A year ago at this time I decided to enter into the wonderful world of pageants. Not just any pageant. The Miss Coon Rapids pageant. Why you may ask? Well, it was because I attend a small Catholic University that really like to squeeze as many dollars out of your pocket as possible. Paying for school is terrible these days and without scholarships, there would be no way to catch up. So, I heard there was an opportunity for scholarships and I ran with it. For it being only my first pageant, I feel that I did pretty well, winning overall talent and 2nd runner up. 2nd to the most talented, beautiful, and intelligent young women I have ever met in my entire life. I felt very honored to stand next to them on stage.
After leaving the stage that night, people told me that I would have the "Pageant Bug." That is when you hop from pageant to pageant around the state trying to win a title. Well, my heart was in Coon Rapids and I didn't feel that it was appropriate for me to represent another community when I knew where I truly wanted to be. So, the year passed and I never competed in another competition. As the summer came and went, school began and I knew that my chance to compete again was coming up. After a lot of consideration, I decided that this year wasn't my year and I would wait. Well, after a phone call from the pageant director asking why I wasn't competing and many concerned e-mails for the same reason, I submitted my paperwork and got to work.
From that point on, I never would have guessed I would have been blessed in so many ways. As pageant rehearsals and fundraisers began, I got to know the other girls competing against me. Once again, they were all outstanding young women, fully deserving of a title in their future. (As a side note, I am not kidding on this point. These women are unbelievable in the work they do for the community and their platforms!) I must say, I feel completely in love with a first time contestant named Sara. I knew where she was standing because it was only a year ago that I had competed for the first time and now it was only my second! She did such a wonderful job and I hope to see her in future pageants!
Well time flew by, as usual, and suddenly we were up to interview day. Interviews for me are exciting because it is the time that YOU get to be YOU. There is nothing to hide here. Whatever you want the judges to see in you, NOW is the time to strut your stuff. This is the only time you will really get to talk to them so you better use your time wisely. Unfortunately, for me, after I left the interview my gut was telling me bad things. I felt that the interview was crazy difficult! I felt that there was nothing I said or did that made sense and that the judges kept pounding me with hard questions. I thought for sure I was done. BUT, I knew what to do. I knew I needed to put the interview behind me and focus on the pageant day. Only 25% of your score comes from interview so you could really rack up some great points on pageant day.
So on I went. Saturday came around and it was FREEZING! I ended up going to Coon Rapids around 1 and just hanging out. I went to Borders and bought a new book. Then, I realized that I was hungry so I trucked it over to Dairy Queen (what a place to go on a freezing day!!). Anyway, I ordered my chicken strips and fries and went to town. Apparently, eating that sort of stuff before a pageant is quite unheard of but I was hungry AND I didn't want to ruin my lipstick so I wanted to go for finger foods. I thought it was a good idea anyway and boy did it taste good! I wasn't hungry the rest of the night!
Finally the time came. I drove to the high school and was as ready as ever. Everything went down without a hitch. The pageant was just beautiful. I thought it was very honorable to be able to participate in a pageant that was a tribute to our own U.S. Forces. This was especially important to me because I will one day be joining these ranks and serving our great nation. (what a great feeling that is!!) The evening gown competition is where I thought I was going to break down. Right before I went out, I listened to the song (which has deeper meaning to me) and saw my fellow members of the University of St. Thomas AFROTC Saber Team standing on stage and I just couldn't believe how blessed I have been. It was an honor to be able to walk out onto that stage under the saber arch constructed by my fellow cadets and peers. It couldn't have been more perfect.
Each competition came and went and I couldn't believe how fast the pageant was moving. It really went great. Finally the time came for final look and I knew it wouldn't be long before the crowning. When they said my name for the top three I couldn't believe. WOW! How unreal is that!? Finally after a few agonizing minutes and a top interview award which was a complete SHOCK to me, they started to announce 2nd, 1st, and Miss Coon Rapids. When I heard my name for the title, I was stunned. This year for me has been full of amazing blessings and this was just another. Wow.
As a side note before I close I want to mention that all of my family had an opportunity to come, or at least those that were able to (my sister is in Indiana so she was unable to make it) BUT we out of complete accident, we ended up somehow having one extra chair in our row. You see, that chair really wasn't extra because that was my Grandma's chair. My Grandma passes away Dec. 18th 2007. My Grandma was more than just a Grandma to me. She was my idol, my protector, my friend and I miss her like one could never explain. The amazing thing is, is that she is always with me now. Due to her old age, she was having some trouble making it to some of my events during the last years of her life but now she doesn't need to worry about that anymore. She is everwhere. So, it is because of her that I credit my many blessings. She has been keeping watch over me and all of the happenings that have been going on. Although I miss her dearly, I know she will always be by my side. Thanks Grandma.
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