Yet another week and weekend have come and gone by in a flash! This past weekend was my last time collecting donations at BI-LO in Hartsville for the BI-LO Charities! This weekend there was definitely memorable! Not only did I get to spend it Madi, my beautiful sister queen and our princesses, but we were again very successful in collecting donations! We laughed the entire time we were at the table and had a blast interacting with the customers. In addition to all those things, I've come to realize that you never know who you may meet or how they will impact your life. The more time I spent at that store, the more I came to learn that the opportunities to make an impact and move forward are right in front of us, and it's up to us to take the reins and see where they lead. No matter how much my legs hurt from standing or how many times I was so tired that I could barely keep my eyes open, my weekends at BI-LO were definitely times well spent! I've had the chance to give others the opportunity to make a difference in peoples' lives through generous donations. I've also had the opportunity to make worthwhile connections with people I have come in contact with, and I am taking full advantage of both!
All our hard work as far as collecting donations with be recognized this week as the Miss South Carolina family travels to Cheraw for the Miss South Carolina BI-LO Golf Classic! I can't wait to spend the day in the sun with some amazing girls working the tournament and catch a few golf swings here and there! I'm sure it will be a day worth remembering, just like my weekends in Hartsville.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Whirlwind Weeks...Time is Continuing to Fly By!
I think it is safe to say that the closer you get to the end of the school year at any given educational institution, it seems as if the days get shorter and the list of assignments and tests gets longer. This is true for me, I know. With finals right around the corner and my Freshman year of college swiftly coming to a close, I find myself even busier than I ever imagined... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I enjoy every minute of my hectic lifestyle! Whether I'm running between the School of Music practice rooms to Biology lectures, or hopping in my car after my last class on Friday's to travel to Hartsville, I find that I love what I do. These past two weekends, I have spent time in Hartsville. As I previously mentioned, I'm visiting BI-LO this month to collect donations for the BI-LO Charities and Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization. This past weekend, I was volunteering with my Miss South Carolina Princess and sister, Rebecca, as well as one of my sister queens, Miss Hartsville Teen, Sarah Beth Kreidler. Together, we raised over $250 in donations! It is a heartwarming feeling to know that there are people who are willing to donate and give to such wonderful organizations. Interacting with the customers as they came in was fun, too! I especially love meeting the young kids. Seeing the light in their eyes and how excited they get makes it all worthwhile. In those moments, we are being role models to them, and having the opportunity to make a positive impact on a young person's life is why I love doing this. It's sharing the message to dream big and simply talking to these children is the most rewarding for me as a local queen.
Amidst the visits the BI-LO, I have also been honored to spend a while with the people of Hartsville. The highlight of one of my visits was actually a conversation I had with a local woman. I was making my way to The Midnight Rooster, which is one of my favorite stops, for a Cafe Americano with a hint of mocha and I came across this lady sitting at the table outside of the eclectic cafe. She spotted my crown and asked me who I was. I sat down with her and we chatted about my journey as Miss Greater Hartsville and she told me some stories of her own. That conversation, even though it was only a brief 15 minute interval of time in my day, was special. I felt at home and I was overwhelmed with friendship and support as I sat there talking to her. We shared laughs and great times, and it was a wonderful experience. It proved to me that we come across opportunities each day, whether we are wearing sparkle hats or not, to just talk to our neighbors. You never know what you might learn or have the opportunity to share with someone. Along with that brief encounter, I also had the chance to attend the Byerly Park Beach Music Festival with the Miss Hartsville Family! We had an absolute blast! Between dancing to the music on the dance floor in front of the stage to walking around signing autographs and taking pictures, it's safe to say we all enjoyed ourselves! I loved interacting with everyone and seeing how receptive they were to what we had to say. We laughed, we danced, and we loved the festival!
In other exciting news, during my trips to Hartsville, I have been working on finalizing the plans for my upcoming Blood Drive through the American Red Cross! The drive I am hosting in Hartsville will be held on May 19th from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church! I cannot express how excited I am about this event! This is the first Blood Drive I have ever hosted and I feel sure that we will exceed our donation goal! You can make an appointment to donate today! If you would like to do so or if you have any questions about the donation process, feel free to contact me at blankl@email.sc.edu! I check my messages regularly. You can even make a blood donation appointment online! Visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code "HartsvillePres" when prompted. I hope to see all of you there!
Also, as an aside for all who live in my hometown of Manning, I am co-hosting a Blood Drive at the Cypress Center on June 5th! More details will follow closer to the event.
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind, but time will continue to fly by from here! Each day is a day closer to the Miss South Carolina Pageant. That means each passing day, I'm closer to my goal of hopefully becoming your next Miss South Carolina through dedication, determination, and making a difference!
I enjoy every minute of my hectic lifestyle! Whether I'm running between the School of Music practice rooms to Biology lectures, or hopping in my car after my last class on Friday's to travel to Hartsville, I find that I love what I do. These past two weekends, I have spent time in Hartsville. As I previously mentioned, I'm visiting BI-LO this month to collect donations for the BI-LO Charities and Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization. This past weekend, I was volunteering with my Miss South Carolina Princess and sister, Rebecca, as well as one of my sister queens, Miss Hartsville Teen, Sarah Beth Kreidler. Together, we raised over $250 in donations! It is a heartwarming feeling to know that there are people who are willing to donate and give to such wonderful organizations. Interacting with the customers as they came in was fun, too! I especially love meeting the young kids. Seeing the light in their eyes and how excited they get makes it all worthwhile. In those moments, we are being role models to them, and having the opportunity to make a positive impact on a young person's life is why I love doing this. It's sharing the message to dream big and simply talking to these children is the most rewarding for me as a local queen.
Amidst the visits the BI-LO, I have also been honored to spend a while with the people of Hartsville. The highlight of one of my visits was actually a conversation I had with a local woman. I was making my way to The Midnight Rooster, which is one of my favorite stops, for a Cafe Americano with a hint of mocha and I came across this lady sitting at the table outside of the eclectic cafe. She spotted my crown and asked me who I was. I sat down with her and we chatted about my journey as Miss Greater Hartsville and she told me some stories of her own. That conversation, even though it was only a brief 15 minute interval of time in my day, was special. I felt at home and I was overwhelmed with friendship and support as I sat there talking to her. We shared laughs and great times, and it was a wonderful experience. It proved to me that we come across opportunities each day, whether we are wearing sparkle hats or not, to just talk to our neighbors. You never know what you might learn or have the opportunity to share with someone. Along with that brief encounter, I also had the chance to attend the Byerly Park Beach Music Festival with the Miss Hartsville Family! We had an absolute blast! Between dancing to the music on the dance floor in front of the stage to walking around signing autographs and taking pictures, it's safe to say we all enjoyed ourselves! I loved interacting with everyone and seeing how receptive they were to what we had to say. We laughed, we danced, and we loved the festival!
Also, as an aside for all who live in my hometown of Manning, I am co-hosting a Blood Drive at the Cypress Center on June 5th! More details will follow closer to the event.
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind, but time will continue to fly by from here! Each day is a day closer to the Miss South Carolina Pageant. That means each passing day, I'm closer to my goal of hopefully becoming your next Miss South Carolina through dedication, determination, and making a difference!
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