Home Sweet Home...EOT article

Greetings readers,

            Home sweet home! It is so great to be back in Perham, Minnesota for the summer. Oh, how I missed our community. This past week I started working at the Dean’s Bakery. I’m up bright and early each morning to be there at 5 a.m. to frost donuts. Be sure to stop by and say hi sometime! The job works perfectly with my Miss Perham schedule, especially with preparations continuing for Miss Minnesota.

            I’m not even really quite sure where to begin with this week’s column. I still feel like my head is spinning a bit from finals week and moving out of my dorm room. I had a wonderful last week at college and thoroughly enjoyed my last days with friends and last choir performances for the year. It was a little challenging to leave as I really started to establish relationships and “home” in Jamestown. But I am so thankful to spend quality time with my family and see many of you this summer. Not to mention, let my brain recover from all the learning. What a great school year it has been.

            Miss Minnesota is coming faster than ever and I am working against the clock to wrap up last minute details. I’m really getting excited. I feel like I have said that a lot, but I truly am. It’s going to be quite an adventure. The website is now up and running and I am thrilled to share where you can find it. Head to www.missminnesota.org to meet the fellow ladies I will be competing with. Be sure to also visit the locals page to learn more about Miss Perham. I am also excited to announce that the next Miss Perham pageant is tentatively planned to take place on August 17, 2012. I wonder who our next Miss Perham will be? I can’t wait to see. I know last week I mentioned a blog story about my top 10-15 life lessons I leaned about college. Well, I got them down to 25! If you haven’t visit my blog please do at www.missperham2011.blogspot.com Have a wonderful week.  

Top 25 Lessons of my freshman year. :)

Greetings readers,

Well, as most of you know I just finished my freshman year of college studying music education in Jamestown, ND. I had a wonderful year. One that is filled with many new and exciting experiences, many of which I never thought or knew would come my way. 

Throughout the year I leaned many new things, many of which, I like to call my life lessons for the year. Some of them are hilarious, serious, meaningful, and ones that I learned in the midst of fear of the unknown. I'm sure every person who has "survived" their first year of college can tell you it's the biggest "growing" year. I'm thrilled to share the lessons I learned. I hope as you read you can find ways they relate to your own life. :) Enjoy!

My 2011-2012 College Life Lessons. 

Jamestown College, ND 

#1 Be sure to always make sure you have access to "man power..." if you are a female ;) You will need help carrying your extra large wardrobe up many flights of stairs. Not to mention, if you need assistance setting up a loft, they will save you extra hassle, time, and will liberate you from looking like a complete fool. ;) 

#2 Now that you are in college school work turns into your life. You do homework every chance you get, you can spend up to an hour on one math problem, an entire week to write a three page paper, and hours upon hours in the practice room. :) 

#3 You no longer go to school from 8 am to 3:30, it starts when you are awakened to an alarm and the day ends when you hit your pillow. 

#4 Sometimes the struggle to understand a course or assignment will actually inspire, challenge, motivate, and make you push yourself beyond what you thought possible. :) 

#5 Learning how to "dictate" music makes you think critically about music all the time. When you sing hymns in a church you will now be searching for the key, time signature, establishing where "do" is, and determining what kind of conducting pattern you would use if you were in front of a choir. (shout out for my music fellows!) 

#6 Your friends are now your family. They will be your immediate access support system. Love you guys! 

#7 Sometimes you have to pretend you know what you are doing, just to survive! ;) 

#8 Instead of going out to eat with your friends or to a movie with your friends like you would in high school, study parties are now what you do to hang out.

#9 Taking a break is essential to staying sane. It's ok to stop studying for just a few minutes. 

#10 You will now have a deeper appreciation for your family. Phone calls, cards, and even occasional visits can leave you a bit teary eyed. 

#11 Leaving your comfort zone is the key to growth as an individual....exactly what college is. 

#12 Appreciate a busy schedule, one that demands more than you think you can even fulfill. 

#13 Sometimes you have to except the fact that you may fail time and time again before you see any success or improvement. 

#14 The days are LONG, weeks are fast, months fly!!! 

#15 The salad bar and fruit bowl is your best friend in the cafeteria. It's your only source of healthy options! 

#16 Freshman fifteen avoidable? Absolutely, if you head to the gym 5 days a week. (especially, if you have a swimsuit competition in June of 2012, one month after your first year of college ;)) Shout out to my pageant peeps! 

#17 If your appreciation starts to fade for your subject area, get INSPIRED fast!!! If you don't goals start to get hazy. 

#18 Get involved!! Take every opportunity to travel, meet new people, and be challenged! 

