missfairfield

 

On June 20^th the Miss Connecticut organization had its’ 80^th Jubilee Gala. This event is not only a wonderful fundraiser for our organization but it unites each contestant, their family , friends and business managers for a wonderful meal at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville, Connecticut.  I was honored to meet a former Miss Connecticut last night, Audrey Figlar Diana from 1955.  She also lived in Fairfield and she attended Roger Ludlowe High School (the school that my sister currently attends).The night included an auction of “purse”onalities that each of the contestants fashioned . Each girl decorated a handbag for the auction – with a unique theme. There were also other exciting auction items up for bid. This year the gala featured a “Walk Down Memory Lane” with photos, gowns and other items from prior pageants. Attendees were able to peruse past years programs, shoes and even a bathing suit from the 1969 pageant! A fun time was had by all, especially out on the dance floor! It was a fantastic kick off to pageant week. 

 

 

  



 

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Starting this year Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen program has a statewide issue - MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving).  The new Teen titleholder will work closely with this organization to educate others about smart driving decisions.

Today I attended the MADD walk in Hartford, Connecticut with other Miss and Teen titleholders, and a former Miss Connecticut, Marla Prete.  During the opening ceremony Attorney General Blumenthal gave a brief speech and then a woman spoke about the the MADD organization. She made a remark that stuck with me. She stated “Yesterday I was at a Relay For Life walk. Cancer is something that must be researched for a cure. Drinking and driving we know the cure. People need to make smart decisions the decision to not drink and drive.” 

 

 

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The only thing I could hold onto throughout my Dad’s battle with cancer was hope. Hope is what kept me sane, it was my drive to wake up every morning with a smiling face to tell my Dad that we’re ready for another day----a day to fight . Even towards the end of my Dad’s battle I believed that he would receive a miracle- --my reasoning was simply because he was such a good man and he deserved one. 

Tonight I participated in “Relay For Life” at Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, Connecticut. This is my second year attending. I find that walking and lighting a luminary for my father is an important part of my healing process. I along with survivors of cancer, caregivers, and friends  unite to walk and raise money for cancer research.

Around 9:30 at night they turn off all of the music and lights on the track (where the relay is held). A poem was read aloud and then they call for all cancer survivors to step onto the track and to illuminate their glow stick. After, they called the people who have lost a mother or father to cancer. This is when I stepped onto the track and proceeded to light my Dad’s luminary. I find this part the most trying. Not only do I step out onto the track alone but with tears streaming from my eyes. Grieving is indeed a process. One that takes time, and is often cyclical (meaning you have your “good” and “bad” days). No one ever heals from losing a loved one, but with time things do get better.

They then call for people that have lost a daughter or son to cancer and more people joined the track. They called for people who have lost grandparents, aunts ,uncles, cousins and again more people entered the track. Lastly, they called for people who have lost friends to cancer. More people joined the track . Soon the entire outline of the track was lit.

After all of the glow sticks were lit, another speech was given. This time it was about the word HOPE. For each letter they gave a definition of what it meant and that one day we will have a cure for all types of cancer. We were then asked to walk around the track in silence to memorialize the ones we have lost.

As I was walking I couldn’t help but read the bags that were illuminated (by glow sticks) much like my own, that had messages to loved ones who have passed. My conclusion was that there were too many and I couldn’t help but to think that someday soon cancer will be stopped. Cancer will be something that is temporary, something that with the aide of modern medicine will be cured------        As we can only hope.

  

 

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The perfect place to be on a 93 degree day other than a pool is Riverfest, in Norwich, Connecticut!  The breeze was wonderful! The Miss and Teen contestants met at the central stage where we performed for the festival crowd. It was a great occasion for some of us to spend time together, to practice our talents on stage, but also to promote the upcoming pageant. After our performances we signed pictures. This was an opportune time to get to know some of the people from Norwich and its surrounding areas. Many young children approached our table for autographs, each one excited to talk to “the ladies in crowns.” Some of the children were a bit timid, at first, but once we got them talking, we heard all about their summer plans and the schools they attend. It was a lovely day to spend with family and friends.
 

