You know how sometimes you're out at an event and see someone you really want to meet but then you worry and think, "Naw, I can't just go over there and talk to this person. They'll think I'm crazy . . . but I really want to meet them." And you have this little battle back and forth within yourself as you sip your lemon water and smile politely at other acquaintances whom you sometimes worry might also think you're crazy. Still, you don't care that much because you've discovered they're a little boring and a bit judgy so them thinking you're crazy is a compliment you welcome.
This was Theresa, Malina's mom.
Actually, this probably wasn't exactly what Theresa's inner monologue was like. She's far too put together for all that.
Theresa saw me at a business meeting and decided that meeting me was worth her very precious time.
"I know it's a little late in the season and it's a little out there to ask," Theresa smiled, my face reflecting at me through her sunglasses. "but do you photograph seniors?"
I grinned and you can guess what my answer was.
Theresa told me about Malina, this amazing young woman who didn't sound like a high schooler but a self-aware adult living her best life.
A few days later I met Malina and realized that Theresa embellished nothing about her daughter.
While Malina is in at least 5 serious programs, one being a competitive swim team (she saw her way to the Junior Olympics one year) and another being a medical program, she's also generous, polite, and welcoming.
Malina learned early on to be driven but even more important than that, Malina has learned the importance of connecting with people and she's mastered it.
"Even when she was a little girl she's been in charge," Theresa said before laughing to herself. "She was in charge of her kindergarten class. She was running that room and those kids."
"I was nice. They just needed direction," Malina said as she smiled at her mom then looked back at me. "Yeah, it's just sort of been how I've always done things. Like now, I'm considered the mom of our swim team." "It's because you always have snacks, isn't it?" I said.
"Yeah," Malina said, chuckling. "Yeah, you always gotta have the snacks."
Then her face softened. "I also listen to the other girls a lot. They talk to me and just tell me stuff and I just listen and I don't judge them. Some of them have hard times that they've gone through or they're in a hard time now. I just let them talk and I don't talk about them to other people. I've seen other girls do that and I don't want to be like that. I think that's why I'm the mom of our team. They trust me."
Malina is so well put together. She's not swayed by popular culture or trends and her self-confidence fills every part of her life from her academic choices to her wardrobe.
Malina is a 'business casual a l w a y s' kind of girl.
(Oh! Ask her about her shoes some time!)
She's most comfortable in what most people wear to their corporate jobs. And while she's out and about she's not listening to Spotify's top 20 pop hits, she's rocking out with her mom to metal/punk/emo bands like Ice Nine Kills and Breaking Benjamin.
(Malina's music choices alone make me a HUGE fan of hers).
Malina isn't your typical teenager.
She's never been a 'typical' anything.
Malina is opinionated, knowledgeable, witty, easy to get along with, and laughs at my bad jokes . . . so she's deeply compassionate too.
And Malina observes. She's not the loudest because she's not playing the game of 'who gets the most attention wins'. She watches and listens. She takes mental notes and decides who to trust and what to do from there.
She's smart. Malina is smart beyond the acquisition of knowledge from textbooks.
She's smart in her ability to read people.
And maybe her greatest gift is her early realization that she doesn't want to fit in.
"It's just high school," Malina told me as we sorted through her beautiful wardrobe. "So many of these kids are trying to do all this stuff just to fit in with everyone else. And I think 'why?' There is so much more than this."
Malina is strong.
Malina is powerful.
And it's not just because she plays a highly demanding competitive sport.
Malina knows who she is.
And she knows who she wants to be.
Malina is a force for good in a world where goodness like hers is often looked down on.
To quite an INK song, "A force so strong simply can't be overlooked."
You never forget meeting Malina because she's beautiful, yes, but you don't forget a presence like hers.
Honestly, though, I'm just really thankful Theresa came over and talked to me at that business meeting. I'm so glad Theresa jumped into a conversation with me and told me about her unforgettable daughter and then chose me to be her photographer.
So remember friends, always go talk to people you feel drawn to chatting with. Great things happen in simple actions.
Hair and makeup by the amazing Shea Hollister
Love,
Melinda
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