Day 1

WHEW! My feet are aching – thanks Kent! 🙂 This morning we checked in for the week and had an orientation, then directly off to our full Kent-filled day. If you haven’t met Kent, you really should. He choreographs the opening numbers, creates our walking patterns, and even designs the set – and those are just the things I can remember right now! I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love him. Not only does he continually create exciting, cutting edge choreography and sets, but his personality is ideal for 43 stressed out girls to be around. I wish every state pageant could have the experience he provides for the Oklahoma contestants!

This morning we learned our first opening number dance, and later our second routine. Both are fast paced and full of energy…typical of the best state pageant in the nation! The dances are so fun, even when you accidentally do a move (or two) backwards. The dances were going so well (though running together in our minds!), and Veronica pulled me aside to let  me  know I was doing a step backwards. When I showed my choreography group what I had been doing they all burst out in laughter- we’ll just say it was definitely, maybe a bit too sexy! Ask me sometime and I’ll demonstrate…it’s pretty comical!!!

Wendy’s provided our lunch (something I could eat AND it was tasty! Thanks Wendy’s!!), and the owner’s daughter arrived in a Wendy’s outfit! She was adorable, and I later was able to speak with her at the Red Carpet event. After lunch, we had more rehearsals (probably about 6 hours overall) and also learned the swimsuit walking patterns. Today we had our swimsuits approved (this ensures that everyone is covered and the colors are correct), and I think we all passed! YAY!

We came back to the dorms and got to chat with our directors/families for a bit after checking out the decorations they put up. My room is wonderful and feels homey, British, and most importantly – calm! I’ll be sure to post pictures of my “Keep Calm and Carry On” room tomorrow. Tonight we threw on our cocktail dresses and headed to the Premiere, sponsored by BodyTrends. It took quite a while to introduce every Miss, Teen and Star,  but we made it and were able to enjoy a nice evening at the Hilton hotel.

Tonight they also announced the Kiwanis Community Service Finalists. Though I was disappointed not to be a part of it, I know I can take this opportunity to learn and grow, coming back prepared for the Community Service award next year! Congrats to Talia Berning, Alex Eppler, Alicia Clifton, Heather Harris, Bailey Robinson and Veronica Wisniewski for making the finals! Community service is one of my favorite aspects of the Miss America Organization and I love seeing the difference my pageant friends and competitors are making off-stage!

It’s time for Miss Sooner State to catch up on some sleep, but I have loved my first day of Miss Oklahoma 2011 and look forward to what else this week holds. Tomorrow we are off to church, brunch and another very Kent-filled day. Can’t wait to experience it all!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep Calm and Carry On

Seems like I just picked my theme for Miss Oklahoma life this year! The past few weeks have been something else, to say the least. Last Saturday, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma, moved out of Norman, and somehow brought a small village’s worth of stuff to Shawnee. I’ll be back at home until Miss O, and directly after the pageant I will hop on a plane to Phoenix, where Teach For America institute is held. I found out Tuesday that I will be teaching at the Community Action Project, an early childhood type center in Tulsa. This means I’ll have teeny tiny ones, 4-5 years old! I will be in Phoenix until July 16th, when I’ll drive home and begin training for CAP July 18th. No summer for Miss Sooner State! I also met Kimberly and her mom in Tulsa to apartment shop on Monday, so to say the least – I’ve been a busy graduate!

Tomorrow I have another school assembly and later meet with Brian. Saturday I take my teaching exam in the afternoon, then a wedding Saturday evening (not to mention the Thunder game!), and Sunday I’m meeting with my choreographer again. I also have an estimated 30 hours of Teach For America homework to do in the next week, on top of working out, dancing, and preparing to be thrown into the real world. YIKES! 

Yesterday, Rep. Pittman’s anti-bullying bill failed to pass. The final vote was 44-52, incredibly close numbers. Though the bill did not pass, I know Rep. Pittman, Kirk Smalley, and others who have a passion to see the end of this hideous cycle will not stop seeking out schools, civic groups and lawmakers until something changes. If nothing else, I am more determined to visit an even greater number of Oklahomans to spread my message about relational aggression. Rep. Pittman intends to make a plea to State Superintendent, Janet Barresi, to join the cause against anti-bullying and help amend rules which are currently in place.

After yesterday’s photoshoot, I went to pick up my evening gown. I’ve been so excited for months, anxiously awaiting the day my gown would be in my hands. Unfortunately what arrived was not what was ordered, by no fault of the store itself. Somehow the factory had misinterpreted the designs sent and what came back was simply not my gown. This is not the first place Keep Calm and Carry On is necessary (nor the last I’m sure), but I find the words much more comforting after my moments of sheer panic. The poster was introduced by the British government in 1939, at the height of WWII. It was intended to raise morale in the event of an invasion. I’m putting a huge poster of this in my classroom, Miss O dorm room, and probably my future apartment in Tulsa. 

Miss Oklahoma is just a few short weeks away and today I am gownless. I have not decided what to do just yet, but I know that by remaining calm and thinking through it, God will provide an answer. I’m a huge believer in “everything happens for a reason,” and the good Lord would not give me more than I am capable of handling. This is just one more obstacle which I will overcome while gladly accepting the challenges which are ahead. At the end of the day, this is not the end of the world, just a bump in the road.