Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a teen who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a friend, and a son or a daughter. Above all, the Teen of the Month is dedicated to making a positive mark on the planet. Rich or poor, famous or not, the Teen of the Month shines as an example of what today's teens have to offer.

November's Teen of the Month is Ali Lauren Spizman.

We've all heard of a teen genius who ends up being a junior in college at the age of 15 or the teen who graduates from a prestigious university before he can even legally drive. No matter how fascinating these teens are, there are many "normal" teens who become inspired to create and make their success from their thoughtfulness and feelings.

"Since I was young, I have written mini books just for myself," says Ali Lauren Spizman, a published teen author. "One day I sprung with the idea to write The Thank You Book for Kids. I started writing famous people who actually wrote me back like the president of Harvard and Michael Eisner. I wrote a page a day for two years, which worked very well, and before I knew it, I had a book. It was a great deal of work, but I really enjoyed every bit of it."

The Seed
Spizman's mother planted a seed in her that grew into what is now the spirit of saying thanks. "When I was a little girl, my mom appointed me the CEO of an imaginary company called the Thank You Company," she says. "Wherever we went, if someone was sweet, kind, generous and of course said thank you, then they were invited into this company. I hired hundreds of people over the years! Growing up, my parents instilled saying thanks for everything, and naturally I wrote a lot of thank you notes and always enjoyed expressing my appreciation to others."

The Writing Bug
Spizman comes from a close-knit family who all share in her love of writing and her success with it as well. "My parents and my brother are great," she says. "My brother, Justin, (who is 21 and attends the University of Texas in Austin), writes a little here and there. He's a fabulous big brother, and we really care about each other a great deal. My mom is an author and has written over 70 books. She wrote The Thank You Book, When Words Matter Most and many more books including co-authoring one called Getting Through to Your Kids about talking to kids about tough topics. I definitely got my writing bug from my mother, along with my father who also is an excellent writer."

"I'm Just a Girl"
One has only to look at Spizman to realize that she is a "normal" teen girl doing "normal" teen things. "Growing up, my family was so close, and we really enjoy being together," says Spizman. "I attend a public high school and am going into the 10th grade. I play varsity volleyball for my school, and last year I was also a cheerleader. I also am focusing on dance at school and really enjoy it as well."

Fame Does Not Equal Change
There are many who let their newfound fame change them. They begin to feel they are "moving on and up" from those who have been a part of their lives for years. Spizman admits that having a level of fame has its perks – real ones.

"Being a published teen author is an accomplishment," she says. "I have really enjoyed and will always be proud of my accomplishment. My book has rubbed off on my friends, and they are constantly saying thank you. I did not miss out on anything while writing it; I just had a focus, which I worked on daily. Writing a book is also a great perk, because I have a gift to give to all my teachers! I feel like I have gained a lot of knowledge through the process of publishing the book and also just in general."

Her Inspiration
Where does a young girl such as Spizman get her inspiration and drive to write and touch so many people? From one of the people who touched her the most – her mother.

"My mother inspired me to write The Thank You Book for Kids," says Spizman. "She had written The Thank You Book, which was for adults. I wanted to write a neater, cooler version for kids. When I was growing up, my mom saved all my thank-you notes and a lot of my artwork, which I also included in my book."

However, the inspiration to keep going and to touch so many does not stop there. Spizman continues to reach out with her words of encouragement, her thoughtfulness and her will to help everyone know that they are appreciated.

"I'm inspired by making a difference to others," she says. "I know how really meaningful it is to share a kind word or encourage a friend when they need help. I really think we can all do good, and no matter who you are, you can easily brighten your corner of the world. Words are very powerful and can make such a world of difference. The goal of my book is to inspire other teens and kids to spread kindness and help others."

Normal Teen Challenges
According to Spizman, having a published book and a certain level of success does not shield you from the trying moments and challenges of being a teen today.

"[Being a teen] is definitely not different for me," she says. "I go through all the same things as my friends, but I try and stay away from the peer pressure. It sometimes is a hard thing to say no to in high school, but the friends I surround myself with are cool if I say no and also do not pressure me or each other into doing anything one might regret in the future. You just have to be yourself, independent and try and not do stuff just to be cool."

Her Advice
Just as Spizman offers her advice to children and teens in her book, she is always willing to offer her advice to teens and their parents.

"I think people should offer whatever bits of advice they can, as you never know when your words can help someone," says Spizman. "My advice to teens: Anything is possible, and everyone should always have a positive attitude toward any goal they have. I think that anybody is capable of succeeding; they just have to put their mind to it. Someone should never doubt himself or herself, because they will never know how much they can accomplish. My advice to parents of teens: Always believe in your children and applaud any idea the child brings to mind. Also, parents should always try and be involved and offer a lending hand if ever needed."

Spizman also shares that in every experience there is good and bad. But the best part is learning from both. She feels we need to learn from and live each experience we have.

"There are both good and bad things to my success," says Spizman. "The best is meeting all the interesting people I have met as an author. I've been on many local talk shows and in the newspaper and magazines. I've served as a spokesperson for the Girl and Boy Scouts Incredible Kids Day in Atlanta, helping motivate adults to write positive messages and encourage kids. I would have to say that there is not a worst thing about my success because no matter what mistake I might have made in the process, I always kept my head up high and knew that if I stuck with it and worked hard, everything would end up OK. I would not change a single thing about any part of my success. It was hard work, and I was glad I did it. I have loved every moment of it and value the experience."

Want to see more?

• Visit Spizman's Web site here!
• The Power of Giving
• Parents as Career Counselors: Leading the Way With a Helping Hand
• Talk about it!