 
 
 

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Today I went to two elementary schools to read and talk to the children about the Miss America Organization. I would not be surprised if many of the young girls I spoke with today compete in the future for this wonderful organization. The first school I went to was Rowayton Elementary School. I read to two first grade classes. I then headed over to Brookside Elementary School also in Norwalk, Connecticut.  At Brookside I read to three first grade classes and four second grade classes. All of the children were welcoming and well behaved. They all loved the crown and sash! I always ask the children about their dreams and one class in particular all wanted to be “spies.” I wonder what an eight year old thinks a “spy” does on a daily basis – and who are they “spying” on anyway? It always fascinates me what children aspire to be. I know growing up being a veterinarian was what many of us wanted. I tell children no matter what they choose, if they work very, very hard they can become anything they wish (even a spy)!

 

 



 

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One of the questions I am frequently asked as Miss Fairfield County is “What do you do besides being a part of the Miss America Organization?” Here is my answer: I am currently a part time student and a full- time au pair/mentor for a wonderful 14 year old girl in Trumbull. I oversee her daily activities and make sure I am there for her when needed. I am a Cum Laude graduate from the University of Connecticut and I am now pursuing Masters degree in Nursing. The past two years I have been taking pre requisites for nursing school and saving money for college. Recently, I was accepted to New York University’s accelerated Nursing Program. I am also a weekly volunteer for Connecticut Hospice in Branford.

The next question I am usually asked is “Do you have any free time?” The answer is “Yes, and I love spending it with family and friends.” 

I am the oldest of three children. I have a 15 year old sister who is a wonderful actress and a very talented writer. She achieves the highest marks in all her classes and hopes to attend an Ivy League school in the future. I have an 11 year old brother who has one of the best personalities a young man can ever have. He can brighten anyone’s day with his smile and has a quick wit.  He is a talented baseball player, you should see him pitch, and he would like to play for the Yankees in the future.

Below are some pictures of my best friends. I have been friends with these girls since I was in elementary school. They have been with me throughout the years and continue to provide endless love and support. I am blessed to have them! I love them like sisters! 

 

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Yesterday all of the Miss and Teen contestants met at the Connecticut Naval Sub base for the first rehearsal for the Miss Connecticut pageant! We were fortunate enough to have the stage time donated to us.  They also provided breakfast and a lovely lunch! The Sub base has been a wonderful supporter of our pageants and I look forward to meeting the Sailors during the week of Miss Connecticut.

This year will mark the 80th Anniversary for the Miss Connecticut Pageant! The Connecticut board is making this pageant very special and unique. I would also like to thank the Connecticut Board and Billy Griffin (who is our talented choreographer for the show)! They spent the entire day with us working to make this show the best it can be. I know that many great memories will be made for every contestant in the month to come and I feel very blessed to be a part of it all!

 

Naval base in Groton, CT

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I am always so impressed with children. I am impressed by how they think, how they react to certain situations, but most importantly and astoundingly their ability to love and accept everyone.  I was asked to visit a Kindergarten class at Our Lady of Fatima Regional School in Wilton, Connecticut. The children were extremely well behaved and loved holding and placing the Miss Fairfield County crown on their heads.  I read a story to them and the message in the story was that by helping our friends, we help ourselves (volunteering). The children were not only able to pick up on this message but also shared with me what they have done as volunteers. Many children help their parents at home, which is always a good start! I was also told by their teacher that their school had a book drive for inner city children in Norwalk, Connecticut. They were able to donate 2,100 books! This kindergarten class has participated in clothes and food drives for local communities.  I was amazed. I told the children that they have had great exposure to volunteering and to keep it up! One of the messages I also leave when visiting younger children is that “It is never too early to start volunteering.” This kindergarten class was an exemplary example of this! Bravo boys and girls!