#19 The people you meet are the highlight of your year. You may encounter someone you never thought you would meet. Be thankful for new faces and all of the names you may have to memorize. 

#20 Getting extra help from your professors will hold you accountable. 

#21 Taking time to visit your community and the people you miss the most will be your source of encouragement. Without those emails, calls, and visits the home sickness will sink in really fast. 

#22 Your roommate will become your sister! Love you, Taylor! 

#23 Your relationship with the Lord will continue to mean more and more as you face new challenges. Relying on the Him will encompass an entirely new and exciting meaning. 

#24 Taping quotes, inspirations, and bible scriptures all over your dorm room will remind you to keep going when you feel like you can't. 

#25 As challenging as college is- don't wish the time away! Being uncomfortable, challenged, stressed, and inspired will bring you to paths you have never trod...and it's ok! ;) 

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" EOT Article

Greetings Perham,

            I decided to count the days until I leave for Miss Minnesota. There are only 45 days that separate me from check-in for Miss Minnesota week. My goodness! I still have a lot of final touches to bring to the table, but I am surely excited! I will let you all in on a little secret. The dress, has been found…and that’s all I can say! It’s going to be a wonderful week and I can’t wait to experience it.

            This little though has been on my mind and I am thrilled to share it. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” This statement, by Theodore Roosevelt, came across my path when I was in New York City this past February. I know I’ve shared a lot about how close I am to finishing my first year of college, but this thought has been on my mind the last few weeks. As eager as I am to finish, as well as my great friends, we are striving to appreciate the time we have left to spend together in Jamestown. Do we sometimes fail, absolutely. In all walks of life we can often be tempted to say things such as “I can’t wait until, I’ll do it later, I’ll make better decisions when I feel like it, and I’ll do something great someday…” Just like I talked about thriving on a busy schedule last week, we all are challenged to be content with where we are in life. This “where we are” can be anything from where we live, to the job we have, the school we attend, the friends in our lives, the families we have, and the struggles we work to overcome. This thought can be a real challenge when we are excited about a next step in our lives, or can’t wait to finish the chapter that is open now. I’m afraid I will loose too much time if I stew too long on what is coming next. Be sure to take time and enjoy today!

            I wish nothing but a wonderful week. Be sure to have supper outside this week or weekend on your deck and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. I’m looking forward to the season of grilled foods, summer fruit, and ice cold water. Yummy! 

"What kind of life is one that is easy?" EOT article.

Greetings Perham,

            April showers do in fact bring May flowers. The Jamestown College campus is sure starting to look green. Even though it was only a few weeks since I was in Perham I bet the grass is starting to look a bit greener.  I get more and more tempted to be outside as the weather gets warmer. My friends and I at college have even begun to bring our homework to the lawns of campus.

            I don’t want to sound too eager to be finished with my first year of school, but I now have 7 more days of class and one week of final exams to go. I am appreciating the last few days of time with my friends, dorm life, classes, and my time in Jamestown. In the midst of these last few frantic weeks I am often tempted by thoughts of why l have such a busy life. However, another thought occurred to me over this past week when I was wishing for a less hectic and demanding schedule. There are many different paths in life. We all have the luxury of choosing where we go to college, what kind of job we want to have, who we marry, how many kids we have, and where we live. We also have the luxury of becoming involved in different organizations, councils, and churches. However, all of these wonderful things take time and energy to commit too. When tempted with the thought to simplify my life and make it “easier” I was then reminded of how important challenges are. By challenges, I mean experiences that demand more of what we think we can handle, uncomfortable situations, and people who challenge what we believe we are all about. I thought to myself “What kind of life is one that is easy?” Yes, an “easy” life would be nice. One where we could take a vacation whenever we please, choose not to get up to go to work early, choose to have your kids make supper on their own, and be in situations where we don’t have to challenge ourselves. Sometimes that life may seem like “the life,” but at the end of the day how would we grow as individuals without challenges.

            I hope you are encouraged and are excited to continue finishing all the projects and daily life demands you may have. Enjoy your week! 

