I am twenty-fours years old and will be graduating from Lindenwood University in December of 2011.  I originally came to Lindenwood for several reasons. When touring the campus during high school, I felt right at home.  I have a few health problems and knowing that they could care for me here at Lindenwood through the disability office made me feel even more at ease.  Before enrolling here at Lindenwood I had competed in the Miss Missouri USA program, which gave me a scholarship for my education.  Also, I have always felt like Lindenwood could give me the education that was needed for what I wanted in a future career.

Some of the things I really enjoy include traveling, working out, competing in pageants, and spending time with friends.  I also spend time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, the American Heart Association, and Americans with Diabetes.  Pageants and Modeling is something I’ve been doing for over 10 years now.  I love being on a stage and having all eyes on me.  I also love the hard work that goes into modeling.  It is not simply standing in front of a camera and smiling.  You must learn how to pose your body, smile with your eyes, and show the world your emotions without ever saying a word.  Through pageants I’ve gained self-confidence and now have the ability to work with young women as they embark on journey of self-confidence and self-discovery through pageants.  Competing in a pageant involves months of hard work including exercise, eating right, and staying up to date with world events and current affairs.  Waiting to hear your name called as a winner is the biggest rush one can ever experience!  The anticipation of the announcement is the most nervous feeling in the world and the biggest reward is that a crown atop your head opens doors to give back to your community.  It is through the pageants I have become involved in numerous charities.  I look forward to not only modeling and competing in pageants, but also promoting the amazing opportunities these things can give to young women everywhere.  My favorite YouTube video revolves around my passion for pageants as it is the video of my friend, Shandi Finnessy, a former Lindenwood graduate winning Miss USA.  I hope to someday have a video like this of myself but will always be proud of Shandi’s crowning moment and all the wonderful work she did during her reign!

One reason this university makes me feel right at home is I came from the small town of Willard where most people know most people.  This hometown feeling is something that for the most part I like.  Lindenwood has also always given me that feeling of a small town.  Anytime I need something I feel I’m going to my next door neighbor or best friend not a stranger.  The university has never treated me like I am just a number in a seat, as most large state public universities would do.  My sister went to the University of Missouri and to this day, almost ten years after enrolling she still spouts off her student ID number easier that her closest of friends phone numbers.  I enjoy having a personal relationship with my professors and advisors unlike my sister who sat in a room with 300 other kid.   I just love being a Lindenwood Lion and would not choose to graduate from anywhere else.

In this particular course I want to better prepare myself for the career options I want to take.  In a future career I would love to do something in sports either writing for a sports team or being a broadcaster.  If that doesn’t happen I also would love to be in public relations for a big fashion company . Both sports and fashion are to of my passions. I am hoping this course can help me prepare for those kinds of careers options in the future.

When I graduate in December I will be proud to say that I earned my degree from Lindenwood University.  This university has put me in great position to go out in the world today with my Mass Communications media management and sales with an empazies in public relations degree and succeed in my future.