira Bharvirkar - 7

Ellie Maxwell

Priya Bharvirkar -6

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You Don’t Need Powers To Be A Hero An inspirational story about true heroism

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Short Story

You Don’t Need Powers To Be A Hero Andrew had been an avid skateboarder for years. While he seldom tried the

more complicated tricks that other skaters pulled off, he was content to just ride around the block with his friends, seeing the sights and appreciating the glorious spring weather.

They always listened to music while they rode, with music player programmed to include a random mix of songs. The shuffle function was a great convenience, because he could listen to a variety of genres and bands without fumbling with the device.

Andrew planted his right foot on the ground and thrust it back, propelling his board forward and increasing his speed. The sidewalk was empty, giving them plenty of room to move without needing to worry about navigating around a crowd.

As they passed by one of the local used bookstores, he saw something whisk by in his peripheral vision. Andrew turned to see a baby carriage rolling down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. A few yards behind it, a woman in high heels with large grocery bags in both hands raced after it.

Andrew reached into his pocket and fumbled with his music player before taking it out to pause the song. With the music no longer blocking out the sound, he was able to hear her calling out for help.

It took a second for the sight to register in the kid’s brain. It was unusual, to be sure. A part of the kids wanted to chuckle at the situation, but they thought better of it. While the road did have a slight decline, it wasn’t so steep that the carriage would hit a speed greater than a human’s.

Between the shoes and the baggage, the woman couldn’t run fast enough to catch the runaway buggy.

Andrew hit the play button on his music to hear the song he was listening to, but it faded to silence. Whether it was a sign from God or a bizarre coincidence,

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the next song to come up was John Williams’ classic theme to the Superman movies.

Andrew smirked as they all jumped into action.

His first obstacle was to get across the street. While the road wasn’t a busy highway, there were enough cars passing by to make it a challenge.

Andrew weaved through the gaps between the halted cars and made his way across the street. Before he hit the curb, Andrew jumped his board, bringing it onto the sidewalk.

He pushed his back foot down, bringing him to a stop. He then pivoted sideways so that he was facing the runaway carriage. From there, Andrew equalized the board and raced after the buggy.

The carriage must’ve been high quality, or her husband must’ve replaced the wheels, because even on his board, he was having trouble catching up.

Andrew finally did catch up to the carriage and reached out with his hand to grab the push handle. It took a few attempts, but his fingers finally managed to get a solid grip.

Andrew leaned back so that the board was once again tilted upward. The heel of the board scraped the sidewalk and gradually brought them to a halt.

The woman pursuing the carriage came up just as Andrew was taking the headphones out of his ears. She picked the baby up and held it against her tightly. She turned to Andrew with a gigantic smile on her face.

“Thank you so much for catching it. I was trying to deal with so many things and the handle slipped. It’s like something out of a movie. A runaway baby carriage!” she said, out of breath.

Andrew laughed and nodded. “You’re quite welcome. We’re happy to help.”

Moral of the story: You can be a superhero if you keep your eyes open and notice the needs of those around you.

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Personal Reflection

You Don’t Need Powers To Be A Hero We often dream of accomplishing great things. As kids, we are told stories of superheroes and people who go out of their way to protect the greater good.

While we may not have the super strength, invulnerability, or great speed of many of the superheroes, we can still be heroes in our own right.

Some circumstances, like Andrew’s, come at the spur of the moment. A fellow human being finds himself in a bind and in need of help. Some chances to be a hero involve smaller than life and death matters. Perhaps someone’s car broke down and they merely need a phone to call a tow truck.

You might think of it as just being a good Samaritan, but that’s being a hero to someone in their time of need.

We all aspire to be heroes. We may lack superpowers that’d make the job easier, but we can certainly still help!

Find a cause and be its champion.

Superman fights for truth, justice, and the American way. In that same capacity, we too can fight for a cause we believe in. There are several charities and other organizations dedicated to helping those in need.

You can support the cause either by donating money or volunteering your time.

If you’re willing to get involved in a cause that means something to you, you can leave your mark by helping others and become a true hero.

Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What people, fictional or non-fictional, do I look up to?

2. What cause do I feel passionate about and want to fight for?

3. Are there any organizations that fight for the same cause I do?

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