Small Town Girl

Though sometimes I'm teased about being a bit of a country bumpkin, I have loved every minute of growing up in Selbyville, DE. For those of you who don't know where little old Selbyville is, cruise all the way down route 113 and when you're on the state line of DE and MD, stop. If it looks like you're in the middle of nowhere, you've found it. With a population of about 2000 people, Selbyville is the definition of a small Sussex County town.

There it is! That tiny speck below Frankford.

So you get the point. Selbyville is pretty small and a little country, okay a lot country. The point of this blog is to say how much growing up in a small town has impacted my life, and why I'm so grateful I didn't grow up in a city. Growing up, I was never able to go anywhere without knowing someone, and word spreads faster than swine flu did in 2009. Everybody knows everything about everybody. I suppose this could be a bad thing, but I choose to see it as a positive attribute of my hometown. I have been overwhelmed lately with the outpouring of support from residents of Slower Lower Delaware. The text messages, facebook and twitter contact, and well wishes in person have been so incredibly unexpected and appreciated. It is incredible how many people are supporting me on this journey simply because I come from this area. The Coastal Point published a wonderful article about me and my preparations for Miss Delaware, and so many people have reached out to thank me for my service and provide kind words of encouragement. Essentially, this is an expression of my gratitude. Gratitude for having grown up in Selbyville, and mostly to the people of this town and surrounding area for being the best neighbors anyone could ask for. The support and love that I have received recently has been overwhelming and much appreciated. I cannot express my gratefulness and appreciation in a mere blog post. 

If you would like to shoot me some encouragement or good luck wishes or prayers, please feel free to reach me through this blog, facebook, or twitter (@Lyssa_L0u). Thanks again for all the support!

XOXO,

Alyssa

The Big THANK YOU Post

Today is the first day that I've had free time in a while. Yesterday was a busy day, I spoke to 5 different middle school classes about melanoma and other skin cancers, and a 3rd grade class about reading and goal setting. I also had a personal training session at World Gym, and attended a fundraiser for my friend, Ashley Hudson, who is currently battling leukemia. I decided to write this blog today, because I'm not sure how much time I'll have to blog in these final days leading up to Miss Delaware Week. There are a lot of people I would like to say thank you to, because there's not way I would have been successful thus far in my journey alone.

Thank you to my Mom for always being there for me. She never missed a dance recital, she was there when I tried and failed at numerous sports, she went to my swim meets even though they were hot and stuffy, and she was the one person who was there when I won Delaware's Junior Miss. She is the kind of mom other moms want to be, and I'm glad she's all mine.

Thanks Dad for everything you've done for me, this year especially. My Dad financed my competition wardrobe this year, and he has been my biggest supporter and fan. 

Thanks Karen, my not-evil-at-all stepmom for being there for me. She has more faith in me than I have in myself, and I really appreciate it. Also, thanks for nudging Dad in the right direction.

My family in general, Aunt Lisa and JP, Mom mom and Pop pop, everyone, thank you for being the most amazing, huge, slightly dysfunctional, loving family I could ask for. You can't choose your family, but I'm glad I'm stuck with y'all.

Big Dog, you are the bomb! I never thought I would be excited to be in a bikini in front of an entire audience, but now I am, and I have you to thank for that. I couldn't do it without you. 

Chris, Josh, and everyone at The Perfect Dress, thank you for helping me find my perfect dress, and for standing by me and being so helpful throughout the whole process, even the whole 3 week late bit. Also, Tony Bowls, thank you for designing my dream gown.

Thank you to all of my friends for supporting me. Shelby, my roommate and best friend, thanks for keeping me sane. Abby, can't wait for you to be a watermelon queen, Veronica/Hoss Jr./Dog, my friend, my sister (DJM and Alpha Xi Delta,) love you for being so supportive always, and I can't wait for YOU to be up on the Miss Delaware stage! All of my AZD sisters, y'all are the most supportive and loving sisters in the world. 

Thanks to David and Jen, the best local directors/mentors a girl could ask for.

Special thanks to my 8-year old sister, Remi, and my big brother Cory for keeping me grounded, and slightly giggly.

Thank you Dillan, the best boyfriend in the whole world for being there for me. He's listened to the laughs and the breakdowns this journey has brought me, and he's coming all the way up to Delaware from Alabama to watch me compete. Now that's dedication.

Basically, this blog post is a big, massive, huge thank you to everyone who has had an impact on my year as Miss Coastal Bay. I couldn't have had such an incredible and successful year without all of my family, friends, and prep-team. Y'all are the best I could ever ask for, and I am so grateful for everything.

