January Life

I feel like I say this everytime I blog...Sorry for being behind! This semester is really taking it out of me. Still, I'm so excited to graduate in May! I can't believe that it is so close. Now if I can just make it through the next 21 hours... :)

So this post is a little behind the times, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to say CONGRATULATIONS to Miss Arkansas, Alyse Eady! I can't tell you how many people, who previously didn't put much stock in the Miss America Organization, have come up to me to ask if I know Alyse. Or to tell me that they were cheering her all the way through to the end. Arkansas is blessed to have such a grounded young woman speaking in our schools, visiting our cities, and sharing with us her true beauty. We love you, Alyse.

I, also, want to take this opportunity to say "Thanks!" to Jonesboro Worship Center for allowing me to open the fellowship hall up for a Miss America Watch Party. There were about 40 people in attendance. Many of the young girls had been, or will be a Diamond State Princess! It was wonderful for them to see what this organization is all about. My former and future princesses were there, as well. I am so glad to have the opportunity to mentor these young ladies. My former princes has moved into the teen competition and I know my new princess (who happens to be her little sister) is looking forward to doing the same in a few years!

You know, when I first sit down to write a post, I think "I don't know what to say..." Then when I get started, I don't want to stop! My high school english teacher would warn me against stream of consciousness writing, so I will leave you with a few photos from the watch party.

Me with Miss Crowley's Ridge, Bethany Bell, and all the young ladies in attendance.

The cake I made for Alyse!

Me with my Miss Greater Jonesboro family. Thanks for the support, you guys!

Starting Where it Counts

I had the priviledge this past Friday to speak with high school students, 9th through 12th grade, at Blytheville  High School about opportunities they would have in college for participating in leadership and community service.

I believe it is vital that we begin introducing others to service and involvement where it counts, with students still in school. My life has been so widely shaped by my involvement in service organizations throughout high school and college. I was presented so many wonderful opportunities because of my leadership skills, such as traveling to France and Switzerland as an Arkansas State University Global Student Leader. Because of my experiences, I know how important it is to be involved in your community. I, also, understand that the earlier you get involved, the better your service will impact others, enhance the quality of life in your community, and present to you limitless opportunities.

Speaking with the students at BHS was a wonderful experience. Thank you to their teacher Mr. Ben Rutherford who allowed me to take up valuable class time to talk with his students about their options for service and involvement in college. It was wonderful to see so many students genuinely interested in my life experiences and motivated to get involved in their futures.

Trouble

So I ran into a little problem with my old website; I'd used all of my photo space! Which just won't work for me since I like to put a photo in almost every post! So I decided that since I was most interested in keeping a blog for you all to read, then I would simply join a blogging site (with muchos photo space). I don't want to lose any of my old posts, so I'm going to be uploading them to this site and back dating them. Hopefully, I can do that quickly and get back to my new found blogging hobby! Thanks for your patience.

Oh! And one upside, this blog allows for comments. Feel free to comment on any of my posts, or just to drop in an say Hi!

MMXI

First, I want to say GOOD LUCK to Miss Arkansas 2010, Alyse Eady, as she embarks for the Miss America Pageant in Vegas! I have enjoyed getting to know Alyse this year, and can say with certainty that she is a beautiful young woman, inside and out, and is well deserving of the Miss America title. I look foward to cheering you on Alyse. You are in my prayers!

I can't believe that 2011 is already here! 2010 held many great memories for me and I'm looking forward to many exciting adventures in the new year. I enjoyed a quiet holiday with family and friends. My mum(not a typo) and I spent our Christmas day all over Jonesboro with family friends. That was a first for us - not to be at home, just the two of us - and a tradition I think we will keep.

I have had a pretty relaxing break from school, so far; working on my thesis project, mostly. I've officially hit the gym for my Miss Arkansas preparations, read two books on women's rights (relevant to my thesis), and I am booked to speak at Blytheville High School on community service and leadership at the end of this week. So, kind of a relaxing break. ;) 

Overall, the past few days have been a great start to the new year! In addition to telling you guys about that, I wanted to share with you some of my goals for 2011.

    I've been working hard on my Honors Senior Thesis entitled "Human Rights Issue: A Critique of Rape as an Instrument of War," and I plan to complete it by April before graduating in May. I received an Arkansas Department of Higher Education Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship for the project, and I'm incredibly anxious to see where it ends up.

    Of course, I'm looking foward to graduating in May with my B.A. in Philosophy and B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with University Honors. It is hard to believe, but wonderful to think that my four years of hard work will finally be realized in a few short months.

    My preparations for Miss Arkansas are on my mind constantly! I have set many specific goals that I want to accomplish between now and July for all areas of competition. I was greatly blessed last year, and I know that I have to work much harder this year to see results. When I sit back to reflect on my time in this organization, I am overjoyed to think about the growth I have experienced because of my involvement with the Miss Arkansas and Miss America Scholarship Programs. Two truly worthwhile organizations.

