TalTeenMagFallWinter16

Fall/W i n t e r 2016

Caroline Kirk Positively Making a Difference

20

THINGS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR

Cold Weather Fashion Trends tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 1

2 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

contents

tallahassee teen magazine | fall/winter 2016

4 Editor’s Note

The Leaves are Changing—So Can You

6 Girl Chat

How to Stay Organized This School Year | How to Throw the Best Holiday Party | 20 Things to Be Grateful For

10 Never Go Out of Style

Cold Weather Trends | Style From Suburbia

13 Getting Down to Business

29

9 Service Hour Tips | Something for Dessert: Damaris Britton’s Story

15 Get Your Body Moving

21 DIY

18 On the Cover

22 Shining Bright

Caroline Kirk: Positively Making a Difference

Middle and High School Girls We Admire

20 Inspire

24 On Focus

Dancing: Without it, Life Would be “Pointeless”

Making the Cut

9

How to Master the Art of Photography

My Modeling Experience: Taylor Youngblood

26 Community

Robin Rodriguez’s Adventure Abroad | Calendar of Events

28 Around the World in 80 Plates Cold Weather Comfort Food

30 Last Words A Post-It Challenge

21 16 On the Cover Caroline Kirk: Positively Making a Difference by Cristi Mckee About the Cover: Photography by Lydia Bell of elleBelle Photography | Makeup by Stephanie Hartman. Wardrobe provided by Sparkle by Madison

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 3

EDITOR’S

Note

“If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

- Ronald Dahl

Going through change is hard— even harder than losing a Snapchat streak—but when it comes to changing your life to become a more positive person, it’s for the better.

In a world that’s full of negative thoughts, it’s difficult to be positive all the time.

But do you know what the secret to a happy life is? Looking at the positive side of things. Looking for the good, even if you have to look a little harder.

If something negative happens, look at the bright side—there usually is one. There is something good in every day, even if not every day is necessarily “good.”

Perhaps this week has been filled with trials and negativity—maybe next week will be the best week of your life— you just need to stay positive about life.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Rachel Corry • Jolee Keplinger • Emily Wells

CONTRIBUTERS Sella Kinch • Emma Lehman • Elspeth Suber • Taylor Youngblood • Hannah Wong

EDITORIAL & DESIGN OVERSIGHT Tallahassee Woman Magazine Staff (TWM) 4 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

Cristi Cristi McKee, Editor

And, if you feel the positivity, spread the positivity—maybe even in the way that our cover girl Caroline Kirk does.

ADVERTISING For more information on advertising, call (850) 893-9624 or e-mail ads@TalWoman.com.

Fall/Winter 2016 Volume 1 | Issue 2

EDITOR Cristi McKee

If you’re looking for a sign to change your life and become a more positive person, this is it. The leaves outside are changing. So can you.

Tallahassee Teen Magazine is published twice per year and is distributed on a complimentary basis online and throughout Tallahassee and the surrounding communities.

This magazine is published as a project of the Internship/ Externship program at TWM.

The information in this publication is presented in good faith. The publisher does not guarantee accuracy or assume responsibility for errors or omissions.

Copyright ©2016 Tallahassee Woman Magazine LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in part or in whole, without expressed written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.

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Jolee Keplinger, 19, Editorial Assistant

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tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 5

GIRL CHAT

How to Stay Organized this School Year

By Jolee Keplinger

Staying organized can be easy if you follow these simple tips.

1. Invest in a planner — The simple act of jotting down essential tasks or outlining a daily schedule can significantly impact your life. It will help you keep track of school assignments and extracurricular commitments.

2. Purchase a filing container — Is your desk drowning in graded papers, receipts, report cards, photos and

community service documents? If so, it may be time to start filing. As boring as it sounds, you’ll thank yourself when you need to find an important document.

3. Make it a habit — Once a week, clean out your backpack. Throw away unnecessary papers, broken pencils and trash. Restock pens, pencils, paper and remember your planner!

4. Get a bin for anything and everything — Designate a small box or basket for items that don’t have a

“home.” When you suddenly have the urge to organize, empty the box and determine a logical place for each item.

