Empowering Women

    

     Last Saturday, after the Hands and Voices social (and a few hours of practice) I had the honor of attending a masquerade ball for the Metro Omaha Women's Business Center. The business center is all about empowering women to be financially stable by providing education and assistance to women in our community.
     The ball was held to raise money and honor a woman with a grant to use toward starting a small business. This is such an amazing opportunity for the women of Nebraska. I even learned that the first woman who was awarded a grant nearly tripled the investment made by the organization!

    

      It really was an honor to attend such a wonderful event and I sincerely enjoyed greeting guests as they came off the "runway" and directing them toward the silent auction!

     One of the most fun parts of the night had to be hanging out with the 2012 Mrs. Nebraska, Kandis Friedenbach. I haven't had much exposure to the Mrs. Nebraska pageant and it was great learning about it and getting to know Kandis! I want to wish her the best of luck as she competes for the title of Mrs. America in August!

Nebraska Hands and Voices

   

One of the cutest little girls - I am hoping to keep up with her acquisition of sign language as we both learn!

 

     This past Saturday was the first time I was able to attend a social for Nebraska Hands and Voices, a local non-profit whose aim is to support families of children with hearing loss. The group is just beginning quarterly socials where deaf and hard of hearing children and adults (as well as their families) are able to get together and socialize. This particular Saturday the social took place at AV Sorenson Community Center in Omaha.
     I have to admit that I was nervous for this event. After one semester of sign language, I came to the conclusion that sign language is difficult to learn and that I wanted to finish my elementary education degree before diving into sign language whole-heartedly. That means, however, that I have not seriously used sign language in about a year.
     I had no reason to worry however. There was a great mix of hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing people there Saturday and everyone was more than willing to help me communicate and take things slow.
     It was extremely interesting talking to families of children with hearing loss and I feel I gained a lot of insight. In fact, as I talked to families, we discussed the failure of our society to communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard-of hearing. I personally feel that people fail to communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing because they don't know much about hearing loss or sign language and they often feel intimidated by sign language.
     My goal as Miss Kool-Aid Days is to spread awareness about hearing loss and communicating with people who have hearing loss. Not only do I want to speak to students around the state about hearing loss, I would also love to teach at least a little sign language when I give speeches.
     I was fortunate enough to meet many kids at the event who seemed more than willing to help me learn the important sign language to teach when I give speeches.

One of the young boys who was willing to stop his game long enough for a picture :)

 

     Among the kids I met throughout the day, Austin was one of my favorites. Austin has been deaf for most of his life. After getting implants, he can hear quite well, but he can not talk very much. When Austin finally slowed down long enough to talk to me, he listened and watched as I signed and talked to him and he was kind enough to correct me or teach me a sign when I was having trouble!
     I was sincerely honored to attend the event with Nebraska Hands and Voices this past weekend. The parents who run the organization do a fantastic job! They are also the ones arranging monthly readings/signings of books at public libraries and the mentoring program that I am so excited to take part in! The deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Nebraska is truly lucky to have them!
     I also learned two great websites for practicing/learning sign language - check them out and learn some sign!
     aslpro.com
     signingsavvy.com

Can You Hear Me Now: Hearing Loss Prevention

      One night at practice, a teammate asked me about my platform. As I explained my choice of hearing loss, she was surprised to learn that I had lost the hearing in my left ear. It was at that point that I relized I have not really shared my story with many people. I decided it was time to change this - so here is my story - a story about hearing loss, why it's prevention is important to me, and why it should be important to you.
      Eight years ago, as I sat around at an extracurricular activity chatting with friends, my left ear began ringing. Ringing ears aren't exactly a phenomenon and we've all experienced it. The only problem is that the ringing didn't stop - Not the day it started, the next day, or even the next week. I later noticed that I also couldn't hear in my left ear.
      Concerned, I went to see a doctor about the problem. I was assured nothing was wrong and sent on my way - twice! Finally on the third visit (after three weeks of no hearing in my left ear) I insisted that something needed to be done. I went right over to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor who immediately informed me that I had a virus that had killed almost all of the cells in my ear - including the balance cells. The otolaryngologist added that, had the virus been found earlier, it is possible that the effects could have been reversed and I may have regained some of my hearing.
      There I was, 14 years old, suffering from hearing loss and left to deal with it on my own. I was continually surrounded by people, but no one who could understand what I was going through. I was scared and didn't want to say anything to those around me to indicate that I couldn't hear what they said. I tried simply turning my good ear toward the speaker, but it wasn't always that easy, especially in noisy or large spaces. I found myself becoming more withdrawn socially and finding it more difficult to get involved in conversations - so many times, I simply didn't try.
     As if that weren't hard enough for a teenage girl, I lost all of the balance cells in my left ear. My balance wasn't exactly top notch before the hearing loss, as I noticed constantly during my early twirling career, and losing those balance cells didn't really help the situation! It was a long battle to regain my balance, learning how to spin and jump again, so that I could continue to pursue my passion of twirling baton.
    I was again faced by the difficulties of my hearing loss when I began my work at an after-school program. With deafness in one ear, I have trouble placing where sounds are coming from. When a kid is shouting "Kimmy!" I often have no idea where the noise is coming from and I have to look all around to find the source of the voice. The kids have learned to deal with the loss, but I still worry if there was ever an emergency.
     It has taken a long time for me to come out of my shell again. In fact, I really came out of my shell when I became more involved in my community and began attending events as part of my involvement in the Miss Nebraska Pageant. Through my involvement with the pageant system, I have learned how to put myself out there, adapt so that I can hear as well as possible, and to share my story with those I meet.
    I have effectively learned how to be my own advocate which is something that all people who go through hearing loss need to do. You don't really look at someone and know they have experienced hearing loss (unless you see their hearing aid). It therefore becomes the responsibility of the individual with hearing loss to adjust and to speak out and let others know that they may need some help.
   This is exactly why I want to speak out and let people know how to prevent hearing loss, how to recognize the signs of hearing loss, and about hearing loss in general. Plus, I cannot think of a better way to make this difference than through my pageant platform because it has made such a change for me!
   As I promote my platform of hearing loss prevention, I am incredibly grateful for the resources and support of some truly phenomenal organizations! I am excited to work with the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Hands and Voices, and the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund! Each group will be featured here throughout the coming months as I work with them in the name of hearing loss!