 

 

 

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The Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut has become one of Miss Connecticut’s wonderful sponsors. They recently held the state’s pageant school at their facility and invited all of the local title holders to a cocktail party. The evening ended up being a lively event. They served wonderful Hors D'oeuvres, had live music, and gave away raffle prizes. Four people (including our own Miss Connecticut) from the Miss Connecticut organization won prizes, myself included! I won a sushi dinner gift certificate in Fairfield, Connecticut! The staff and facility were truly impressive. Miss Connecticut (Dana Daunis) showed us around the hotel which had a day spa, golfing, two pools (one indoor and one outdoor) and large banquet halls that can be used for any occasion. I can see why this hotel is so appealing---it has it all! I might have to take a trip back there to spend the night!




  

 

 

 

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Being a part of the Miss America Organization has helped improve my public speaking tremendously. I have noticed that public speaking is no longer one of my fears, but instead I speak with confidence and without hesitation. Today, I was a guest speaker at The New Canaan Rotary. I was invited to a lovely luncheon and was then asked to speak about The Miss America Organization and my Issue of Concern- Hospice. I stood in front of well established businessmen and women (many of which have a wonderful sense of humor, and their reassuring smiles were very much appreciated).

The Rotary is very involved in their community. Currently, the Rotary is focusing on recycling, and keeping the town green. Also, they have recently raised money for a scholarship for one high school graduate to offset some of his/her college expenses.  One thing I found extremely entertaining was the Rotary’s “Happy Dollars”, and this is when people that are a part of the rotary donate their money to the organization. When they donate, they can also share a personal story with the group which tends to be a fun way to catch up with one another.  I enjoyed meeting everyone today and found their enthusiasm inspiring. 

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Many people associate Memorial Day with family and friends, gatherings, barbeques and a small town parade.  Memorial Day was founded to honor the men and women who selflessly served in the armed forces and continue today.

In years past I was an avid parade watcher, and marched with the Brownies and the soccer team.  Also, there were years when I enjoyed the cannons, the Shriners in their impossibly small cars, and seeing all of the children of Fairfield march with their school, or sports teams.   This year I was able to be a part of Westport’s Parade along with Chelsea (Miss New Haven County). (And thanks to Tracy and her mom, Pam Edwards for driving! ) The experience was one I will never forget. The cheers were humbling and I found that I could not keep a smile off my face. It was a lovely day and it seemed as though every person in town must be at this celebration. The true heroes of the day however, were not ones that wore a crown, or carried an instrument, they were the ones  in uniform. The ones that have fought for our country, and of course the ones that have died for our country. These men and women have enabled each and every one of us to live in a democracy, to live in equality, and to live with the hopes of a better tomorrow. So, next year when you are gathered with loved ones, or watching a parade don’t forget  to  stand up and applaud  for the men and women that have fought (and some continue to fight) and maybe take a moment to remember the ones that couldn’t be there with us on that day.  Thank you to all veterans for their sacrifice and service.

There is a wonderful place in Bridgeport Connecticut that offers temporary housing to homeless veterans, it is aptly named, “ Homes For The Brave. “  This organization is happy to accept donations. The men also appreciate donations of goods such as laundry detergent and cans of coffee. I encourage you to find out more about this organization.

 

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This past year I was asked to represent my church and speak at an interfaith conference in Fairfield, Connecticut. I was to speak on the topic of gratitude. Gratitude can be defined as being grateful or thankful. Like many guest speakers, I had to think a lot about the topic at hand--- gratitude. My personal reflection helped, but it was not the inspiration needed to give a speech to an esteemed group of clergy and community members. Oh yes,  I have been blessed throughout my life with a loving family and friends, a comfortable home to live in, food on the table, and my health, to name just a few. I have had the opportunity to attend and graduate from college. I can confidently go into today’s job market and feel secure in my current and future endeavors. For all of this I am grateful. However, I knew my speech required that I dig deeper and this is what I came up with:

Yes, it all came down to a small piece of candy, a tootsie roll. One tootsie roll which brought hundreds of smiles and made me understand the meaning of gratitude on another level.