5. Ditch the desk drama — Desks can be a major problem area for busy teens. To remedy this, try following the “rule of five” by only allowing five items on the desk. Everything else must be booted to drawers. Purchase organizing trays for loose items and designate a space to keep paper and sticky notes.

6. Clean out your closet — First, remove pieces of clothing that haven’t been worn for at least a year and donate them to a local charity. Next, invest in a quality set of nonslip hangers. If you buy fifty, for example, only allow that amount of clothing to hang around. Refrain from tossing shoes in a large bin or haphazardly stacking them on the ground. Instead, install a hanging rack or set of shelves.

7. Get dresser drawer dividers — No matter how hard we try to keep our clothes stacked and neatly folded, chaos ensues. By adding dividers, clothing will stay in its proper place.

6 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 7

GIRL CHAT

How to Throw the Best Holiday Party

By Emily Wells

This season always brings cold weather, excitement and, of course, parties!

Here are five tips to help you throw the best holiday party.

Create a Warm, Cozy Atmosphere: Rather than making your house bright and flashy with red and green holiday lights, try creating a warm atmosphere through the use of a fireplace, warm colors like yellow or gold for your lights and dimming your overhead lights. It will make guests feel relaxed and welcome at the party.

Play a Game at Your Party: If you want your guests to have some holiday fun at your party, try setting up a game such as Secret Santa or encourage guests to find their ugliest winter garb for an ugly sweater party.

Play Both Classic and Modern Holiday Music: If you’re playing music at your party, be sure to mix up the playlist with newer holiday songs and classics. The new music will be a refreshing change from the songs the guests have come to expect.

Have a Decoration Theme: Decorate your house with a winter wonderland theme, Christmas tree theme or candy cane theme for a fun and colorful touch.

Have Treats Prepared for Your Guests: What’s a party without food and drinks? Eggnog, hot chocolate and cookies are great holiday-themed snacks to have at your party.

8 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

20 Things

TO BE GRATEFUL FOR

By Cristi McKee

Grateful people tend to be happier and have generally more positive mindsets. To improve your sense of gratitude and happiness, check out this list of things to be grateful for.

1. Your family, even if they’re as nutty as Rocky Road ice cream.

11. Randomly receiving a present, because, honestly, what’s better than that?

2. Your pet, even though they may bark/meow in the middle of night for no apparent reason, they love you unconditionally.

12. When you can’t control your laughter, because those moments stay with you forever.

3. Good hair days, because wearing a beanie to hide messy hair is only accepted by society when it’s cold outside.

13. Learning, because it gets you far in life.

4. Phones—because they give you the ability to talk to your friends 24/7.

5. Clean water and healthy food—because they are what’s keeping you alive and well.

6. Getting a green light every single time you reach a stoplight—no waiting needed.

7. The moment when you hear a song and know it’s going to be your favorite for a long time.

8. Long, hot showers, because nothing’s better than standing under water for 15 minutes.

9. Lunch time, because everyone loves to eat and you have the opportunity to.

10. A really great book, whether it’s a classic or the newest John Green novel.

14. Pretty sunsets, because they’re extremely beautiful in a world that sometimes isn’t.

15. Comfort food, because it’s always there for you no matter what.

16. Books, because they have the ability to take you to another world even if you’re just sitting in your room.

17. Your friends, because without them, you wouldn’t be who you are today.

18. Free food samples, because it’s the little things that bring the most happiness.

19. The moment you walk into your house and your pet runs up to you.

20. Yourself, because your limbs are working and you’re breathing and that’s enough to be grateful for. tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 9

NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

Cold Weather Trends

CHECK OUT THESE FALL AND WINTER FASHION TRENDS AND THE COLD WEATHER COLOR PALETTE.

By Rachel Corry

Chokers

Plaid Scarves

Olive

Channel your inner spunk with this bold accessory. Great for drawing attention to the face, chokers can be easily incorporated into almost any outfit this season.

This classic accessory is a necessity this season! It keeps you warm and brings the finishing touch to any fall or winter outfit.

Style it with jeans and a solid colored top for a sweet and stylish look.