The Little Things

Each year the Miss Delaware contestants are all assigned one or two little beauties to escort them in the evening gown competition. We call them our "Miss Delaware Little Sisters," and they are one of the best parts about Miss Delaware week. After I won my local title in August, Miss Coastal Bay, one of my judges, Alison Rae Funds, contacted me telling me she was thrilled for my year, and asking if I would have her daughter escort me. I absolutely love kids, and her daughter is probably the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen, maybe tied with my sister, but I'm biased ;) I gave Ava a call today while she was on her way to dance class, and hearing how excited she was for Miss Delaware absolutely melted my heart. The admiration and joy in her voice completely took a terrible day to a wonderful one. Just a few hours ago I was completely distraught over an exam, and then I had a moment like that, which completely changed my attitude. This all goes back to what I was saying in my last blog. Miss Delaware changes lives. Maria will tell you she's just super chill, but beyond that she is touching lives every day, everywhere she goes. Seeing that I have that kind of effect on a starry-eyed young girl as a local title holder was just what I needed to get back my positive attitude and my excitement for Miss Delaware. It's always nice to be reminded of why you're chasing your dreams, especially when they seem so far out of reach. I can't wait to meet up with Ava before Miss Delaware and talk shoes, dresses, and crowns, and for her to rock the stage with me on Friday night in the evening gown competition. She even told me she is coming to cheer me on the other nights of competition as well! Sometimes you just need a little push to get back in a positive mindset.

XOXOXO

Alyssa

Youtube is a Girl's Best Friend

Finals week is not my favorite. Between the stress breakouts, trips to the library, and review sessions, sometimes I just need a good laugh. Youtube is probably my favorite distraction, and I'm famous for always finding a good video. Here is a list of some of my favorite Youtube videos.

Kittens, adorable child, you can't go wrong.

If you are not literally "lol-ing" you might not have a sense of humor.

Gets me every time. Terrifying yet hilarious.

Take an already hilarious video and add Nigel Thornberry. Yes.

5 seconds of brilliant acting by a prairie dog.

There you have it, some of my favorite youtube videos. Enjoy!

The Longest Month

I woke up this morning with an odd feeling. I kept thinking "Today is an important day, but why?"  It's reading day at UD, classes finished yesterday, I'm going to Big Dog's bootcamp tonight, but none of those are it. I looked at my iCal and saw that today is May 16th. In exactly one month, 31 days, Miss Delaware 2012 will be crowned. It feels like just yesterday it was June and I was  hysterical watching one of my closest friends being crowned Miss Delaware 2011. It's all a little bittersweet. Maria has been such a phenomenal, gracious, inspiring, and personable Miss Delaware, and I know she will be missed dearly by the board, us contestants, and the entire state of Delaware. As exciting as it is to think that in one month I have a 1 in 18 shot of being the next Miss Delaware, it saddens me that Maria will be giving up her title and moving on to another exciting chapter of her life.

Lovin' you all day err'day Miss Cahill, ya goober.

Since Maria, and the other former Miss Delaware titleholders have set such a high standard of grace, class, and poise, it's only natural that this year, 18 incredible, intelligent, and stunning young women will take the stage to compete to be the next titleholder. I mentioned in an earlier blog post that I originally entered this program to win scholarship money. I have been fortunate enough to have my entire undergraduate career paid for through academic scholarships and those given to me by the America's Junior Miss/Distinguished Young Women of America Scholarship Program. My hard work in high school has paid off to the tune of over $120,000 and I'm very proud to say I earned every penny of it.  (My parents are probably pretty stoked about that too.) As important as it is to me to try to win some scholarship money to help me finance law school, there is so much more.I also mentioned in the same blog post that this year, my reasons for competing in Miss Delaware are a little different. 

I was never the most confident girl growing up. I was confident in certain aspects of myself, such as my intelligence, my ability to make friends, my dancing, singing, and my piano playing, but I never thought much of myself as far as beauty, something that seems so shallow, but is so important to self esteem. When I was younger, Miss Delaware 1999 Kama Bolland was at an appearance in my small hometown of Selbyville, DE. I somehow had the courage to march right up to her and inform her that when I was grown up, I would be Miss Delaware just like her. Instead of laughing at me or telling me to dream on, Kama took time out of her day to sit and discuss with me what it takes to be Miss Delaware, and how if I kept dreaming and practicing, I could be there one day. Now in 2012 at 20 years old, I still have that autograph card from Kama in my bedroom that says "Alyssa, keep dreaming! Love, Kama." Through some hardships in middle and high school, I somehow lost sight of that long-forgotten dream. Though I went through a phase from about 6-9 years old where I wanted to be Miss America, this has not been a lifelong dream for me, it is more recently developed. 2 years ago as a senior in high school, if someone had told me I would place 4th runner-up to Miss Delaware the very next year, I would have laughed in their face. Once Miss Sandy Soucek and a couple other board members, and my wonderful DJM directors gave me a nudge in the right direction, I read that autograph card from Kama and thought "hey, maybe I can do this." (Side note: Kama Bolland was a Miss Delaware judge last year and I was so awestruck I couldn't even bring myself to mention to her that she was the reason I was there.)

