You know you are a National American Miss girl when you are confidently changing, despite trial. At the age of six, I walked into my first National American Miss Pageant, what I remember is not from being there, but from the stories of my mom, and of course the video. This pageant system is one I have always referred to as a “personality pageant”, as it focuses not on the appearance of girls, but on the confidence each girl possesses. National American Miss aims to foster that confidence by introducing them to interview skill, poise and public speaking, all while creating lasting friendships and a strong sense of self. I do not remember much of my first time at National American Miss, but I do remember my infatuation with the “I am…” statements. Particularly “I am growing”, when I, in my imagination, envisioned being a “big girl” with the “big crown” I wanted to be the girl who said “I am growing”. Now having grown into one of the “big girls”, I can truly say that my infatuation with that phrase is still present, along with the phrase “I am learning”.

I have been confronted with a lot of change in my life. The first major change came when my dad lost his job, due to the Mortgage Crash, I was 8 years old and a Jr. Pre-Teen queen for the state of Michigan. I was as scared as an eight-year-old could be when encountering daunting terms and fear in my parent's eyes like I had never seen before. But through it all, I was able to put on a crown and banner and know that “I am growing”. I have recently come to realize in my life that when faced with trial, change is inevitable to get past the hardship, and that can be difficult, but that change and trial allows you to always be learning. Through my eight-year-old eyes I thought the world might end, but in fact, my world was just beginning. I was learning and growing.

When driving the three and a half hours to the University of Arkansas my whole world was changing with every mile. It was hard. I cried…a lot. I was leaving my favorite places filled with incredible memories of my friends and my family. But I soon realized that every aspect of my life had been preparing me for this change, the most drastic yet. I was no longer a young girl filled with fear; I have learned and experienced so much. I was confident in my ability to adapt, meet new people and experience more changes that would positively shape my life. So as I took exit 66, towards the University, I remembered that just like that six-year-old, I am growing and I am learning; better yet I am confidently changing.

I have not only seen National American Miss help me, but every girl that has stepped on to a National American Miss stage. I have seen young girls who had to have a queen walk them through the Personal Introduction line (the onstage line for the 30-second introduction to an audience) come back the next year and be the one who helps calm the girl in front of her. Every National American Miss pageant allows for girls to overcome fears most adults still have yet to face, and no matter how nervous they are I always see them smile by the end because they have accomplished something. I have seen girls lives turn around, I have seen, and been able to help, girls suffering from depression, anxiety and similar inhibitions get on stage and be filled with confidence they didn't think they could possess. Those same girls were able to break down the "us and them" stigma society put on them, and I cried with them when they were successful and smiling for the first time in a long time. With National American Miss it doesn't matter where you have been because stepping on that stage means you are growing, and you are learning. Every girl at National American Miss is learning how to grow into a person that is confidently changing, and that is why I am a National American Miss girl.