The color olive brings a unique touch to your outfit. An olive shirt styled jeans, shorts or a skirt is perfect for a night out in the cold weather.

Modeled by: Cathi M Cold weather color: garnet 10 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

Modeled by: Emily W

Modeled by: Rachel C Cold weather color: burgundy

Cold weather color: olive green

Flannel

Cobalt Blue

Fringe

Wearing a flannel shirt with a pair of solid leggings or jeans makes an ideal outfit for outdoor activities or hanging out with friends and family.

Move beyond the expected earthy tones of fall and winter and incorporate this pop of color into your wardrobe to create a polished and pretty look.

Fringe is the solution to any cold weather blues! For a bohemian look, add a purse or boots with fringe details to any outfit.

Modeled by: Lucy M

Modeled by: Cristi M

Cold weather color: cobalt blue

Modeled by: Molly P

Cold weather color: clay tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 11

NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

Style from Suburbia I enter Goodwill, inhaling the smell of, known to many, junk, but to me, something comforting and strangely awesome. I browse around for an hour or so, admiring retro ’90s jeans and 2000s business attire and finally end up purchasing a few vintage and modern finds. Thrift shopping—“thrifting”—allows me to express myself and be unique. Fashion, to me, isn’t about conforming to the standards of appearance set by other people, it’s about showing that I have my own personality through the unique clothes I wear.

By dressing differently from others, I communicate originality and reveal that I am an open person who welcomes new perspectives. Fashion has a deeper meaning because using my creativity to pick out the clothes I wear affects how I feel about myself.

When I wore my vintage-structured blazer to give a presentation at school, I felt powerful addressing my class.

12 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

By Elspeth Suber

The twenty minute period I take to get ready in the morning is one of my favorite parts of the day. I always look forward to taking outfit-of-the-day photos for use on my fashion blog, stylefromsuburbia.weebly.com.

To share my love of using fashion as means of self-expression and broadcasting individuality, I started a fashion interest group, Style Society, at my school. My plans for the club involve visiting local thrift stores, having multiple outfit photoshoots and using social media to document our stylish outfits and our message. The main goal of the society is to encourage its members to step outside their comfort zones and wear clothing that they feel expresses their own personalities, while receiving positive encouragement from other club members.

Fashion is important to me because the way I dress affects the way I feel on a daily basis.

Wearing unique, thrifted clothing helps me broadcast my personality to the world, feel more confident, and communicate the importance of individuality.

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

9 Service Hour Tips

By Sella Kinch

Volunteer service hours are a necessity for many high school and middle school students.

Here are nine tips that will help you collect them.

1. JOIN SCHOOL CLUBS —Ranging from honor societies to service clubs, school clubs can require three to six hours of service each semester. Your hours can add up.

2. FIND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS — At most schools, service hours from non-profit organizations are required.

Places like food pantries, shelters or local churches always need help from students.

3. ASK YOUR GUIDANCE OFFICE—Guidance offices were created to help students with finding opportunities; ask your guidance counselors for service opportunities.

4. GET FRIENDS INVOLVED —Everything is more fun with friends! Ask a couple of friends that are in need of volunteer hours to join you helping out a worthy cause—working together will make the time fly.

5. HELP TEACHERS —Teachers spend hours grading, printing and planning. Spend a lunch period helping your favorite teacher with organizing their classroom or grading assignments.

6. FIND SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU—Try to incorporate your interests in your volunteering—it will give you useful experience and make the job more entertaining.

7. INTERN/EXTERN—Extern programs through your school can give you opportunities to spend a couple of hours each school day at places that need assistance, such as hospitals or schools, as long as they are non-profit organizations.

8. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING—Do not lose track of your hours! Keep track of where you volunteer and how many hours you gain—they add up fast!

9. GET THE PAPERWORK DONE —In order to cash in your hours, there is lengthy paperwork to file. Do not push it off until the last minute. It can be difficult to describe how your work impacted your community at midnight.

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 13

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

Something for Dessert: DAMARIS BRITTON’S STORY

By Cristi McKee

Baking isn’t just a hobby for 18-year-old Damaris Britton, it’s a lifestyle.

