My Mississippi

Today I spent my morning at Petal High School as guest speaker for their “My Mississippi” program.  All I can say is…wow!  This was such an amazing event put on by the gifted studies program for the 5^th and 6^th grade classes at Petal Upper Elementary.  The program was designed to celebrate being from Mississippi and all of the wonderful things our beautiful state has to offer.  As the opening speaker, I shared with the group why I am so proud to be a Mississippian and my 5 keys to success: 

*Respect 

*Character

*Perseverance

* Hard work

*Dare to dream

To top it all off, I got a chance to meet a few hometown heroes who were also there.  Petal’s very own Kris Mangum, former NFL player for the Carolina Panthers, was there to give a few words of wisdom.  Not to mention (drum roll please)…the one and only ELVIS PRESLEY was in the building!  I was “all shook up” when I met him…ok enough with the corny jokes.  In other news, I have officially received 8 entry forms for the “Confidently You Conference” so far this week!  I’m feeling incredibly blessed and I hope to have a great turnout for this event!

This week’s quote was inspired by my visit to Petal Upper Elementary this morning:

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal.  It is the courage to continue that counts.” –Winston Churchill

Believe in YOU!

In my last blog entry, I talked about the importance of being our own #1 fans and how in order to achieve greatness we must first believe in ourselves!  One of the keys to accomplishing this is to practice the art of self-affirmation.  Marianne Williamson wrote in her famous book "A Return to Love":

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."

What a powerful message!  My hope is that today and everyday we will celebrate the unique individuals that we are and try to help others find the power that is within them.  On a lighter note..check out the video below.  Now THIS is what confidence looks like (prepare to laugh out loud!).



Thames, Purvis, & Oak Grove Elementary...what a week!

This week has not been a typical spring break, but it has definitely been worthwhile!  Even though I wasn’t on the beach, I got to travel to four schools and speak to seven groups of girls.  It was such a whirlwind week!  I spent Wednesday afternoon at Purvis Middle School talking to their 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade girls.  They were such a fabulous group!  Thursday was at Thames Elementary with their 5^th and 6^th grade girls.  Last but not least, Friday I visited Purvis Upper Elementary and Oak Grove Upper Elementary.  The one thing I enjoy more than anything about my school visits is answering the girls' questions at the end.  Questions vary from group to group, but the most popular questions include: “Is your crown made of real diamonds?”, “Are you married?”, and “How does that thing stay on your head?”  This week, many of the questions were more like song requests.  Luckily for the girls, I love a good karaoke party!  Here are this week’s top requests:

-Firework, Katy Perry

-Our Song, Taylor Swift

-Temporary Home/Jesus Take the Wheel, Carrie Underwood

-Don’t Stop Believing, Journey

Needless to say, these girls have great taste in music.

One thing I really tried to reinforce with the girls this week is the importance in believing in ourselves and our dreams.  I think we should all be our own #1 FAN!  The world is full of critics; we shouldn’t be too critical of ourselves and lose faith in our own potential.  With that said, here is my quote for the week:

                                                    

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Wise words

A new favorite of mine:
"Not everybody can be famous.  But everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service." -Martin Luther King

Such inspiring words from one of the most famous change makers in our history.  Too often we are seeking fame and fortune in everything we do, but we can only truly be rich when we give selflessly and want nothing in return.  That is what service is all about!  I'm very excited to have not one...not two...not five...but SEVEN school presentations this week!  It is going to be a successful week as Miss Hattiesburg and I couldn't be more excited!

Beyond Blessed

This week has been filled with so many blessings and exciting developments, so let me get right to it.  First, I am so excited to announce that I will be holding my second “Confidently You!” Conference this spring!  This conference is a day used to celebrate girls and encourage confidence and healthy habits in the young ladies of the Pinebelt area.  The event is going to be held at Forrest General Hospital from 10-1 on April 16^th.  I could not be more excited or proud about this announcement…it is going to be an amazing day!  

This past Wednesday, I went to sit down and visit with Mayor Johnny DuPree to let him know what I was doing as Miss Hattiesburg.  I’m so glad that Mayor DuPree could make time for me in his busy schedule.  In case you didn’t know, he will be running for Governor of Mississippi this year which makes our visit that much more special.  I had a chance to tell Mayor DuPree about my platform, my plans, and my journey to Miss Mississippi.  He was so inspiring and full of encouraging words, it was awesome!

 

On Friday, I was invited to speak with a very special group of 5^th grade girls from PCS.  This was such a fun group to speak to, they were so full of enthusiasm and questions…there was never a dull moment.  These girls were so sweet and absolutely made my day!  One of the great things about speaking to a small group is the fact that the girls can express their own opinions, share stories, and ask very difficult questions.  These girls were so full of insight on topics that impact girls their age and I was able to share very personal stories with them too.  Every time I share my platform with girls it is extremely rewarding for me, but this group of young ladies now have a very special place in my heart! 

One of the things we talked a lot about was the importance of perseverance and how we must push forward and have faith in order to fulfill God’s master plan for our lives.  That conversation inspired my quote for this blog:

“You block your dreams when you let your fear grow bigger than your faith.”

Girl Talk!

Happy Friday!

Another great day as Miss Hattiesburg!  Today I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the “Girl Talk” Event sponsored by the Laurel Junior Auxiliary.  The 8^th grade girls from Laurel Middle School were treated to a fabulous day and I was so thrilled to be a part of it.  The Laurel JA outdid themselves on this one!  There were sessions on etiquette, health and wellness, self-defense, future choices, and beauty tips.  This was one of the most enthusiastic groups I have ever spoken to.  They clapped along to all the songs, answered all of my questions, and even laughed at my bad jokes (hehe).  I had a blast, but most importantly I think my message really hit home with some of these young ladies.  Even if only one girl in the audience took my words to heart, I feel like it was time extremely well spent! 

Quote of the day:

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
–Marie Curie

Hebrews 10: 35,36

Those who know me know that I LOVE inspirational quotes and stories.  They are such a good pick-me up when we start to lose faith in ourselves and our dreams.  One of the greatest places for me to find inspiration is in the Bible, it doesn't get more uplifting than that!  Here is a verse that I reflect on daily.  Enjoy!

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."  Hebrews 10: 35,36