My Year as Miss Chesterfield Valley's Outstanding Teen 2013: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I spent my Friday night with 20 young girls who were eager to learn how to face all their obstacles in life with confidence and respect. Spending about 4 hours with these girls, I was able to realize how much I love working with kids, but also how much energy they have!

The girls were so attentive and took every chance to participate in the activities I had prepared! We examined magazine ads, made a friendship web, and even created journals. These activities, along with many more, enabled the girls to understand and put into action what they had learned from the discussions we had together about confidence, bullying, gossiping, friendship, and healthy lifestyles. It was so much fun to be able to work with them and stand as a model for them to look up to.

Even though they were amazed by the crown on my head, I was in awe at their respect and compassion they had for their peers! I hope that I had, and continue to have, an influence on these girls, and that they develop the confidence to face anything that comes their way in life, especially while growing into the beautiful teenagers they will be.

"Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

~Eleanor Roosevelt