Service
In the Miss America Organization, the crown each girl receives is not only eye-catching, sparkly and (a pain in the booty to pin on our head), but it stands for four very important things; Style, Success, Scholarship, and my personal favorite, Service.
Giving back is something I’ve been taught since I was a young girl. My parents always strive to show me that helping others and making them happy is not only our duty on this earth but a way to help ourselves in the process.
For as long as I can remember, service, volunteering, and giving back is the one thing I have always enjoyed the most. Junior high was a tough time for me, I had just moved to a new town and had to start a new school, I was in a full back brace, and let’s be honest….I was just a little bit on the dorky side. Because of my back brace, I didn’t have a whole lot of confidence and only stuck to my small group of friends. I remember feeling like everyone was making fun of me because I had to wear something that made me walk funny, my clothes fit weird, and had to take breaks throughout the day to readjust this plastic thing that was attached to my body 22 hours a day. Now talking to boys was completely out of the question for me, especially to the cutest body in junior high, Cody, who just happened to have a locker RIGHT next to mine. I remember dreading going to school because I would have to try and open my locker which had a turn dial combination that I could never get open, and project my dorkiness on him, and that was just down right the most embarrassing thing I could ever think of. The day my whole perspective changed also happened to be one of the worst day. I can’t exactly remember what was happening that was so terribly awful but apparently it was a big deal. I passed Cody Green, the cutest boy ever, that I mention earlier, in the hallway and I was MORTIFIED to say the least. I had been crying, my brace wasn’t fitting correctly, I was sweaty from walking up like 8 stairs (some things never change), and the last person on earth that I wanted to see was him. We exchanged smiles and went to our lockers, he looked at me and said “Kim, you have a great smile!.” . WHAT?! The cutest boy in junior high thinks little ‘ol ME has a great smile?! I was ecstatic to say the least, and that encounter sparked a friendship that is to this day, one I wouldn’t trade for the world and he will forever be my family.
Moral of the story is NEVER underestimate the power of your words and your actions. After that moment, the rest of my crummy day didn’t even matter. From then on I was determined to make others feel how Cody made me feel that day. Community service to me is not only about doing something hands on, but it’s a feeling you give people when you interact with them. In high school, I started a Pay it Forward Friday where every Friday I would do something selfless, something that benefited someone else. It was anything from buying someone’s coffee to helping at my local library.
One of my Pay it Forward Friday acts. I put $10 on a random person's windshield
After a while, I started to notice myself changing. I was excited to wake up every day and see who I would come in contact with, I started to see the bright side of life and everything in my world was just happy. I PROMISE you, if you can dedicate even a little bit of your time and energy to serving others, you’ll see such a huge change in your quality of life. The experiences you are able to be a part of and the people that you come in contact with are so rewarding. You are where you are in this life today, either directly or indirectly, because of the help of someone else, the acts of another person. In my opinion, there is no better way to show your gratitude for life, than giving back to other people. This world has enough negative mixed in, why not be the light that someone else could use.
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes of all time and I challenge each and every one of you taking the time to read this, to go out there and do one random act of kindness/service today. Take note how it makes you feel, how it makes the recipient feel, and look at the ripple effect that can form from simply telling someone you like their smile.
“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” James Keller
I was able to hangout with the Ada County Boys and GIrls club In December and hand out presents and sing Christmas carols with all the kiddos!
- Miss Tri Counties - Kimerly Ford
Platform. Passion. Legacy.
In 1989, the Miss America Organization founded the platform concept. This concept has each contestant select a topic/issue that she is passionate about and that reflects the community around her. Contestants across the country use their influence to address their platform through community service, use of social media, and engaging others.
I believe that the platform concept of the Miss America system makes it unique! Yes, there are aspects of the competition that make this system different than any other pageant system, but the platform makes the contestant shine through their own actions and words. Your platform is your brand. You live it, you breath it, you create it. It is your legacy.
Here are the 5 steps I recommend to figure out your Platform:
1. What things come easily to you? What are your skills? Whatever you are awesome at, write it down. Are you a great speaker? A great writer? Write it down.
2.Who do you want to help? Who are the groups of people that you care most about? This is your WHO.
3. Why does it matter to you? Why is this important? You can’t get others involved if you don’t know why it matters.
4. Make a list of challenges. Create solutions to each problem and decide what time and effort you can put into each. MONEY is never an issue. There are always ways around money issues. And there are always people wanting to help you succeed.
5. Implement your program in your community! Create a group to help you start spreading the word about your cause! Use social media to help create a movement.