Taught by a teacher and YouTube videos, she started baking at 9-years-old and hasn’t stopped since.

“I think ​I love baking and decorating because I get to be creative in my own quirky little way. I’ve never been very good at drawing, painting, or anything like that, but have always been fairly good at sculpting and coming up with cool designs, so baking and decorating is perfect for me.”

She further explains, “You also get to eat what you produce, so that’s always fun.”

A baker at Food Glorious Food, an award-winning restaurant here in town, Damaris is also owner of her home-based business, Something for Dessert, where she custom makes a variety of different cakes, desserts and cupcakes.

While talented at making multiples kinds of desserts, her favorite food to bake are cupcakes and says that, “A good cupcake can make even the darkest day a little brighter.”

Her favorite part of owning her own business? She gets to be her own boss! “I also have the time to make cakes for family and friends since it is a small business.”

As an avid community musical theatre participant, senior in high school through homeschooling and friend to many, it’s hard to juggle work, school and personal life. However, Damaris still finds the time to make and donate desserts to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home. “Getting the opportunity to make birthday cakes for the kids there has been an amazing experience,” she says.

Damaris hopes to pursue her love for baking and cake decorating in the future. One day, she would like to work for a large company or have her own cake shop.

Photos courtesy Damaris Britton ^ 14 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

GET YOUR BODY MOVING

Dancing: Without it, Life Would Be “Pointeless”

By Rachel Corry

We all have a favorite activity that allows us to de-stress and appreciate the simple things in life. For Leon High School senior Maribeth McClenny, this activity is dancing. She began dancing at 18 months old at the Dance Academy in Thomasville, Georgia.

From there, Maribeth didn’t stop dancing until she reached middle school, where she decided to take a break and joined the Raa Middle School cheerleading team. She realized how much she missed dancing and joined the Leon High School dance team during her freshman year of high school.

Nowadays, Maribeth dedicates 15 to 30 hours a week to dancing at Dance Fusion Studios, under the instruction of Wendy Crawford. While she performs many styles of dance, her favorites are ballet and contemporary. “Everything just makes sense at the barre,” she says about ballet while, “Contemporary dance is definitely the best place to put all of my emotion, passion and organic movement. “ Although Maribeth has battled multiple severe injuries, that hasn’t stopped her from earning many awards, including runner up for overall senior female and 8th-overall at the 24 Seven Dance Convention, and platinum and 7th-overall at the Nextstar National Dance Competition. She has received multiple scholarships from these competitions and conventions.

While Maribeth is an assistant trainer at Dog Pond Kennels, dancing is her “first love.” To her, she “loves the feeling of expressing a story or emotions with movement.”

Maribeth hopes to continue dancing in college for four years, then attend graduate school to become a veterinarian. She is currently auditioning for dance programs at Florida State University, University of Southern California and Marymount Manhattan College. She plans to dance for as long as possible and knows it will always mean much more to her than just moving around on a stage.

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 15

ON THE COVER

16 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

Caroline Kirk: Positively Making a Difference

By Cristi McKee Photo by elleBelle Photography

For Leon High School senior Caroline Kirk, staying positive and helping those in need is a way of life.

Caroline Kirk is 18-years-old and the student body president at Leon High School. As an Anchor Club and Pierian National Honor Society member, she has devoted years of time and effort to these clubs. She is also the co-founder of Positively Post-It (PPI), participated in cancer fundraisers for the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Cancer Foundation and a dance marathon to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at Leon High School.

She also launched the “Homelessness: Let’s Bag It” campaign. “Providing these events is not only rewarding to me, but also to friends, family and

strangers in the community,” she says. Positively Post-It was brought to Leon High School in 2015 by Caroline and her friend Elyse Thompson. The goal is to promote positivity and kindness on social media and in the real world.

“PPI is a campaign to introduce and encourage positive posts anywhere—in your school, at your place of worship, in a nursing home, at the office, even your local hospital—the options are only as limited as your own creative imagination,” she explains.

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 17

ON THE COVER

Caroline at a Positively Post-It event at Leon High School.