Before I left for my trip to India I picked up 2 large bags of tootsie rolls (5 pounds each!) to bring with me.  I thought the children at the hospital might like them. What I didn’t know was the absolute joy that would come from them. Many of the children have never had candy before and they loved it. Their faces shone with gratitude.

I also mentioned in my speech that even the simplest of tasks that I do at hospice generate smiles, hugs, and “thank you’”. Families and patients appreciate what hospice does and continues to do for every individual. Gratitude is etched into the heart of hospice care.

At the end of my speech I left a bag of tootsie rolls on a table and told everyone to take one. The tootsie roll became an unexpected symbol of gratitude that evening.

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In January 2007, I traveled to Khammam, India on a medical mission trip. I was able to assist in 15 surgeries a day. Imagine… the operating room was nothing like those of the United States – it is antiquated and overburdened . The anesthesia machine was a relic (circa 1940) that had been donated and had probably seen better days. Some of the surgeries included cleft lip and palate repair, partial thyroid removal, hysterectomies, tumor removal, and skin grafting. The doctors that I traveled with were remarkable and changed many people’s lives – as they do every year since this is an annual trip. I scrubbed in for surgeries and learned things that can not be learned by a textbook alone.  I was grateful for this opportunity, however, I couldn’t help but to think about each individual patient. Some were children, some adults, and on a few occasions, young women that were the same age as myself. Here were these people (patients) entering the operating room putting their own life into the hands of complete strangers- strangers that were foreign- strangers that spoke a different language – strangers that were covered by medical gowns, gloves, and masks (we all must have looked like aliens especially  to the children). With this thought in mind I decided to do something. After all, words are just words. Body language, tone, and of course gestures are all universal languages that we can all understand.  When patients came into the OR, I would remove my mask. I did this because I realized that although the patient could probably tell that I was smiling under the mask,(by looking at my eyes) I wanted to remove all doubt. I also spoke to each patient through the help of a translator.  During some of the procedures the patients remained awake and were given local anesthesia, I would hold their hands and tell them to squeeze my hand as much as they wanted because naturally they were scared. I knew by doing this it would make their ordeal a little easier, even if it was a hand of a stranger. Later, I realized that my concern for the patients had an impact on them. When I entered their rooms during recovery, many patients put their hand out to me with a big smile on their face. They would then proceed to put both hands together and nod and I knew from this gesture that it was a sign of thanks.

 
                                            


                                             

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Creativity, imagination, and comprehension are vital for children beginning to read. My Mom and Step-Dad are both literacy specialists in Norwalk, Connecticut. I have volunteered to read one on one with their students in the past. I also like to spend time with them, just to give them that “something extra” that they may not have gotten from home, such as encouraging words, or a listening ear. Recently, I visited Tracey Elementary School where I read to 12 different classes of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The story I read was called "The Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. This story was about a man whose house got splashed with paint. His neighbors did not like that his house was different than all the rest so they wanted him to re-paint it right away. The man complied, but to the neighbors’ surprise he painted it with extravagant colors like bright green, pink, yellow, orange, and purple. He added crazy plants and even bought a crocodile that would now live on his front lawn! This made the neighbors very angry. So one by one the neighbors went to have a talk with the old man. The man's reply was "This is my home and how  I always dreamed it be- I am my home and it is me!”  Throughout the story one by one the neighbors made their homes into their dreams- -One man made his house look like a ship, another man made his house  look like a castle. Soon all the homes on that street were all unique just like the old man’s house.  At the end of the story, I always ask what the main idea or what the message of the story was. Here are some of their replies: "Follow your dreams,”  "Sometimes mistakes turn out for the better," “Being different or unique is beautiful.”  I was very impressed by all of their answers. After the story I then told the children a little about myself and the Miss America Organization. Questions soon followed. I am used to all the generic questions like "How old are you?”  "What is your favorite pet?" "Are you a real princess?” (ha....I like that one) Then a younger boy raised his hand and his question was unexpected: "Have you ever doubted yourself?" I looked right at him with his eager eyes waiting for a reply thinking what a deep, well thought-out question. My reply was instant and I said to him "Of course. I doubt myself all the time." I finished by saying "I am lucky that I have great friends and family that support me when I can't support myself.” 