    My final goal that I want to mention to you, is about my future. I have, after much deliberation, decided to take a one year break from my education after completing my two bachelors degrees. In this time, I hope to find work in an internship or other program directly related to my interests in public service and humanitarian work. I don't know yet what God has in store for my life, but I will trust him completely to provide. I came to college with the goal of working in science and have been transformed by my involvement in leadership organizations like the ASU Student Government, my travels abroad, my work on my thesis, and my participation in the Miss Arkansas Pageant. I mention this goal to you in the hopes that you would say a prayer for direction in my next steps. Thank you! I'll write again soon.

Wardrobes, Parades, and Pageants

Finals are finally over and hopefully I'll have more time to stay in touch. That is, of course, until next semester begins. My final semester in college, complete with 21 hours! I'm so excited to be graduating in May with two degrees: B.A. in Philosophy and B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies. It has been an amazing 3 1/2 years at ASU and I can't wait to see what life holds for me next. I promise to keep you updated. ;)

So it has been a very busy December. In addition to finals, I have had the privilege of attending Miss Arkansas, Alyse Eady's, Wardrobe Preview, riding in 3 Christmas Parades and entertaining at the newly brought back Miss Crowley's Ridge pageant. Whew! Alyse was beautiful and it was such a joy to get to see so many of the 2010 contestants again. I've said it before, but I am always so amazed at the friendships that have developed since the pageant last July. These are truly amazing girls and they are even better friends! I would post a photo with Alyse, but everything is classified at the highest priority until after Miss America! It was nice, though, that all of the Top 5 were in attendance to support our Miss Arkansas. Here is one of me and Miss Arkansas 2009, Sarah Slocum.

Me with Sarah Slocum, Miss Arkansas 2009

On December 14, I rode in the Wilson, AR Christmas Parade, and I had a blast! I had never visited the town of Wilson, and I'm so glad, now, that I have. There is such a beautiful square right in the center of town. And this weekend, on December 18, I enjoyed entertaining at the Miss Crowley's Ridge and Miss Crowley's Ridge Outstanding Teen Pageant. Unfortunately, after all these fun parades, I've come down with a bit of laryngitis so singing was out! Not to worry, that won't keep me from playing my flute. So, I played my state competition piece, "Can Can," and I got to assist in crowning. Bethany Bell was crowned the new Miss, and Emma Jumper crowned in teen. I've watched Bethany from her first competition in Miss NEA to being named a preliminary winner, and she is just marvelous. Each time she learns something new and makes her stage competition the better for it. Not to mention, she is a fantastic piano player! Look out Miss Arkansas, you have TWO instrumentalists this year! I leave you with a photo.

Me with Bethany Bell, Miss Crowley's Ridge 2011

Books and Thank Yous

So the morning after the Blytheville Christmas Parade. The NEA and Lights queens had an opportunity to read Christmas stories to children at "That Bookstore in Blytheville." We had a blast! That was the first time I had been in the bookstore and it was amazing! I have definitely found a new favorite place for my visits to Blytheville. Also, during our morning, we presented a thank you to the Blytheville Courier News for their dedicated coverage of the Northeast Arkansas Pageant Association. We are truly appreciative of their coverage because it helps the community to know, not only about what we queens are up to during our year reign, but it also shows the importance of supporting such a quality organization that is the Miss Arkansas Pageant. So thank you for your support!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Whew! Finals are almost over! I can't believe that after this week, I will only have one more semester before I graduate. Time really does go by so quickly. Forgive me for not staying in touch a little better, but this past week's finals have really taken it out of me. So I'm going to backtrack a couple of posts and update you on what I've been up to recently. ;)

Well for starters, the Miss Greater Jonesboro family and I kicked off the holiday season right by riding in the Jonesboro Christmas Parade on December 3rd. The weather was a little cold, but not unbearable. I left with one favorite (I guess you could call it) quote of the evening.  A sweet little girl in the audience got really excited when we rode by and called out to me "That's the Queen of Jonesboro!" Yes, I definitely loved that one! It is great to feel like a queen every now and again, and the people of Jonesboro who attended and of course the Jonesboro Jaycees who put on the event, certainly made me feel wonderful for the night. Here are a few pictures.

The family. Sean and Ellen Pollock with me and MGJ's Outstanding Teen Sarah Hamilton.

Ellen Pollock and the man who loaned and drove the car, Keith Pace. Thanks Keith!

But the fun didn't end there! The very next night I was in Blytheville appearing as Miss Northeast Arkansas, along with my 2011 pageant family in the Blytheville Christmas Parade. Though there were many highlights of this evening, I had yet another favorite "quote" during the parade when a cute little boy (maybe 8 years old) proceeded to make the phone symbol with his right hand and asked for my number! Adorable!

Following the parade, we headed out to the Festival of Lights and performed a couple of Christmas songs for the crowds that gathered after the parade. We enjoyed some delicious hot chocolate and even got our pictures with Santa! All in all, it was a wonderful start to the season. I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the night in Blytheville. The fun didn't end there, so watch for my next post about this very busy weekend.

My 2011 sister queens!