One thing is for certain: children are our future. We have much to learn from them even now—their love for life, playful nature, care for all people, adoration of the outdoors, and passion with which they reach for dreams. Perhaps the most important lesson they teach us is that the world would be a better place if we all connected with our inner child just a little more.
Molly McBride
The small but mighty decorated gymnast, Molly McBride, 11, will never forget watching Simon Biles win her first Olympic gold medal when she was only four.
Already tumbling at Mindi Tumbling and Cheer, Molly was well on her way. She later advanced to the Gymnastics Training Center and has been there since.
Molly is fueled by her desire for growth. She loves the physical and mental challenges gymnastics presents her and appreciates that it’s both an individual and a team sport.
Her role model is, as expected, Simone Biles.
"I am amazed at who Simone Biles has become considering her life story as a young girl, being adopted by her grandparents and overcoming challenges while becoming an incredible athlete," Molly explains.
In the future, she hopes to have earned a national ranking on any of the gymnastic events and be in contact with a few colleges, including the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Louisiana State University to join their gymnastics team.
As for advice to kids who’d like to try gymnastics, Molly has one answer: “Do it!” But be prepared to work hard.
Because, as Molly says, “I don’t dream of success, I WORK towards success.”
Adalayde Scott
Meet the award-winning climber and environmentalist, 15-year-old Adalayde Scott.
Adalayde started climbing around five when the Momentum Climbing Gym was built beside her house. Once she saw the climbing arch built, she took one look at her mom and said, “I want to try that!”
What she loves most about climbing is the friendships she’s made all over the United States and the beautiful and unsuspecting places she gets to visit.
Her devotion to the environment goes hand-in-hand. Adalayde is part of UYES (Utah Youth Environmental Solutions), where she advocates for environmental justice. Stemming from her “obsession” with birds, once she learned their survival depended on the Great Salt Lake, she wanted to preserve it—which led to a passion for protecting ecosystems and people.
In five years, Adalayde sees herself in college and hopes to be a sponsored climber. She would also love to someday work in conservation biology.
Her philosophy in life so far, she says, is based on Paul Farmer’s book, To Repair the World:
“Staying with people and the things we love through the good and the bad even if it means sacrificing parts of ourselves for a bit.”
I’d say Adalayde is on to a great start.
Henry Muranaka
There’s Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver, and then there’s Henry Muranaka, 13.
This kid baker first debuted as a celebrity chef while competing on the Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship.
“Going into the [Food Network] kitchen for the first time was amazing—it was huge, and they had every baking ingredient and tool you could imagine.”
Inspired by his mom, Henry helped her in the kitchen at an early age (3 or 4 years old) stirring and cracking eggs, but it wouldn’t be until several years later that he found his passion for the craft.
While baking during Covid, he took an online cake decorating class, prompting his mom to enroll him at SLICE (Salt Lake Institute for Culinary Education). He’s been unstoppable since.
At his business, Henry's Bake Sale, he makes treats to order a few times a year, regularly donating them to nonprofits.
When Henry isn’t baking (or in school), he’s playing tennis, video games (Minecraft is his fav), or sleeping.
Whether he wants to be a baker when he grows up, that’s to be decided. And well, he’s got plenty of time.
Go see him at Craft Lake City on their Kid Row this summer!