Hi everyone! Sorry I have not posted in a while. I have been busy studying and taking finals. While taking a study break I watched an episode of So You Think You Can Dance that really touched me. A dancer with Downs Syndrome decided to try out for the show. He was so happy just to be there. You could see his love for dance shine right through him. The judges even gave him a ticket to LasVegas to compete in the next round of the competition. This just proved that you can reach any goal if you just work for it. There will will always be bumps in the the road and obstacles that you have to overcome but that can not let that stop your determination to reach your goal. How you rise above these shows what makes you. If you think that you can't overcome these obstacles look for someone that inspires you. Everyone has someone that they can look up to. Find your person and talk to them. Let them know that they inspire you. Who knows, you may inspire them to! Just remember to always reach for your dreams, big ones as well as small, and always, always, be you. 

This past weekend I had the chance to attend HOBY, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership. Like I have said before, it is a leadership seminar for Sophomores. On my way there I was a little anxious because I didn't know what to expect. However, this experience turned out to be one of the best times of my life. Throughout the weekend I didn't see any judgement or hear and negative comments from anyone. That was amazing! Everyone could be themselves, no matter how goofy, and not have to worry what people were going to think. I can't begin to tell you how much I learned but I can tell you I loved it and it was an unforgettable experience. 

This weekend is The Miss New York State Pageant. I want to wish the best big sister, Miss Thousand Islands Allison Carlos, good luck! As she goes through each phase with grace and beauty she will show the judges she can do anything. She inspires me with her passion for her platform and everything she does. Good luck Allie! I will be there this weekend to cheer you on!

I am honored to say that I have been selected to represent my high school at the HOBY Youth leadersip program! HOBY stands for Hugh O' Brian Youth Leadership, they have different kinds of leadership programs to encourage students everywhere about leadership in their communities. The program I will be attending is the State Leadership Seminar, where Sophomores learn about their leadership talents in their work place, school, home and community. I am so excited to attend in a couple of weeks!

Hello everyone!! Sorry I have not posted in awhile, I have been super busy!! A few weeks ago I was awarded second runner up at the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen pageant! I want to say thank you to everyone that has supported me thus far. But, my efforts are not over. I have had people ask me, "How do I believe in myself or improve my self-esteem?"or "What can a single person do to change the world?" Here are some ideas I have for you. The first step to building self-esteem is telling yourself you are the best person you can be. You are strong, you are amazing, you will prosper, and you can do anything. When you believe that, you can do anything! Your days will become brighter and happier. This also causes a chain reaction making other people happier as well. Secondly, one person CAN make a change in the world, even by little actions like saying hi to someone you do not usually talk to or doing chores around the house can make an impact. If you are looking for a huge impact you could contact organizations that are supporting your cause. With my cause of ending stereotypes and supporting differences we can start by not saying negative comments to another peer about what they like, what they wear, or anything about them. Also, when you hear someone else making derogatory comments stand up and say something to make it stop. Be the change you want to see in the world. I know that sometimes speaking out can make you feel uncomfortable, then you could speak to the person on private and tell them it is wrong. Make sure that you support each of your peers and remember to be you. 

Recently I was roaming the internet and I came across another great video! Dove recently put doors on random buildings all around the world that say "Beautiful" or "Average". They did this so they could see what doors women would walk through. The results showed some girls believed that they were beautiful however, some girls did not think twice about going through the average doors. Afterward, Dove interviewed some of the girls and they regretted going through the average door. One story inspired me, she said that she was always told she was average. I want and need to change the way women think. They need to believe that they are beautiful despite what others say. However, I cannot do this alone I need all of your help! We are the society, so we have to change the way we think about everyone and ourselves. Everyone is a limited edition, unique and special. Every single person needs to believe that! Here is the link to the inspiring video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjJALzZ24H0



What door would you choose? #ChooseBeautiful

Today I had the chance to go to my old elementary school and speak to third and fourth graders! We talked about believing in themselves, accepting our differences, and to never bully! They were so understanding and they made a pledge to their families, their teachers and their peers to accept everyone and to be themselves. I even heard stories from them about them standing up for their friends! However, a few kids told me that they were being bullied or have been bullied in the past. I told them to stay strong, ask for help, and have the courage to believe that they are good enough. They seemed so happy to hear my encouraging words! This is just one example why I love the Miss America Organization, I have a huge impact on the kids to believe that they can do anything when they are themselves. Thank you Ohio Street School for having me!