teen spotlight
photography by Britsnap
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Senior, Trinity Presbyterian High School; 18 years old
notable
Started a project called “Anna’s Smile” to collect dental supplies for
orphans
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“The life God has planned for me is more important than the life I
think I need.”
her story
“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”
– Mother Teresa
Molly Catherine Brown certainly didn’t know how much good
would come from the smile that inspired her to start “Anna’s Smile,”
a charity project to collect dental supplies for orphans.
Her aunt and uncle were going through the adoption process
and had just returned from the orphanage in Bulgaria. They were
shocked at how few of the daily necessities the orphans had,
specifically toothbrushes. “It’s something we use every day and
don’t think about that people really need. It shows how a little thing
can be a big thing,” Molly Catherine said.
The next day, the ambitious senior met with the administration,
and over the next few weeks, students at Trinity brought in dental
supplies to send to those who needed them; there was even a prize
given to the homeroom that collected the most.
life’s work
Molly Catherine doesn’t know exactly what she wants to do after
college, but she knows that helping people is what she wants to do
for the rest of her life. “The life God has planned for me is more
important than the life I think I need,” she said.
PG (parental guidance) rating
molly catherine brown
Molly Catherine is especially appreciative of how her parents
encourage her and help her to do what she feels called to do. “My
dad once told me that just because something isn’t stamped with
mission work doesn’t mean it’s not. Everything you do can be
mission work.”
parents’ perspective
“Pray. Work hard. Be salt and light wherever you are,
and remember you are loved.” This is what Bob and
Susan Brown have deemed as their family’s philosophy,
and Molly Catherine has taken it to heart. “We encourage her to be thankful for her blessings and never take
anything for granted.”
The couple is especially proud of their daughter’s
character and her passion for volunteering and service.
One of Bob’s favorite things about his daughter is how
she encourages others and makes them smile. “She just
has a gift for making people feel happy and comfortable.”
parent to parent
“As an IT guy, I used to think there had to be a systematic way to
be good parents. Then I had children and realized I was wholly
inadequate for the task without God’s help,” Bob said. As a kin-
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dergarten teacher, Susan works with young children and their
parents daily and emphasizes the importance of a loving but structured environment. “Tell them you love them every day. Teach
your child good character traits and habits from a young age.
Things like kindness, thoughtfulness and respect for others should
be at the top of your list.”
www.potentialmagazine.com