coming up with fun activities to do with my siblings, and loving life.
What makes you special and unique?
I always try my best to find the positive in every situation. When things aggravate or upset me, I try to remember that there is a reason for it all, and that God is doing what is in my best interest. Even though I might not realize it at the time, He is giving me obstacles to overcome in order to prepare me for life and help me to become a stronger person.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is to “Leave this world better than I found it.” What is the point of being here if you aren’t going to make a difference and leave a lasting footprint. This has helped me to try and be the best I can be, and make sure my impact is a positive one.
Name one thing you cannot live without.
Prayer. Prayer gives me strength throughout my days and keeps my smile bright just knowing that I have the Lord right by my side. It comforts me and allows me to have a never-ending relationship with God. I don’t know what I would do without His superb listening skills and constant intervention in my daily life.
What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
I have learned not to prize worldly things. Of course, I still sometimes find myself falling short of this attitude, but most of the time I try to recognize the fact that many things are unimportant and unnecessary. This outlook has made me happier in life and helped me to appreciate all of the graces that I have received and share them with others.
Who is your most valued role model and why?
As I have grown older, I have realized that out of all of the women I have looked up to in the media or even in my hometown, the one that truly inspires me and the one that I pray to emulate is my mother. She is the classiest, most kind-hearted, selfless, and beautiful woman I have ever met, and I admire her for everything she does for our family. Mom, you truly are God’s greatest blessing!
What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment was making the Southern Misses dance team. As a freshman I was very nervous and intimidated of all the veterans and other dancers as we stretched for tryouts. When all was over and it was time to check the list, I was ecstatic to find my number among only eight others who made the team! It was a heart-racing, yet rewarding experience.
What is your workout routine?
Being that my platform relates to diabetes, a healthy lifestyle is very essential to me. I work out six to seven days a week which usually involves running and weight training. Working out eases my mind and gives me time to de-stress myself and organize my thoughts. Some of my best ideas and decisions have been made during a quick jog around the block!
What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I received a note at the end of my senior year from a freshman girl whom I had only met once. She stressed to me how great of an influence I had been over the last year, and how she had watched me and admired my beliefs, values, and actions. She said that peer pressure had been hard that year, but she thought of me when things got rough. After that, a few more young girls expressed the similar feelings to me. To know that I kept them from things such as alcohol consumption and motivated them to make better decisions is the best accomplishment I could ever achieve.
What is the best compliment you have ever received?
My best compliment came from Miss Mississippi 2007, Kimberly Morgan. She put her arm around me, looked me in the eye and said, “Hawaiian Silky, you can do anything!” Those words have stuck with me all year and continue to motivate me every solitary day.
What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is to be able to eat pizza, ice cream, and quesadillas everyday and not get sick! Haha I am lactose intolerant, and although it keeps my diet healthy most of the time, sometimes a little banana split wouldn’t be so bad.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
At dance recital rehearsals during my sophomore year in high school, I was walking toward the edge of the stage looking for my mom. The lights were a bit blinding and one more step had me off the stage and into a 3 foot tall orchestra pit! Not something a dancer is proud to admit.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Not getting out of my jammies all day and having absolutely no obligations whatsoever, while allowing myself to lie on the couch watching chick flicks and indulging in a big bowl of ice, cream along with a fudgy brownie. Now that is what I call a guilty pleasure!
What is your favorite movie and why?
There are entirely too many movies to choose a fav, but my top picks would have to be Selena, Stick It, Step Up, Center Stage, and Save the Last Dance. See a trend? I definitely like to watch performances!
What is your favorite color and why?
BLACK AND GOLD ALL THE WAY! I have been black and gold spirited from elementary through college and these colors run deep! Southern Miss To The Top!
What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
When I am bored, I like to grab a cookbook or search the web for new recipes and try them out on my family! Some don’t always turn out as planned, but others become new family favorites!
As far as relaxation goes, I’m not much of a relaxer. I’m more of a crasher. Ha ha I tend to go, go, go and when my body refuses to allow this any longer, I just spend a few hours with the sandman.
