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Opportunity...
The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. ~Benjamin Disraeli
Opportunity came knocking at my door several months ago as I concentrated on the many “opportunities” that present themselves with owning three different businesses. This one involved young women and the ability to help them become the best they could be. My thoughts, at least initially, were that I didn’t need anything else to do in my life and didn’t really want the struggle of building something from the ground up. After careful consideration, however, my love for helping young women got the better of me and I agreed! As Executive State Director of the Miss Teen Arkansas-World Pageant, I would be able to help many yo ung women realize so much more from their lives.
So what makes this so special? Well, first of all, as far as I can tell, this is the ONLY state pageant that has ever been held in Texarkana! That in itself should be enough to make it special! However, that’s not what this is all about. As a “pageant mom,” my daughter, Jaclyn, learned many things - some good, some not. Overall she became a better person because of her experience. What are the benefits of being in a pageant? Let’s see...
1. Interview skills that are necessary to win any title are honed regularly. Little things like saying “huh” or “uh” or “like” are eliminated from the vocabulary. Contestants learn not to look toward the ceiling when answering a question. Nervous twitches are stopped. They learn to answer in short, concise sentences to get their point across. It’s no wonder that many go on to be attorneys! And it’s no wonder that this is a skill that helps them for the rest of their lives.
2. High heels -- oh my! When Jaclyn decided to do a pageant when she was 16, she had never worn a pair of high heels -- nor did she own any! Learning to walk with 4 inch heels on is a trick! However, learning to walk with your shoulders back, with a controlled countenance, essentially demanding attention when you walk into a room takes practice. Again, although you might not think of it as a skill, it definitely helps them throughout their lives.
3. Healthy lifestyles are also a necessity. Those bodies don’t just come so easily for most! Gaining the knowledge of how and what to eat at a young age helps with a lifetime of health and weight issues.
Being a “pageant girl” is not always easy. Teasing by those who don’t understand the hard work required can hurt feelings to the quick. Working on interview and modeling skills, as well as community service, can be daunting, time-consuming tasks. We are truly blessed to have been given not only our two winners, who are highlighted this month, but many contestants this year who absolutely love being a part of our program. And although we are helping them, they bless us in return. With a truly wonderful board of directors, these young women are having fun while they learn lifelong lessons.
By accepting one opportunity, I have been blessed beyond my dreams. May God bless you as you accept the opportunities He presents you with!
Debbie Brower
Editor
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