Make Your Mark

Last week was finals week at the University of Central Arkansas and we all know that the stress can definitely get to you. What better way to let off some steam then to write, draw, color all over the library that you've spent the past (4) months in, well at least the library floor. While the library is undergoing renovations, the floor has been stripped down to a wide expanse of dusty gray concrete simply begging to be infused with life and color! So, all week students (and I'm pretty sure some faculty have secretly been getting in on this too), with the assistance of a variety of colored Sharpies have taken on the task of making their end of semester impressions before the floor is recovered.

Everything from signatures, to cartoons, to (of course) Greek letters began to turn the formerly blank ground into a virtual comic book of color!

Perhaps the idea is that ten years from now, when we've all moved on (hopefully) from this phase of our lives, and the carpet is ripped up again, the next generation of students will be impacted by what we saw, felt, experienced, and desired to share with as many as we possibly could.

Then again, perhaps it's just a way to keep the students from writing on the walls.

Whatever the reason, it has been the source of some musings on my part. Here I stand (well, sit technically) at at the end of my first year at a University and the thoughts begin to stir in my mind. Thousands of students every year pass through this University and when they leave where do they go? When I leave, where will I go? What will I do? And what will be purpose, my point, my role in the enormity of this world be?

While I don't have answers with the specificty required for math majors, the length and detail employed by  psychology majors, or the background and evidence required for political science majors, it took a chalky blank floor coming to life with messages, pictures, and simple signatures to remind me, in the most abstract way, that I am here quite simply to MAKE MY MARK.

 That may consist of a drawing a line between two people that desperately needed to connect. It may consist of sculpting a new opportunity out of a disappointing or failed on. Then again, it may consist of infusing a splash of color into a faded and graying situation.

Each one of us, every day, is making an impression, a mark, on someone, on something, on our world. So, the challenge is to make your mark something beautiful, something lovely, something honorable, just, and kind. Let your mark be that you loved freely, that you gave without reserve, that you listened, truly listened, that you sacrificed for the greater good.

So come one, pick up a pen, a marker, a paintbrush (figuratively) and let's get to work. 

Blessings,

Bethany

Running the Race - March 10, 2012

         If there is one thing I understand as a full time student, Miss America titleholder,daughter, and sibiling, it is running! We all do it, everyday. Sometimes we run so fast, our lives literally begin to fly by. So, it's good every now and then to stop and purposefully take the time to invest in something meaningful.

I had the opportunity to do that this past weekend volunteering with The Forum Theatre in Jonesoro, AR on their annual Family 5K run fundraiser.

The Forum is a non-profit arts organization that produces plays, puts on workshops, and encourages arts involvment for the community. I've had the privilege to seem a couple of plays there, and they work hard to make their performances excellent!

www.foajonesboro.org

The 5k seemed to be a great success. There were approxiametly 341 "runners" (some walked) who participated all the way from stroller bound young ones to slightly more mature individuals.

Before the race, I worked with two young ladies from ASU, members of Alpha Gamma Delta, on sorting arrivals and giving them their packs and t-shirts.

The first runner to cross the finish line

 Melody LaPiro (Director of the event) and Me

 Another volunteer and me

Heather and Me

Miss Essence 2012

As I continue my journey in the world of pageantry, I am able to add judge to my current role of contestant. This past weekend, I had the privilege of being a judge for the 37th anniversary Miss Essence 2012 scholarship pageant.

(Myself and Caitlyn Cook, Miss Conway, after the pageant)

Miss Essence is a scholarship pageant here at UCA produced by the SPBC (Students for the Propagation of Black Culture) and coordinated by the fabulous, Angela Jackson, who works here at UCA in the Student Minority Services department. Working with Mrs. Jackson up to the event and all through the pageant, I was so impressed with how organized, professional, and first-class the entire production was (plus they provided food for the judges)!

The pageant, which is modeled off of a Miss America preliminary with all the same categories of competition was so well put together, featuring six wonderful contestants, fantastic entertainment, and of course awesome judges. (Including yours truly)

As a judge, I requested the contestants paperwork and got to review them; reading each girls platform and resumes and formulating questions from them. I realized just how important your pageant paperwork is as I began to determine things about each contestant without ever having even met them.

Being on "the other side of the table" gave me a lot of insight about ways to improve as a contestant and things to be conscious of, especially during the interview segment (which was my favorite part).An added bonus was getting to see my UCA pageant sis, Caitlyn Cook, Miss Conway provide special entertainment for the event. I never get tired of hearing her share her phenomenal talent.

(Caitlyn, Fanchon Bone, and Myself)

Overall, I believe the pageant went very well. And, I wish my warmest congratulations to Fanchon Bone, Miss Essence 2012 and all the best as she prepares to compete in Miss UCA this fall.

Miss Crowley's Ridge 2012

Miss Crowley's Ridge 2012

This past weekend, I had the honor of passing along my title, Miss Crowley's Ridge, to another young lady who I know will represent this organization well.

Congratulations to Ashley Gage, Miss Crowley's Ridge 2012!!!

and

Congratulations to Kelly Welsh (younger sister of Courtney Welsh, Miss Three Rivers), Miss Crowley's Ridge Outstanding Teen!!!

I've seen Ashley compete several times and she has always had a sweetness and vibrancy for life that shows in every area of competition.