Cheers to a New Year!

     

       By 11:30 this morning, I strode out of Prairie Life Fitness in Omaha after finishing an appearance at a New Years Eve Bash. As I was walking out, one of the little girls I had spent the morning with stopped me. She calmly stated "we saw you coming in this morning and I said "this is a gym, lady! Not a mall!"
      Granted - I was a little overdressed for a morning at the gym, but not for ringing in the New Year (a little early) with a great group of kids!
      I was extremely blessed to begin the festivities at 9 o'clock this morning at Prairie Life Fitness.

      We began the morning by coloring New Years pictures and reading a story about New Years Resolutions. It was a lot of fun talking to the kids about New Years Resolutions - I even got to share mine and help them come up with their own resolutions! Many of those kids wanted to focus on being more helpful and eating more healthy food. I was extremely proud of them and I enjoyed seeing them start their work by helping each other and cleaning up all morning!

Helping Elaine with her banner :)

Helping some of the boys finish up

Adding Sparkle!

      Next we created 'Happy New Years' banners. It was a craft close to my heart because I got to work with the kids and it involved sparkles!

Cheers to a New Year!

      After playing a few games, we got ready for our New Years Eve countdown (at a reasonable time). The kids made edible New Years Hats out of ice cream cones, toasted a new year with sparkling juice, and then prepared for a countdown and balloon drop to celebrate the new year!

Ready to drop!

Our attempt at a self-portrait as more and more kids piled in :)

Addison

A new year calls for being a little silly :)

Happy New Year!

A (slightly) better self portrait :)

      The main thing I learned today is that you should never give 14 children noise makers unless you are totally prepared for the chaos that will ensue! But seriously, I am extremely fortunate that I got to begin my festivities ringing in the new year at a wonderful event with wonderful children! I can only hope they had as much fun as I did!

      I hope that 2013 is a year as wonderful as our morning New Years Celebration!
     

There She Is...

What a wonderful Miss Nebraska!

   

   Months after titling together Mariah Cook (our current Miss Nebraska) and I discovered that not only were we sister queens, but we also share a birthday! So when she announced her send-off/birthday party to be held on our birthday, I knew I couldn't miss being there to wish her the best of luck at Miss America!

The Beautiful Kayla Batt!

 



      Saturday morning I picked up our recent Miss Nebraska, Kayla Batt, in Lincoln and we trekked out to North Platte together. Despite spending 6 hours together in a car that day, I don't think there was a moment of silence and it felt like we made it to North Platte in record time!

I love this picture!

 

      When we arrived, I had the pleasure of grabbing some birthday cake and sharing a table with Mariah's Miss Nebraska family and her Miss Nebraska little sister, Emily. I felt blessed to join Emily because she has been an inspiration since the state pageant last June. She was diagnosed with leukemia shortly before the pageant. Despite the hardships and endless hours of treatment, Emily always has a smile and a positive attitude when I see her! I felt so blessed to catch up with her on Saturday!

      Emily also got to be a part of the festivities! As Mariah modeled most of her attire for Miss America and performed her talent beautifully, Emily was able to show off some of Mariah's wardrobe and accessories!

I even won a duck key chain in honor of Mariah!

      A birthday party wouldn't be complete without games and entertainment! In addition to the wonderful fashion show and talent performance, there were fabulous performances by our reining Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen and our most recent Miss Nebraska, Kayla Batt! We even had games during the celebration and I won an adorable duck keychain in honor of Miss Nebraska herself!

