After competing again and placing first runner up at Miss Georgia in June, I took on another title of "Georgia Sweetheart". That title didn't stop me from going to school for my last first day... again.
It was strange to walk the halls with a sense of confidence intertwined with a twinge of bitterness. After all, I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to have already walked across the stage, gotten the diploma, and begun the job search. Yet here I was, the Georgia Sweetheart, back at school for my second last first day. It's odd to describe the feelings I had that day. I didn't have class until 2:15pm, parking was a JOKE, and scared science freshmen were running around looking for the ever elusive room 109. (It is an actual room, but people think the first floor is a myth... it's not.)
I immediately threw myself into rearranging a schedule, adding this and dropping that, looking at other classes to see what I could take just to take it. Within the first week, I only stuck with one class that I was originally registered for this Fall. Oh, well. Then the first week was over and I was off to the National Sweetheart Pageant.
If you've ever heard of Hoopeston, Illinois then you've heard the word "corn". Now if you haven't heard of Hoopeston, then you are missing out. This was the quaintest town that I've ever seen. The people were so open and so nice that it was almost like being at home. Except for the 5:30 am wakeup to be ready at 6:30. I would text my mom and she would say, "You do know it's not yet 6 where you are?" because she KNOWS that I would never voluntarily wake up that early. Even with the early mornings, the week was amazing and it did change my life.
I met girls that I will be friends with for a lifetime. We all joked about being "Friends Forever" and now I can't imagine my life any other way. The girls there were at a level that I had never experienced before. Each one had an amazing story of life and loss along with ambition and drive to overcome their circumstances to pull themselves up. When you're in a room with 43 women who have the same ambition and drive that you do, then you are going to make friends that stick.
My week is over, I didn't win, but I had a life changing experience. An adventure that put women in my life that make me laugh until I cry, joke with me, can empathize with my frustrations, and most importantly respect the Miss America Organization for the empowering system that is is for so many women.
Sometimes you have to do something again and it leaves you a little bitter. But sometimes you do something again and get the greatest memories of your life from it.
Live Today.
It was strange to walk the halls with a sense of confidence intertwined with a twinge of bitterness. After all, I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to have already walked across the stage, gotten the diploma, and begun the job search. Yet here I was, the Georgia Sweetheart, back at school for my second last first day. It's odd to describe the feelings I had that day. I didn't have class until 2:15pm, parking was a JOKE, and scared science freshmen were running around looking for the ever elusive room 109. (It is an actual room, but people think the first floor is a myth... it's not.)
I immediately threw myself into rearranging a schedule, adding this and dropping that, looking at other classes to see what I could take just to take it. Within the first week, I only stuck with one class that I was originally registered for this Fall. Oh, well. Then the first week was over and I was off to the National Sweetheart Pageant.
If you've ever heard of Hoopeston, Illinois then you've heard the word "corn". Now if you haven't heard of Hoopeston, then you are missing out. This was the quaintest town that I've ever seen. The people were so open and so nice that it was almost like being at home. Except for the 5:30 am wakeup to be ready at 6:30. I would text my mom and she would say, "You do know it's not yet 6 where you are?" because she KNOWS that I would never voluntarily wake up that early. Even with the early mornings, the week was amazing and it did change my life.
I met girls that I will be friends with for a lifetime. We all joked about being "Friends Forever" and now I can't imagine my life any other way. The girls there were at a level that I had never experienced before. Each one had an amazing story of life and loss along with ambition and drive to overcome their circumstances to pull themselves up. When you're in a room with 43 women who have the same ambition and drive that you do, then you are going to make friends that stick.
My week is over, I didn't win, but I had a life changing experience. An adventure that put women in my life that make me laugh until I cry, joke with me, can empathize with my frustrations, and most importantly respect the Miss America Organization for the empowering system that is is for so many women.
Sometimes you have to do something again and it leaves you a little bitter. But sometimes you do something again and get the greatest memories of your life from it.
Live Today.
