Discovery Girls Magazine - April/May 2009 Issue

Make Your Big Dream Happen!

By Lori Deschene

When she was 12 years old, Leah Larsen came up with the idea for Yaldah, a magazine “for Jewish girls, by Jewish girls.” And once Leah decided to do it, nothing could hold her back.

Her Dream  

Leah had always been interested in writing. She’d even won a couple of short story contests for American Girl and New Moon. But as much as she loved those magazines, she wished their articles stressed Jewish values. That’s when it hit her: Other Jewish girls were probably thinking the same thing. So she decided to write those articles herself.

The adults in her life worried that her goal was too big. They suggested she put together a one-page newsletter instead. But that wasn’t Leah’s vision. “I knew it would be easier, take less time, and be cheaper,” says Leah. “But there are a lot of these little newsletters that go around. I wanted girls to have something to really read—something with color and pictures.”

Getting Started

Back then, Leah had no idea just how much work was involved in creating a magazine. But she just dug in. She called printers to find out how to get it printed. She learned how to get a tax ID number so she could get a bank account. She learned that she’d need to sell subscriptions and ads to help pay the cost of printing and mailing the magazine. “I worked on it full-time the summer after 7th grade—6 hours a day for two months,” says Leah.

Then came the hardest part: raising money to make it all happen. Leah thought, Who’d give money to a kid for a magazine that doesn’t exist yet? But after writing to over 70 businesses about advertising, she raised enough money to print 150 copies of the first issue.

 

Success!

Yaldah was so popular that it sold out. People learned about it through word-of-mouth and from her website. E-mails started pouring in, and newspapers wanted to tell her story—all because Leah had believed in her dream. It’s been five years since that first issue, and Yaldah just keeps growing. Over 1,700 girls subscribe to it, and many more buy it in bookstores across the country. Now Leah has help from 20 girls who write articles

and quizzes, and she just hired 12-year-old Emily Gordis to take her place as editor. This gives Leah time for other projects, like the three books she’ll

publish this fall. Just think about how different Leah’s life would be if she had gotten discouraged when she was 12!

Leah says if other kids are determined, they can do what she did. “Kids are capable of more than they think they are. They just have to keep their dreams in mind, make a plan that shows how you’ll get there, and keep moving forward, even when there are obstacles. Just keep your eyes on the goal and realize you can make a difference.”

Five Tips to make YOUR dreams happen!

    

1. Identify a Specifi c Goal

Want to be an actress? That’s great! Now find something specific you want to achieve, like starring in a play in the nearest major city. This way, you know exactly what you’re working toward and you can take concrete steps to get there. That helped Leah when she started with Yaldah. She says,

“Throughout the first year I focused on where I wanted to get to, what I wanted in the magazine.” The second part is to believe you can do it. If you think it probably won’t happen, it won’t, because you have to make it happen.

2. Jump Right In

You may have no idea what’s involved in making your dream happen, but that’s not a problem! Leah says, “Every step of the way I knew what I was doing, but I didn’t know what would come next.” Just like Leah, you’ll learn as you go. So get going! Maybe you want to start a fashion design club at your school. Talk to your principal to find out if it would be possible to use one of the classrooms after school one day a week. Ask your art teacher to sponsor the club. If you worried about all the stuff you don’t know, you might feel overwhelmed. Instead, just take the first step, then the second, and then…you get the point!

3. Work with the Time You Have

You don’t necessarily need six hours a day, which Leah had the first summer she worked on the magazine. You just have to use the time you do have really well. “I could work on the magazine all day, or for just two hours after school,” Leah says. “Whatever time I have for the job, I get it done.” Figure out when you’ll work on your dream, and then stick to that schedule. Make sure to set goals with deadlines. For example, if you’re pursuing a role onstage, say to yourself, “By the end of this week, I will find out what auditions are coming up at the community theater.”

4. Ask for Help When You Need It

Everyone needs help at some point when starting something new, so don’t be afraid to ask! For a fashion club, you might contact a local boutique owner and ask her to speak to your club about how she got her start in the fashion industry. Leah had help from many sources. For example, she discussed article ideas with her rabbi, and her mother helped her with writing and editing. Whatever your dream is, it’s worth asking people for help. Someday when a newspaper interviews you, you’ll be able to say, “It was scary getting started, but I’m so glad I took that risk!”

5. Know Why You’re Doing It

Dreams aren’t easy to achieve; that’s why a lot of people give up when things get tough. Write down why you’re doing it, or maybe even make a small scrapbook. If your dream is to finish a 5K run by the end of the summer, include pictures of girls running, crossing the fi nish line, and winning medals. Also, keep track of your progress, so you’ll remember how far you’ve come. For Leah, her readers provide motivation. She said, “Reading mail from girls about how much they look forward to the magazine definitely makes it worth it.”

It doesn’t matter how big— or how small—your goal is.

Whether your dream is to write a novel, become a cheerleader, take first place at the science fair, or make the soccer team, the same ideas apply. Figure out what you need to learn and take the first step. Remember, there will always be reasons to quit—fun things will pop up when you planned to work, or your friends might discourage you because they think you aren’t really serious. Leah didn’t let those things distract her, and that’s why she’s living her dream. You’re smart, talented, and amazing too, so don’t let anything stop you either! Get out there and impress yourself!

Lori Deschene