The always beautiful Miss Nebraska, Mariah Cook, and our current Miss Chadron, Meghan Thalken

 



      In addition to these wonderful festivities, I always feel blessed when I travel west because I love seeing my fellow sister queens and all of the wonderful individuals who work on the Miss Nebraska board! I am truly honored to have such wonderful and inspiring individuals in my life!



 

 



      After the send-off Saturday, I want to wish our Miss Nebraska - Mariah Cook - the best of luck as she competes at Miss America in January! I know she will represent our state in a wonderful way and I can't wait to hear about the impact she has while she is there! To help make that experience even better, we can all go to the Miss America website, watch Mariah's video, and vote for her as the peoples choice finalist in the top 15!
http://www.missamerica.org/videocontest/

Smiling with Cheryl

          This semester I have really enjoyed my "Interactions with Parents of Children with Special Needs" class. Throughout the semester we have completed fun activities and had many guest speakers. Not only have I learned a lot in class, but I have been greatly inspired by many of the individuals who have visited.
          Our most recent visitor was perhaps the most inspirational. Cheryl Poff is both deaf and blind and she has minimal abilities to move her fingers. Many people may become helpless in similar situations, but Cheryl maintained the best outlook possible!
          To begin with, Cheryl explained her eyesight to us. She had us put our pointer finger up in front of the center of our left eye and make a circle with our fingers to put in front of our right eye. This is how Cheryl sees the world. She pulled her fingers away from her face and explained that this is how she sees everyone - as a perfect 10! Try it and see for yourself!
          Cheryl also told us about many other accommodations she has made simply to get by day-to-day. She labels many of her things with foam letters, folds each denomination of money in a different way so she can find them easily, and even takes the bus, among other things. The simple things we take for granted are things that Cheryl has to think about and use exceptional problem solving skills to take care of every day.
          Cheryl made one comment, however, that really hit home with me. So often it can be difficult to keep a smile on your face when you are nervous or stressed. Yet Cheryl, who had a disease which generally causes people to lose their ability to smile, claimed that she loved to smile because she had worked so hard to make the muscles in her face work to do so.
          If nothing else this year, I will remember that I am working for and with people like Cheryl in my platform work, and for people who have not quite reached the same level of comfort with themselves. Throughout the year, I will be encouraged to smile - because some people can't, and some people have worked exceptionally hard so they can.
        So I challenge many of you - Smile with Cheryl every day; I know I will!

Reason for the Reign

     Many times people think of pageant girls simply as beauty queens - beautiful women with not much more to give. In nearly every interview I am asked how I will show the world that pageant girls have so much more to offer. All people have to do is look at a day in the life of one of us.

     This last Monday I began my day with classes at the University of Nebraska - Omaha where I am a senior elementary education major. After turning in a lesson plan and some objectives and completing some Halloween projects with pre-school children, I sat down to study for an upcoming exam in classroom management.

     A little before one, I packed up my school things and headed over to the Children's Hospital where I met with Kaylee Carlberg ( Miss Gering) and Mariah Cook (Miss Nebraska).

    We were fortunate enough to participate in craft time with the children where we got to help them color pictures and decorate pumpkins and picture frames! It was such an incredibly amazing and rewarding opportunity. The children seemed genuinely excited to have a bright spot in their day in which they were able to do crafts and hang out with three "queens." While several of the kids were shy at first, many opened up and enjoyed chatting with us about their friends, families, school, and the upcoming holiday! Knowing that we could be a bright spot in what may have been an otherwise sad and scary day is beyond fulfilling and wonderful.

 

One of the patients we met who was extremely kind and outgoing! It was a joy to talk to her :)

 I wasn't able to talk to Ella much but she followed us around all afternoon smiling and trying to play with the stuff we had out - what a cutie!

Sam was an adorable little boy who was exceptionally excited about Halloween and the monster stickers we had for decorating!

Carly is truly an inspiration. She sat with us working on our projects and chatting away for awhile. Like any normal 10 year old girl, Carly talked with us about her friends and her boyfriend. She told us how her boyfriend gives her flowers and kisses on her cheek and takes her on many dates. Carly told us all of this with the biggest smile on her face and showed obvious pride in those little details. At one point the comment was even made that Carly was a lucky girl; she simply nodded and smiled in response. You would never guess that Carly has spent her last four birthdays in the hospital and has no use of her arms.

Carly is my reminder to face life with a positive attitude and to put good into the world. If she can be that brave and positive, there is no reason for me not to.

This is what the pageant experience is all about. Not only do we have the wonderful opportunity to go out in our communities and change the lives of those around us, but we also grow close and form friendships that truly feel like they will last a lifetime. I would be there in a heartbeat if these girls needed me and I know they would be there for me too.

The next time you see a pageant girl...look for this crown. The four points of the crown symbolize four S's - Style, Scholarship, Service, and Success. A day full of school, community service, working with kids, and spending time with such fabulous young ladies certainly sounds like a day of style, scholarship, service, and success to me.