What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I would actually like to go on a mission trip to an under-developed country and spend my time and efforts improving the lives of others. Why take my money and waste it on needless traveling expenses when I can take those same finances and put them toward the benefit of those less fortunate. I believe that is what life is all about and that is where my heart truly lies.
What do you like best about your hometown?
It’s home! It is a decent size town which is growing rapidly, but what makes it special is that it is my stomping grounds where I hold all of my childhood memories and can find all of the ones who love and care for me.
What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
The people of Mississippi tend to be very down to earth and very strong in their roots. For the majority, it is place of small town living where family ties and traditions can be found and whole-hearted genuineness isn’t hard to come by. The people of this state are hard workers and go- getters. They are country cookers and music lovers. However, most importantly, they are simply someone you would like to call family.
What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
Shane and Shane is my obsession. They have dedicated their lives and talents to praising the Lord, and their voices are absolutely angelic. They give me chills and bring tears to my eyes every time I hear their music and bring me greater joy than any other group I have ever followed.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself married to someone who cherishes family, lives a spiritual life, and someone who like to cook with me in the kitchen! Ha Children are definitely in the picture, along with my dream job of transforming the lives of others into a healthy, longer life through nutrition consultation and personal fitness training. I also would like to have expanded on my DANCE philanthropy within the educational system and watch that grow over the years to decrease diabetes and obesity related complications.
Who am I?
I am a simple, Mississippi girl who treasures my family and my blessings and loves people and loves life. I get along with anyone and everyone and am always trying to be Superwoman! If there is time, I will fill it with some kind of task or activity and I enjoy every minute of it. I reach for the stars, and that stems from my wonderful support system back home. My family and friends are more than I could ever ask for and encourage my every dream while allowing me the opportunities to follow those dreams.
On a lighter note my favorite food is peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I am a cereal junkie. I am of Spanish origin, but absolutely despise Spanish/ Mexican cuisine. One of my hidden talents is being able to recite almost any nutrition label on the planet. I absolutely love grocery shopping! I am not very creative, but I love doing arts and crafts.
Tell us about your occupational experience.
I was a server at a family sports pub about a mile from my house called Beef O Brady's. I loved it because it was the place to go after every football, baseball, basketball game from high school to little league, and everyone knows everyone. I learned a lot about myself as a worker and a co-worker. It taught me the responsibilties of keeping up with my own finances and answering to a boss that wasn't my dad! I liked that I was always moving and how there was never a dull moment, but my favorite part about it was getting to work with people. I enjoyed serving others and meeting new faces every day and finding out how small of a world it really is sometimes. I learned to be even more patient, courteous, and empathetic than I was before, and most importantly, I learned that no matter what was going on in my life, I had to leave it at the door and put on a happy face. It was a great experience and I will always remember what I gained from it.
Tell us about your platform.
My platform is called DANCE, which stands for Diabetes Advocates Nourishing Children's Education. Diabetes is extremely prevelant in my family. It affects my mom, her seven siblings, my grandpa, and my great grandparents. My grandma recently passed away a little over a month ago from this disease and the effects of not taking care of it. I have seen what this disease can do and how it can grow, and my platform starts with prevention through the education systems in order to avoid future conflicts.
I believe that if we instill the ideas of a healthy lifestyle within our youth, that we will gradually see a decline in our nation's obesity and obesity-related problems such as heart disease, kidney failure, and diabetes. My potential program will educate children on things such as what foods are healthy, what foods should be eaten in moderation, the importance of serving portions, the essentials of physical activity, and all of the details of maintaining a healthy way of life.
Children's minds are easier to mold and their habits are easier to break at a young age. They respond to their elders and are open for listening and learning. It is our duty as parents, caregivers, and teachers to make sure they learn to take care of their bodies properly. Children only eat what their parents give them or what is served at school. They also only do what they are allowed to do, so if they are allowed to sit and play video games or watch television all day, they will do it. We must take responsibilty and be sure they are receiving the necessary nutrition and physical activity their little bodies require. Once these patterns are established and it becomes routine, we will slowly see greater improvements in our children's health.