Last year, I let my negativity hold me back. Not just in Miss Delaware, but in life. I've always been too critical of myself, and my "I can't" attitude was starting to bring me down. Its the Miss America Organization that has turned me around and made me into a much more positive, optimistic person. This past year especially I've noticed a change in myself, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Through working with Marcellus Beasley, my body, my attitude, and my strength, both inner and outer have improved by leaps and bounds. It's amazing how making a commitment to change your body can change so much else about you. Where as last year, I was self-conscious and shy in swimsuit, this year I'm ready to strut it. I've found working out to be a way of life now, rather than a way to look decent in a bikini on the Miss Delaware stage. 

Seeing Maria on her journey as Miss Delaware has opened my eyes to the duties, opportunities, and power that a Miss Delaware can have. Not too long ago, Maria and I were eating frozen yogurt outside of Yogoberry on Main Street in Newark. Without a crown and sash, Maria connected with this little girl and invited her to sit with us. We struck up a conversation with this young girl and seeing her face light up at 2 older girls befriending her touched my heart. Maria can have that kind of impact on a child without being Miss Delaware, so you can imagine how she connects with them with a crown and sash on. To have the opportunity to leave a child with a memory of meeting Miss Delaware, to be able to encourage young girls, to be a role model, that's what it's all about, and that didn't click for me until very recently. Someday, I want to change a young girl's life, the way Kama Bolland changed mine, the way Maria has changed so many. Someday, I hope to have the opportunity to tell a young girl that one day she could be Miss Delaware, and to keep dreaming, because not too long ago, I lost sight of my dream, and some very special people helped me to have the courage to go for it again. I have an 8-year old sister, and honestly the role model for her generation are pretty bleak. Miss America gives girls like me the opportunity to be a role model for young girls like my sister, and I want so much to make a difference in someone's life the way a Miss Delaware did in mine not too long ago.

The strides that I have taken this year towards becoming my best version of myself have led me to this point: One month before Miss Delaware, feeling confident and as if I can conquer my goals, a feeling I was a stranger to last year. The journey I have taken as Miss Sussex County 2011 and Miss Coastal Bay 2012 have brought me here, and whether or not I am blessed enough to become Miss Delaware 2012, I know my journey is far from over.

May is going to be the LONGEST month of my entire life!

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14

Slacker

Hey all, sorry for slacking lately. Finals week is rapidly approaching, I scored an amazing new internship, and Miss Delaware preparations are keeping me beyond busy! I conquored a Comm 200 exam, and a Spanish 304 exam, and an extra credit paper yesterday, and today is the end of classes for UD students! 

This is how I feel right now

Well, the good news is after the whole computer fiasco, spending 12 hours in the library, lots of caffeine, a few tears, and forgetting the English language, I finished and handed in my final paper. Sunday night in the library I mustered up the courage to check my grades online. Drumroll please...I GOT AN A!!!!!! Life is good with the not-so-minor exception of my impending logic final. So, if you tend to be a study slacker like me, here are some tips.

• Go somewhere other than your house. I can't study in my house that well because I'm constantly distracted by the refrigerator (yikes), netflix, and the TV. I tend to migrate to the second floor of Morris Library to study with the largest iced coffee I can find. It helps me focus being in a quiet area and when I'm surrounded by people I can't open up facebook, netflix, twitter, etc.
• Music. I have a killer Coldplay Pandora station I listen to when I'm studying or reading, and it totally helps me chill out and stay on topic.
• Caffeine is your friend.
• Set goals and reward yourself. For example, tell yourself "If i write 3 pages of this paper, I can go take a walk/get a coffee/facebook creep for 10 minutes." It works, I promise!
• Eat well. It's impossible to focus with a growling tummy. 

Happy finals week, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Murphy's Law

Yesterday was a normal day until I was sitting in my least favorite class and I pulled out my computer. This scary blinking file logo popped up and I knew I was going to be spending most of my day in the Apple store. After making an appointment at the Genius Bar at my local Apple store I walked the grim death march into the mall. Sure enough, I was living ever college student's nightmare the week before finals week. My hard drive had completely crashed, losing all of my files, and guess who hasn't backed up her files in FOREVER. The loss of my 8 page Spanish research paper has been mourned the most of all. 

After some tears, some starbucks, getting an Apple guy's number (how you doin'?), and $172 later, I found myself in Morris Library struggling to start to rewrite this entire paper that originally took me a week to write. Normally I would have all weekend to devote to the library, but this weekend is the Mela-No-More KENTucky Derby in Dewey Beach, so I'll be busy busy all week! I searched the library for my original sources, and brought the only printed copy I had of the original (thank goodness rough drafts were due last week!) and got to work.

 I'm glad to say as of 12:30 am I am a free woman, and the paper is done and even better than the first time if I do say so myself. Even though I had a mini-breakdown in the Apple store, I'm proud of myself for putting on my big girl pants, downing so caffeine, and not procrastinating until Sunday night. Essentially the moral of this story is back up your files, back up your files, back up your files, BACK UP YOUR FILES! Got it? Good. 

XOXOXOXO,

Alyssa