For Caroline, “Positively Post-It has had the greatest impact on me; it just made me a generally more positive person. I have always had a positive attitude and smile on my face, but I started feeling and seeking positivity daily after Elyse and I began the positivity movement.”

Caroline’s Homelessness: Let’s Bag It Campaign was started in 2014. She saw that everyone around her had plenty of bags and plenty of items to put in them, but the homeless people that checked into Tallahassee’s homeless facility, The Shelter, did not.

Given that the Shelter last year housed 1,869 people, Caroline saw the need, and got to work. From there, she started an annual “Let’s Bag It” collection drive where people donated their bags at Leon High School.

Throughout the school year, a multitude of donations such as toiletry essentials, first aid items, socks, water bottles, granola bars 18 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

Elyse and Caroline wearing their mantra, “Choose Joy” shirts.

and more were brought to the school by students in order to fill those bags that had been donated.

Caroline says that, “Students can be a strong, positive influence on their peers and this project allows them to help others in need.”

A well-rounded person with many interests, Caroline is also an avid volleyball player and is active in student government. When she’s not playing sports, volunteering, or at school, she enjoys participating in Younglife, a Christian organization, and writing editorials for her school newspaper, The Leon High Life.

Caroline hasn’t crystalized what she wants to do in the future, but she says, “I want to do something amazing. I want to make a change in the world that people can notice, even if it’s on a small, personal level.

Ultimately, I think I see myself as a

“No matter how you feel in the moment, take a step back and look at the situation and find the piece of joy that exists within you. No matter how small, I believe there is something joyful you can find in every situation if you look hard enough.” - Caroline lawyer—possibly later involved in politics—and maybe one day the CEO of a nonprofit organization.”

In ten years, Caroline hopes to be as happy as she is now and still making a difference in people’s lives wherever she goes: “I try to look for what makes me feel best, and what makes the people around me feel even better. Hopefully I will be doing something that makes not only me, but everyone around me, feel great.”

Her tips for staying positive? “No matter how you feel in the moment, take a step back and look at the situation and find the piece of joy that exists within you. No matter how small, I believe there is something joyful you can find in every situation if you look hard enough. I set a goal to do that every day.”

The world can choose to be negative and unkind, but as for Caroline Kirk, she’s choosing joy.

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 19

INSPIRE

Making the Cut

ByByCristi CristiMcKee McKee

Do you want to know a secret? Nobody’s perfect. Not the person with the amazing Instagram feed, not the person who always wins the awards and not the person with the spectacular makeup—none of them are.

“Perfect” doesn’t exist.

All too often, however, we let ourselves believe that everyone around us is perfect and that it is something we should be to “make the cut.”

We let ourselves believe that if we don’t look, eat or speak a certain way, we’re not valuable.

What are we measuring up to? The pictures on someone’s timeline?

An indication on a scale? A comment someone made? Why is it that we’re letting things that don’t really matter determine how good we are, how smart we are, how valuable we are, how beautiful we are— who we are? If we’re “perfect” in every aspect, we think, we’ll make the cut.

Beautiful sunsets or the stars in the night sky are perfect, right? They certainly make the cut, don’t they? Breathtaking sunsets are only created because fire and smoke— they certainly don’t look very perfect—rise from the ground. A gaseous nebula has to break apart for a star to be created. These beautiful things are made up of such imperfect things, but they’re still considered beautiful. They still make the cut.

Do you know what determines whether you make the cut or not? If you have passion in your heart so you can chase your dreams, you make the cut. If your voice, though low or high pitched, can say what you believe in, you make the cut. If your smile, whether crooked or straight, can appear when you see something that brings happiness to your soul, you make the cut.

You will always make the cut.

20 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

How to Master the Art of Photography

DIY

By Emma Lehman

Photography is a popular art form, but how is it mastered? Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. BE INSPIRED, BUT DON’T COPY. If you try to recreate others’ photos, then you’re only telling a repeated version of their story. Your story is an important one, and while it might take a long time to perfect telling it through photography, it is worth the journey.

2. NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAMERA BEHIND. The best way to develop as a photographer is to take pictures of everything. Take your camera with you everywhere—to the lake, the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, coffee shops, Trader Joe’s, or your grandparent’s house.

3. REFUSE TO OVERTHINK YOUR ART. The best thing to do after you’ve taken a picture is to forget about it. Yes, that’s right, forget you ever took that picture in the first place. Overthinking is the silent killer of creativity so don’t let it claim your art.

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 21

SHINING BRIGHT

Shining Bright These Tallahassee girls are shining bright with their accomplishments!

We admire these girls because…

Blake JACOBS

Lily NELSEN

Nia CLOSE

(18) helped feed people in villages in Nicaragua while on a church mission trip.

(13) achieved over 125 of community service hours helping at Buck Lake Elementary School.

(18) was nominated Lincoln High School Student Body President for the 4th year in a row.

Leanne WATSON

Alani Triplett

Julia BANFILL

(17) organized an event with Pennies for Pasta and created a competition between the Lincoln High School Key Club members, raising $670 in one week.

Taylor THORP

(16) received a softball scholarship to Appalachian State University.

22 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

(17) was cast in her first solo performance as the Mirliton Queen in The Nutcracker at the Pas de Vie Ballet Company.

Dee MORRIS

(18) won first place in a regional French baking competition.

(17) got the part of Yvonne in The Koi, a short film that was included in the FSU film school’s final project series.

Anna McDONALD & Paige NICHOLSON

(18) Tennis doubles partners at Lincoln High School advanced to state finals in Winter Park, Florida.

Diana ROBERTSON (18) received the first place award at the Tallahassee Orchid Show Art Competition and the Lawton Chiles High School Outstanding AP Junior Fine Arts Department Award.

Heather FISH (18) received the Outstanding Junior English Department Award for her active role and participation as a student in her English class.

If you or someone you know is “shining bright” and you would like to submit her accomplishment to be featured in a future issue of Tallahassee Teen, e-mail her name, age, accomplishment and a high resolution (300 dpi) photo to Rachel@talwoman.com.

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tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 23

ON FOCUS

My Modeling Experience

By Taylor Youngblood

Tallahassee’s very own Taylor Youngblood’s modeling career took off while she was in high school. Now, at 19, she shares her story of determination, perserverance and passion to follow her dreams.

< Photographer: Beth Studenberg

In high school, I started modeling with Marsha Doll Models doing local photoshoots and working with local photographers. I then branched out to Jacksonville, Florida, where I signed with a small boutique agency called Manikin.

I went to a casting call for a Nordstrom 24 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

show and booked my first well-paid job.

Through this experience, I got a taste of what actual castings were like and also got to work with international models.

After I graduated, my godmothers gifted me with a trip to New York City to try

my luck with a professional modeling agency. I thought getting signed with a professional modeling agency would be easy. The first lesson I learned? Nothing is easy until you actually try it. Most agencies don’t take walk-ins and they wanted model prospects to submit

portfolios online or go to an open call. I had already submitted myself online and never got a response, so I decided I would walk in to each agency on this trip.

Taylor (on left) modeling for Tallahassee Woman Magazine in October 2014.

I was receiving numerous “no’s” from the agencies and began to grow discouraged.

Agencies such as Elite and Wilhelmina didn’t see me while others encouraged me to submit online.

When I reached Major Model Management, I hadn’t grown completely discouraged and was somehow feeling bolder. I walked in and met with an assistant who gave me an application.

I was soon introduced to the panel of bookers along with the president of the agency, Katia Sherman. I did my best “model walk” and put on my game face. When I was finished, Katia had a gleam in her eye; she liked what she saw. To make things even better, she said “We really like you, Taylor. We want to sign you. Is your mother around?” I said my two godmothers were waiting downstairs, and they were invited up to discuss the contract.

Photographer: Adam Cohen

At the moment, I am based in Miami Beach with Next Model management.

I’m so excited to be living and working in Miami because Florida suits me so well. Once the busy season is done here I will be traveling back to New York and branching out to agencies abroad.

