The big announcement...

I have just signed up to compete in the Mrs. Washington America Pageant!  I currently hold the title of Mrs. Spokane County and look forward to working in our great community.  It still hasn't completely sunk in, but I couldn't be more proud to represent our area for this great organization.

Here is how this all came about:
 About a year ago, I was scanning the Music Educator's Journal and came across an article about Music In Our School's Month that featured pictures of Mrs. America speaking on behalf of music education.  As I read further, I found out that MENC (the National Association for Music Education) is one of the main sponsors of the pageant.  I thought it was wonderful that the pageant would partner with MENC and promote the importance of music education.  I figured that maybe "one day" I would enter the pageant myself.  I mean, if anyone understands the importance of music education, it's a music educator, right?  I decided to tuck that thought away for a later date.  Well, I couldn't stay away for long.  Two months ago I started looking more into the state pageant, and finally decided to go for it!  Now here I am...

I am excited to support many events and organizations around our area this year.  My passion, however, is for mentoring youth.  I believe that children, especially in middle and high school, need someone they can look to as a positive role model to help mentor them through ups and downs of adolescence.  This passion was ignited after my third year of teaching.  My first group of sixth graders were entering high school, and the updates I would receive on them were heartbreaking.  One of them was pregnant, one was dating a drug dealer, and several others were involved in self-destructive behavior.  I was surprised that these students who were so full of life and promise just three years earlier were traveling down such a different path.  What happened those three years?  Would circumstances have been different if they had someone who was there to help them navigate those paths? 
It was after this realization that I became a leader for my church's youth group.  I co lead the junior high girls group.  This is a position I never thought I would have wanted, but wouldn't change for the world.  I think the girls have taught me just as much (if not more) about life and love in the past year and a half as I've taught them.  I've been blessed to witness the positive growth and maturity in these girls, several of whom are going through life experiences that no child should have to deal with.
During my time as Mrs. Spokane County, I will be promoting ways that people can get involved in changing kids lives and seeing the amazing potential these kids can reach.
I will keep the blog updated with events and reflections from the days to come.