For me….
When I started competing in the Miss America system two years ago I knew exactly the type of platform that I wanted. I grew up as the daughter of a United States Navy officer, and I had a hero closer to home than I could have ever imagined. My entire life was full of many homecomings, and countless sleepless nights, never knowing if my father would return from his deployment. This stressful atmosphere made me appreciate the difficult lives of servicemen and women and their families. From a young age, I have had a passion to be in the United States Navy and have been able to begin my service to my country through a program called Operation Support Our Troops!
This organization was founded in 2003 as a grassroots effort to support the members of our military and their families. It is now one of the largest volunteer-based military support organizations in the country. The mission of this organization is to support troop morale and well-being by providing comfort, resources and education to them and their families, both at home and abroad. Operation Support Our Troops allows communities to send comfort packages of items that are not readily available to the troops in their deployed locations, along with personal letters, cards and notes of support.
This year with my platform, I have ran 22 miles for Veteran Suicide Awareness and have sent over 200 (and counting) care packages to troops deployed overseas in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. These care packages were put together by college students, girl and boy scouts, titleholders, elementary school children, the Gem State Young Marines, and the Treasure Valley Mothers of America. It is a small thank you to those brave souls who sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms that we love!
If you would like to know more about my projects with Operation Support Our Troops please contact me or search #operationsupportourtroops on all social media platforms. I am always collecting supplies to send in care packages and looking for opportunities to educate the community on Military support.
Katarina Schweitzer, Miss Ada County 2017
Dance Marathon
It’s February and I’m so excited! No, not for Valentines day because #single, but for one of the most incredible charity events of the year! BOISE STATE DANCE MARATHON! This month on February 24th and 25th myself along with hundreds of Boise State students and supporters, will dance 17 hours, 3pm to 8am, through the night for the kids at St Luke’s Children’s Hospital here is Boise!
What is Dance Marathon?
Besides incredible, Dance Marathon is an event that occurs all over the nation in many different states. The primary goal of DM is to raise funds for ill children and their families through Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. This is a non-profit organization and all money raised stays local!
One of the most special aspects of this event is that college and high school students are the driving forces behind making a difference. A team of students work throughout the year to put on fundraisers with the help of community businesses and supporters, raise awareness and ultimately host the biggest dance party of the year! At my university, Boise State, Dance Marathon first began in 2012 when it was founded by Stephanie Pyles and Bryan Vlok. Since then, it has grown every year and become an iconic event on campus. Check out how much Boise State has raised over the years #FTK!
2013- $5,000
2014- $37,000
2015- $66,000
2016- $114,000
2017 - ???
Why Do I Love DM?
If I explained every detail of why I loved Dance Marathon, this blog post would literally be a book! So I’ll try to condense the love into a few paragraphs…
From an outside perspective anyone can appreciate what Dance Marathon aims to do. Seeing college students come together to raise money for such a worthy cause is moving. I love the support that comes from Boise State, community sponsors, friends and family. I love that we are making a difference.
However, my true passion for the event comes from the personal experience and connection I have to what, or rather who, we are actually dancing for. In the Miss America Organization we are partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to raise money, bring awareness and volunteer for them throughout our time as titleholders. My true love for this event can be summed up by saying,
Beckham. Prescott. Angelica.
These three and so many more, are the kids we dance for. The kids that are going through or have gone through things in their life that nobody should. Yet, when you meet them they are some of the happiest, loving and positive kids you’ll ever meet. They are truly incredible. Angelica, a 9 year old little girl that has gone through lung surgery and a kidney transplant. I met her at Miss America and she is an extremely talented little girl with the most infectious smile and spirit. Prescott is a Champion kid here in Idaho that I got to spend time with at an event raising money for CMNH. Beckham, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and an extremely rare blood disorder, is the CMNH Champion for Idaho! He is such an amazing boy that is funny, smart and hopeful for the future.
They are why I dance.
How Can You Get Involved?
Listen up! If you can take part in Dance Marathon at Boise State, DO IT! If you have any opportunity to take part in a dance marathon at any high school or college, DO IT! I promise you it’s one of the most fun, entertaining, moving, emotional, exhausting events you’ll ever take part in. It’s remarkable the energy that you gain from the people around you when you think you are too tired to keep going. You are reminded that the kids and families you are dancing for go through this exhaustion not just for 17 hours, but for days, weeks, months and years. We dance for those that can’t. We dance for a future where they can one day dance too.