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I was fortunate enough to be a part of the PLR Chaz and AJ morning show! I love listening to the show because they keep you entertained for the entire morning commute. Right before I arrived they were talking about AJ’s stomach problems (which I am sure we all can relate to….constipation.) Callers were trying to give their  best advice. I too chimed in on anything I could think of (fiber-such as shredded wheat, lots of water, or a HUGE coffee). I was laughing from the moment I entered the studio! We then proceeded to talk about the Miss America Organization and the Miss Connecticut pageant in June. I told the listeners how others can get involved in the system and the reasons I decided to compete. When I started to talk about my involvement with Hospice, Chaz mentioned that he too lost a loved one and I could sense his understanding. I find that when I do speak about losing my father many people can relate and tell me a little bit about their life experiences which to me is extremely powerful. We followed this up with talking about the different phases of competition. People are always curious about swimsuit and the tall heels. Well, last year I was able to participate with AJ in “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” (This was an event Heidi is very involved with) and I remember AJ well. He had on a 5 inch pair of heels (the real deal) but by the end his feet were in ice!  We all had a good laugh. I had a great time with the 99.1 crew! At the end of the interview I was asked to come back on the show and I can’t wait to do so!  









 

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As a volunteer at Connecticut Hospice I find that I get more out of the time I spend with the patients and families than I actually give. I find that the smallest things that I do to help someone makes the biggest difference in their day.  At hospice my duties range. I assist in patient care (bathing, changing sheets, feeding patients that cannot feed themselves), I take patients outside for strolls (or some like to enjoy cigarettes), but one of the most important things I do is hold patients’ hands. I feel that the easiest task -holding a hand ends up being the most important and valued gesture that anyone can give. Each week at hospice I always have a story, many of which I will keep in my own heart. One that I will share with all of you is one that happened recently.

                I was asked by one of the nurses to take a man outside for fresh air. So I came into his room with my jacket on and ready to go! I explained to him that I was a volunteer and would be happy to take him outside. He gave me a huge smile and off we went.  As he enjoyed the sunlight,  he explained to me that he lived most of his life on the streets and that no one truly knew what cold weather was unless they slept under a bridge without a coat. As we were about to enter back into the building he asked if I could do just one more thing for him. I said “Sure! What do you need?” The next question came by surprise. He asked me to write a letter to one of his friends for him. I realized then that this man not only grew up on the streets but he also never learned to read or write (my heart broke….I can’t imagine not being able to read or write…) As quickly as I could I grabbed a piece of paper and pencil and headed back into his room.  The man spoke to me and I wrote everything down to his dear friend, trying to keep up with the words he was saying. I wanted to make sure I wrote everything he said. Before I knew it, this man was crying. He was speaking from his heart and the letter was one giving thanks to his friend for loving him, it was a letter stating how much he appreciated and cared for her, it was a letter saying “I’ll see you later.” When he finished, I sealed it in an envelope and gave him a hug. I held in my hands a letter that represented a final communication to a distant friend. Words which might have been unspoken. I felt great humility. As I was about to leave for the day I stopped in one more time and he looked over and said to me “That was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, Thank you.”

 When people inquire “Why do you volunteer at hospice?” This is my answer.

Giving a little goes a long way. Volunteering anywhere can change many lives and that is why it is so important!

 

This is a picture of Connecticut Hospice in Branford,CT
 

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