EOT article featuring Easter vacation. :)

Greetings Perham friends,
        Thank you for saying yes to the teachers, staff, and students enrolled in Perham Schools! I was so thrilled to find out last week that Perham had decided to support the levy referendum we have been working to establish for the betterment of our community. I am thankful for the support and commitment families, couples, and individuals have made to our schools and I am confident students will strive for their best and thrive doing so for years to come. 
        I hope you all have recovered from your sugar rush after enjoying your candy from the Easter Bunny. I had a lovely basket waiting for me Easter morning filled with chocolate and treats for me to bring back to college. I enjoyed my four day get-away from school to enjoy time with friends and family. I was able to enjoy down time with my siblings, my church family, and occasional naps, and shopping trips. I now have three weeks of class and one week of final exams to complete my first year of college in Jamestown. I am eager to finish so I can return home to work, continue with Miss Minnesota preparations, make appearances at the turtle races, and be in the presence of our wonderful community. 
        When I asked my brother Mick what I should base my Miss Perham article on this week he immediately replied “Me!” Since I’ve covered him as a topic in the past I decided to focus on “Cherishing the Memories.” With every holiday comes traditions, and memories of which continue to make us smile throughout the years. One memory in particular, which was vivid on Easter weekend, was coloring Easter eggs with my family. This was not my only memory, but it was fun to think and remember when I was a “kid” and found so much magic in the Easter Bunny. My hope is that you and your family enjoyed familiar traditions this Easter season, and made new memories to smile and reflect on. Memories are one of the biggest blessings we have to remembering loved ones once they have left us, different seasons we have in life, and the innocence we had a children. Be sure to always cherish your memories. Have a wonderful week creating your memories.

EOT Article featuring "Miss MN workshop and the coming of Easter"

Greetings,

            Last weekend was a very exciting as I traveled to Eden Prairie for the Miss Minnesota workshop experience. After returning home on Friday from school I made my way to the Cities with my wonderful Mom, and pageant directors Candice Doll and Gina Cavanagh. My aunt and uncle thankfully opened their home for us so we could make it to the workshop by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

            The workshop was filled with very exciting news, and presentations a few of which I’m thrilled to share. I was able to choose my contestant order. I will be lucky contestant number 11. With 22 girls running for the title of Miss Minnesota I will be placed in exactly the middle of the competition and the last of my categorized group of contestants 1-11. I am excited to say I will be the last young woman to perform her talent at Miss Minnesota. I can’t wait. I also learned my roommate for the week will be one of my fellow friends and former sister queens, Bethany. More details about appearances and experiences will be delivered throughout the next few weeks. I will be sure to keep all of you posted on how details are coming along the next few weeks. I also was able to meet with my wonderful dance instructor at the Academy of Classical Ballet to further work on my talent piece “Via Dolorosa.”

            This weekend I will be returning to Perham to celebrate Easter with my family and friends in the community. It will be the perfect break from school before ending my first year of college. I will be finished the first week of May, which will be perfect timing to further prepare for Miss Minnesota. My hope is that I cross paths with many of you as we celebrate this Easter season over the weekend. Blessings.

            

Miss Minnesota Workshop and Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen Pageant!

Hello readers,

This weekend I spent some time in Minneapolis with 21 wonderful young ladies who are competing for the title of Miss Minnesota. We enjoyed a lovely morning and afternoon choosing our contestant order, finding out our roommates for Miss MN week, and enjoyed a phenomenal presentation by Don Baker.

I'm excited to share that I am the 11th contestant in the line-up for Miss Minnesota. I will be the last young woman in the 1-11 contestant category, making me the last person to perform talent and compete in evening gown on the Miss Minnesota stage! I am so thrilled to be on the stage. I also discovered my roommate for the week of Miss Minnesota will be the lovely, Bethany Beniek. She and I were sister queens back in 2010. The fact that our names were drawn together was super fun!

I can now say all of my paperwork has been turned into the state of Minnesota. I am so looking forward to the week of Miss Minnesota and all of the exciting adventures it is going to bring. I'll be sure to continue sharing more details as the time gets closer.

Not only was workshop quite exciting, but the highlight of my weekend was watching my good friend, Bailey Wacholz, become crowned Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012. I met Bailey in 2010 when she and I competed for Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen. She and I were 2nd and 1st "losers" as we call it. :) We only mean good by it. From that day our friendship has grown. Bailey has worked so hard to be where she is today. She is the perfect testimony of relying and waiting on God's perfect plans and how the Miss America Organization allows young women to achieve their dreams! I am so thrilled for her and can't wait to watch her on the Miss America's Outstanding Teen stage. Bailey is one of the most inspirational young women I know. Love you, Bailey!

Before coming back to school I met with my wonderful dance instructor Robin Rautus to put the finishing touches on my Miss MN talent piece. I was thrilled to see her and be in the dane studio again. Robin reminded me that the Academy of Classical Ballet was celebrating their 10th anniversary on April 1st. She was so excited I was there that day. It was bittersweet. :) It has now been 10 years since I started my ballet career. :)

Much love,
Paige