The Four Points of the Crown: Success

And now onto the final point of the Miss America crown. The final point which I think combines all of the previous points and brings them to a final thought. Success. The fourth "S" stands for where you see yourself at the end of the day. In many interviews, I have been asked, "What does success mean to you?"

I have taken a lot of time to reflect on that, not only because it is a point of the crown and not because I needed a good answer for my interviews... but because I need to have my own definition of success for all of my future endeavors. That way I have something to aim for. At first I thought it was winning. Coming in first. Being the best person, no matter what the job was. And being recognized for my hard work. But now I realize that success is so much more than that.

Success is coming home at the end of the day and knowing that I did my best and that I learned something new. Most of all that I am prepared to take those learnings and become a better woman. The Miss America Organization is all about helping women improve. The women that compete become successful not because they are pretty or smart or have a rocking bog. They become successful because they learn more about themselves. They learn how to interview. They learn sportsmanship. They learn what it means to be in a sisterhood and build bonds and relationships. The Miss America Organization pushes women to become academically achieved, creatively accomplished, healthy, and involved. It encourages every lady to become a well rounded individual.

I know that I am a better women today because of this program. And that is a success. I have learned. I have grown. I have seen my flaws and I have worked to fix them. I can be a better wife, volunteer, friend, and role model because of my time in the organization. I want to continue that legacy moving forward by giving what I have learned to the ladies competing now. And that is why I choose to compete. Because if I can share my successes - whether they come from winning or failing and learning - then I am doing just what the program pushes everyone to do. If I can contribute back to the program that gave me so much, then that is a success. And I am happy to be doing it.