As I wrap up my summer and begin to prepare for my junior year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This was truly the best summer of my life because I was stretched in every way possible. One of the most important lessons that I learned, was how to be flexible when planning out your life. This might seem like common sense, but if you are someone like me, who plans every second of every day, this can be a hard lesson to learn. However, my entire Miss Pennsylvania experience taught me that it’s OK to not be OK. For months I had poured my everything into preparing for the competition, and after it ended, I was left in shock. I was devastated, and I didn’t know what to do with myself for about two weeks after the competition. However, throughout the experience I learned how to trust in God’s timing instead of my own. Post competition I gave myself a couple of days to cry and reflect on certain aspects of the pageant that I need to improve on, but then I made a conscious decision to live in the present instead of remaining stuck in the past. I started interning in the Marketing and Press Department at Mount Sinai, and was able to work alongside former reporters and producers. Mount Sinai has a television show called “Mount Sinai Future You” and I was able to help formulate story ideas, interview patients and doctors, as well as host a couple of the segments. If you told me one year ago that I would be interning at a hospital, I wouldn’t have believed you. I would have never thought that a hospital would allow me to do what I love, while working with people who can help perfect my craft. The staff at Mount Sinai welcomed me with open arms, and each day was a new experience. In addition to helping out with the show, I also edited podcasts, and worked with the social media team. What I loved most about my internship, is that they didn’t treat me like an intern. I thought that I was going to be given menial tasks and sent off to the copy room all the time, but I was completely wrong! They didn’t just value my opinions and input, but they valued me as a person. Never in my life have I been welcomed into a new working environment the way I was welcomed at Mount Sinai. On my last day at the hospital, I realized how I would have never had this experience if I would have won Miss Pennsylvania. Even though being able to represent Pennsylvania at Miss America would have been incredible, I am so happy that I didn’t win. Not only was I able to pursue an incredible internship, but I also have another year to grow as a leader. I will continue to push myself to cultivate my leadership qualities, so when I am blessed with the opportunity to compete at Miss America I’ll be ready.
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