Photographer: Beth Studenberg

Photographer: Matt Pluz tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 25

COMMUNITY

Robin Rodriguez’s Adventure Abroad

By Rachel Corry

When Robin Rodriguez boarded the plane to France in August 2015, she was filled with a hundred different emotions. Born in South Africa, Robin realized her passion for traveling and studying language at a young age. Several suspenseful months after applying to spend her junior year of high school in France, she was accepted by the Rotary Exchange Program.

Robin took four years of French before studying abroad and anticipated using it in real life would be completely different from the classroom. She knew she would miss her family and friends more than anything, but her eagerness to explore French culture and have this “incredible adventure of a lifetime” overshadowed all of her doubts.

In Hazebrouck, France, Robin stayed with four host families.

With each one, she lived in a completely new setting and experienced a unique lifestyle. While it was frustrating in the first few months as she struggled to express herself in French, she soon came to love the challenge. “The language barrier is the hardest, but also the most rewarding to overcome,” Robin says.

During her stay, Robin made some of the best friends of her life from all over the world. The people that reached out to her made this experience truly extraordinary and helped her discover that “simply a single act of kindness really can help someone out.”

Studying abroad showed Robin not only the value of knowledge, but also the importance of taking risks and challenging yourself even when it terrifies you.

“If we are given an opportunity, we should seize it,” she says.

The best experiences and accomplishments in life often come when we step out of our comfort zone. Robin is now back in Tallahassee spending her senior year at Lincoln High School, but she hopes to go back to France very soon.

26 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

EXPLORING TALLAHASSEE Check out this calendar of events to see what’s going on around town!

First Friday

Every first Friday of the month 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Railroad Square Art Park Listen to local bands and singers, view art galleries, shop at fun stores and eat tasty food at First Friday. Visit online at railroadsquare.com for more information on this event.

Tallahassee Farmer’s Market Every Saturday, 8 a.m Market Square Pavillion Support local farmers at the Tallahassee Farmers Market. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables that are all locallygrown at this weekly Saturday event.

Tallahassee Youth Orchestras Holiday Alumni Concert

December 11, 2016 at 3 p.m.

Opperman Music Hall Get into the Christmas spirit by listening to these sensational music groups play your favorite holiday songs and more.

All music groups consist of students in elementary, middle and high school, so go and support them!

Clogging with the Red Hills Cloggers

Every Monday, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church If you want to learn how to clog, head over St. Paul’s Methodist Church every Monday for weekly lessons. Visit Red Hills Cloggers’ Facebook page online at facebook.com/red-hills-cloggers.

Swamp Forest Trail Marathon and Half Marathon

January 7, 2017 Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park This 6.5 mile run covers the beatuiful terrain of Elinor Klapp-Phipps park in the cool weather January provides.

OPENING NIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS PRESEN T S

Tallahassee Downtown New Year’s Eve

December 31, 2016 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Downtown Tallahassee Await 2017 at this annual downtown street festival. Listen to local bands, watch fireworks, eat from food trucks and see performances from numerous groups at this free event.

OCTOBER 5 & 6

Ragamala Dance Company

2016 Youth Art Exhibit

November 16, 2016 to January 9, 2017 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City Hall Galleries Art created by elementary, middle and high school students is displayed at the City Hall Galleries until January 9, 2017.

Go check out beautiful artistic pieces done by students you may know.

Florida-Georgia Line Dig Your Roots 2017 Tour

January 27, 2017, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Catch the popular country music band at the Donald L. Tucker civic center this January. For more information on this event, call 850-583-4871.

Tallahassee Marathon

February 4 to February 5, 2017 This 43rd annual marathon has over 1,000 partcipants and thousands of spectators.

Run through Downtown, Midtown, Cascades Park and more during this fun marathon and half marathon.

Big Bend Community Orchestra Concert

February 11, 2017, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Turner Auditorium Hear Tallahassee community musicians play symphonic music with special guest Young Artist Competition winners at this special concert.

NOVEMBER 23

Annie

FEBRUARY 8

Twyla Tharp Dance

APRIL 1

Patti LuPone

APRIL 4

Anne-Sophie Mutter

MAIN LINE: 850.644.7670 TICKET OFFICE: 850.644.6500 OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU

tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 27

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLATES

COLD WEATHER COMFORT FOOD Everyone loves comfort food and these recipes are our favorites.