Before the evening competition for Miss CR, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with her and she has such a genuinely positive attitude. She is upbeat, kind, and personable and according to all accounts lit up onstage as well.

The pageant featured five amazing miss contestants and four wonderful teen contestants. Each did a wonderful job competing and I hope they all had as much fun as I did.

Kailyn and Myself before Interview

Danielle Hicks and myself before interview

Callie Ann and myself before interview.

Ashley Williams and me before interview

One of the things I love about this organization is that you get the opportunity to expand yourself and do new things. Although I'm not a "singer" by trade, during the opening and closing number, I had such a great time singing with Emma (Miss CR Outstanding Teen), Mason Magouryk (Miss Northeast Arkansas), and Haven Cagle (Miss NEA Outstanding Teen).

Ashley Gage and me before Evening Gown

Ashley Williams and me before evening gown

I also enjoyed performing my state talent piece and playing accompanying music for the teen evening gown competition. We were using a "Heart/Love" theme for the pageant since it falls so close to valentines day, so I played "Can you Feel The Love Tonight"

Hey, you can't go wrong with "The Lion King"

I got to wear this gorgeous dress generously lent to me by Laine Berry and The Royal We in Conway!

At the close of the pageant, I had a slideshow that played and reflected my year as Miss CR and then I returned to the stage once more to say our farewells and thank you's.

I chose to do my closing speech live as opposed to a recording because I felt like that was more personal and I really wanted to address people individually. The downside was that in my slight nervousness I did end up forgetting a couple of people, so I have attached a copy of my farewell speech. :)

If you are not on this list and you should be, let me know!

Farewell Speech:
Of all the words to describe my
feeling towards having been Miss Crowley’s Ridge this past year, the one I feel
sums it up the best is honored. I am truly honored to have been chosen to
represent this pageant and this area throughout this past year and throughout
the Miss AR 2011 experience.
It has been an absolutely unforgettable experience!!!
They say, it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes
an entire community of people to back a contestant through the pageant journey and
the experience of this past year would not have been possible if not for the
incredible support and love of so many people.
So, I’d like to thank:
First of all, I thank my heavenly father for giving me the
strength and motivation to go on this journey.
Thank you mother and daddy for your incredible support in
every way, this journey would not have been possible without you, you are my
biggest fans. Thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in
myself. Thank you to my immediate,
extended, and church family for supporting and encouraging me throughout this
year, you guys rock my world!
I want to thank Marrietta Jerome and Eva Lee Graves for
initiating me into the pageant world and showing me what this system is really
all about; and another dynamic duo Peggy and Katie Smart, my awesome directors
during my year as Miss Crowley’s Ridge, I couldn’t have asked for sweeter more
devoted directors who also love to shop, what more could I ask for. Thank you
for your attention not only to me but the rest of my family and including them
in this amazing experience. That was your greatest gift to me.
Thanks to Somer Allen for being willing to share your
experiences and expertise as a veteran competitor. I truly appreciate your
advice.
Thanks you to Jeni Stephens for your help in preparing me
for Miss Crowley's Ridge, and for being a good, honest, friend.
Thank you to my former piano teacher, Judith Fairchild, for
helping me prepare the perfect talent piece for me.
I want to thank all of my sponsors from my community who
lent prayers and pocketbooks to assist me as I strove to represent this area
well.
Thanks to Shelly Kelly, and all the folks at Clark's Bridal
for your beautiful work, clothes, encouragement and advice.
And thank you to the
entire Miss Arkansas Organization for making each contestant feel like a queen.
This has been one of the best years of my life and in the
abundance of my gratitude; I am reduced to the simplest of expressions, thank
you, thank, thank you and enjoy the rest of the evening!

Blessings,

Bethany

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

We have made it, we have arrived in the year 2012!

There is something magical and exciting about the first moments, the first day of a New Year. One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie Anne of Green Gables when Anne say's --every day is a clean slate-- and that feeling of freshness, of new possibility is exhilarating which I believe is a part of the reason that we yearly make New Years Resolutions.

However...

For the first time this year, I have decided to approach my New Year's goals in a new way.

This year, I am making New years DECLARATIONS rather than RESOLUTIONS.

What's the difference, you ask?

Let's ask Webster...

RESOLUTION: the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

DECLARATION: a positive, explicit, or formal statement; proclamation.

In my mind, when I resolve to do something, that resolution comes from a place of human willpower.Will, as powerful as it may be, is human and therefore subject to error. My resolve may be weakened, attacked, or broken.

However, when I make a declaration, I am placing a word, a seed, an image into the universe invoking the power of my creator to make a positive change in my life, the lives of others, and the world.

So this year, I declare:

1. I will diligently apply myself to developing spiritual, financial, and physical fitness.

2. I will cultivate the relationships already in my life, and will seek to develop positive new relationships.

3. I will use my god-given gifts and talents to give back to others (Because I have been blessed to be a blessing!)

I have other, more specific declarations but I feel like these are fundamentally representative of the direction in which I am moving for this season of my life.

I hope you will take some time to dwell on, write down, and most importantly say aloud your New Years Declarations. There is power in the spoken word, so decide what you want and claim it.

May this be your best year yet!

Blessings,

Bethany