If you aren’t able to actually be present at Dance Marathon there are other ways for you to make a difference and be involved. Everyone participating has a donor drive where we take donations that help us reach our ultimate goal which this year is…$140,000! Any donation is greatly appreciated, is tax deductible and stays local right here at St. Luke's Children's Hospital! If you would like to join my team and make a donation #FTK click here!
I thank you from the bottom from my heart for supporting me as Miss Idaho and as a dancer in this years Boise State Dance Marathon. Let’s do it FOR THE KIDS.
What Friendship Means
Most of you know the 4 points of the crown, but for those of you who don't know they are Style, Success, Scholarship, and Service. The Miss America Organization is all about these 4 points, but today I want to talk about something that is just as important in my life: Friendship.
All my life I have been an outgoing girl that never had problems making new friends. I moved to a whole new state when I was 10 years old and on the first day of school I made my forever friend. I will never forget that day. I was completely lost at this new school and as a small 5th grader I had no idea what was going on. I finally found my way to my teacher’s classroom and there stood a girl with short brown hair and brown eyes. She looked at me and smiled and said “Hi my name is Brooke. Wanna be friends?” Over 7 years have gone by since that date and we are still best friends.
My best friend has been there for me through all of my ups and downs in life and I have always been there for her. Life is a roller coaster and I wouldn’t want anyone else sitting right next to me to enjoy the ride with. If any of you are Grey’s Anatomy fanatics like I am then you’ll know what I mean when I say that she is my person. I think that everyone should have someone in their life that they can see as their “person.” Being able to talk to someone about anything that is going on in your life is something that everyone should be able to have. If while reading this someone came to your mind then that person is probably that one person for you.
No one is limited to having just one best friend though. Friends are like chocolate-- you can never have just one. My sophomore year of high school I made a new friend and I have been thankful ever since. My new friend, Tori, has been a blessing in my life the past 2 years and I wouldn’t change them for anything. She has been one of my number one supporters that has always pushed me to be the better me. And now as we end our senior year together, we are moving to Pocatello to attend Idaho State University together.
I am pretty lucky to be able to say that I have a really close relationship with my mom, and I see her as one of my closest friends as well. She has always been a mom first in my life and a friend later, but as I grow older we have become even closer and I wouldn’t change it for the world. My mom is my number one supporter and is always there cheering me on no matter what I am doing. Here is a picture of the night I won the title of Miss Gem County.
Friends are also not limited to just humans. My dearest love is my furry friend, Daisy. I have had her since she was just a small pup, and now she is 6 months old. She has brought so much joy and happiness in my life even if she does chew up everything I own! She has taught me to forgive the ones I love and continue to move forward in life instead of living a life of hate. I encourage everyone to live a life that makes them the happiest and to never forget who they are or who their friends are.
I hope reading this brought you a little joy and also made you think of all your closest friends, whether they be a childhood friend, a new friend, a family member, or even a furry friend. People come into your life for a reason, and I am so grateful for the ones that have entered mine. I hope you are as thankful as I am for the friendships that I have. Make sure all the special people in your life know just how thankful you are for them to be in your life.
Abigail Besselievre, Miss Gem County
6 Years, 6 Wishes: The Advice I Would Give My 13-year- old Self
Even though the age thirteen was just a mere six years ago for me, I have since undergone a transformation of far greater caliber. Six years ago, I was overweight and lacked the discipline to take care of my body. Six years ago, I felt ashamed to be a 5’11’’ eighth grader who was the worst player on her basketball team. Six years ago, I was bullied for wearing glasses and braces. I was the girl who preferred reading to recess and inhaling spaghetti over sports. Six years ago, I was not Nina; I was “Ni-nerd” and fondly reminded of it daily by my classmates. Six years ago, I was afraid—afraid to be different and most of all, afraid to be myself.
I told myself that if I was skinner, people would like me. If I was athletic, people would want to know me. If I wore contacts and hung out with the cool kids during break, I would have friends. What I did not realize at the time is that people cannot like you until you learn to like yourself. So, I did.
I stopped slouching in class to make myself seem shorter and reminded myself that my confidence should match my height. I quit basketball, because the combination of repeatedly failing to catch the ball and being the team benchwarmer brought me no joy. Instead, I joined my high school tennis team and worked my way down to a healthy weight. The braces I resented eventually came off, and I immersed myself in activities other than reading books. I learned to love myself, and love the things I used to think made me flawed. Because ultimately, the “Ni-nerd” I was six years ago, or the Nina I am today would now still follow the same advice: be fearless, be bold, be un-apologetic, be YOU.
Nina Forest, Miss Treasure Valley 2017