These cold weather-inspired treats are sure to warm you up!

By Hannah Wong, Rachel Corry and Jolee Keplinger

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

(Recipe submitted by Hannah Wong, adapted from Janet’s Rich Banana Bread by vjonsson on allrecipes.com.)

Ingredients: ½ cup butter, melted 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 ½ cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup sour cream 2 medium bananas, mashed ½ cup chocolate chips Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

- Stir together the melted butter and sugar in a large bowl.

- Add eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.

- In a medium bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.

- Slowly fold them into the wet ingredients.

- Fold in the sour cream, then fold in the mashed bananas and chocolate chips. Be careful not to overmix.

- Scrape the batter into the greased pan and bake for about an hour or until cooked through.

Test by sticking a toothpick in the center; if the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is done.

For a fun twist, add pistachios, raisins or coconut flakes to your chocolate chip banana bread!

If you have an original recipe you would like to share, send your recipe and a high resolution picture (300 dpi) to cristi@talwoman.com.

28 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

Festive Peppermint Hot Chocolate Ingredients: ½ cup whole milk ¼ cup heavy cream 5 ounces good quality milk chocolate, coarsely chopped Handful of crushed peppermint Whipped cream (optional) Directions: - Combine milk and cream in saucepan over medium heat and cook until simmering, about 4 minutes.

- Add chocolate and whisk until completely melted and well incorporated, about 2 minutes.

- Pour into a mug and sprinkle the crushed peppermint into it, making the candy sink to the bottom.

- Add whipped cream and crushed peppermint to top and, Recipe submitted by Rachel Corry finally, enjoy!

Healthy & Hearty Chili Ingredients: 1 medium onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 bell pepper 2 medium carrots 2 celery stalks 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cans diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon cumin 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups vegetable broth 1 can black beans, drained 1 can kidney beans, drained 1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas, drained 1 can sweet corn, drained

Recipe and photo by Jolee Keplinger

Directions: - Finely chop or dice vegetables and mince garlic cloves.

- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high. When the oil sizzles, add the chopped onion, bell pepper, carrots, and celery.

- Cook approximately 8 minutes, stirring frequently.

- Once the onions become translucent, add garlic, chili powder, thyme, oregano and cumin. Cook for another minute, stirring frequently.

- Reduce heat to medium-low and add vegetable broth, tomatoes, beans and corn. Simmer for approximately 30 minutes.

When serving, try topping the chili off with your favorite shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onion/jalapeno, avocado or tortilla strips. tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 29

Last Words Now, Tallahassee Teen Magazine challenges you to spread the positivity the way that our cover girl, Caroline, does! Take a post it note, write a positive message on it, post it somewhere around town, then take a picture and post it on Instagram, Facebook or both, and then tag us at Tallahassee Teen Magazine, hashtag #tallypositivity!

Get your friends and family to do the same and spread the positivity all around Tallahassee.

You are beautiful!

30â&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘ tallahassee teen â&#x20AC;˘ fall/winter 2016

LOOK FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF

IN MAY 2017!

FEATURING FROZEN TREATS, RECENT FASHION TRENDS, HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD AS A TEEN AND AN INSPIRING STORY ABOUT A TEENAGE GIRL IN THE COMMUNITY—YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THE NEXT ISSUE OF TALLAHASSEE TEEN MAGAZINE!

Have questions or comments about Tallahassee Teen Magazine?

Want to submit a picture to be featured in a future issue?

Interested in writing for Tallahassee Teen Magazine?

E-mail the Editor at cristi@talwoman.com with any questions or comments you may have about Tallahassee Teen.

We are always open to feedback!

For advertising inquiries e-mail ads@talwoman.com or call (850) 893-9624 tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016 • 31

All items under $35 • Sizes S – 2LX Manor at Midtown • 1108 Thomasville Road

850.591.0074 /sparklebymadison 32 • tallahassee teen • fall/winter 2016

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