The product of a lower middle-class family, I represent the majority of my generation in America striving to achieve the "American dream" of higher education without becoming financially irresponsible or creating a financial burden on my family. I come from a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where everyone knows everyone and no one ever leaves. This way of life came with a sense of security, but also a lingering question of what happened if I left?
To be frank, I never knew how I may truly achieve higher education as it has always been a burden of mine to carry. To leave my beloved small town was a lofty, yet enticing goal. Financially, it didn't seem plausible, socially it seemed unacceptable, and emotionally it was a jump into the unknown. However, I knew who I was and what I wanted. Through this organization, I have not only obtained the skills necessary to be a successful woman in the workplace, but enough scholarship to give me security moving forward.
As one of the youngest Miss Marylands and one of only two women from my county to represent the state of Maryland in this organization, I aspire to do my part to expand the Miss America Organization as a whole. I am striving to be a trailblazer and difference maker championing the significance of critical thinking through writing in everyday life.
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The Miss America Organization, a 501(c)4, is one of the most recognizable household names in America working to empower young women through education and service. The Miss America Organization is comprised of 51 licensed state organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The organization awards more than five million dollars in cash scholarships each year and millions more in-kind per year through national, state, and local programs. For more information, visit https://www.missamerica.org.
As a 501(c)4 nonprofit under IRS regulations, all donations to The Miss America Organization are not tax-deductible.
