Believing in Yourself

Life is full of so many amazing opportunities but essentially it is up to each individual person whether or not they decide to utilize new experiences that may come before them. Anatole France stated, “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” I believe that life is what you make of it and if you truly want to make a difference you need to take the risk and fight for what you believe in. This is not always an easy task and in fact it can sometimes take months or even years to see the change you were searching for to happen. As the 2012 North Dakota International Pageant approaches, I wanted to share a few words of encouragement, extend a helping hand, and commend all the contestants that are participating in this year’s competition. Not only will you have the chance to meet many fabulous women but you will get the opportunity to make a difference by presenting a cause that is near and dear to your heart.  

I want to remind the contestants that even though there will only be one official “winner” in each category you are all winners for having the courage to compete and by representing your platform. Not everyone is capable of taking on this challenge, you should be very proud of yourselves. As the pageant is getting closer it is important to stay focused and practice every day in preparation for the competition. Whether it is to practice walking for the on-stage portion of the competition or having mock interviews to enhance your speaking skills, practicing every day even if it is only for a few minutes is key when competing in the North Dakota International Pageant. Confidence is important and on the weekend of the pageant you need to believe that you have done everything that you could to prepare and are ready to give it all that you got. 

There is a reason you are competing, whether it is to share your personal story, inform the judges about a topic that you feel North Dakota needs to take action on, or you are just competing for fun so you can meet some new people. Either way it is important to remember that the weekend of the competition is what you make of it and I can guarantee that after the competition you will walk away having more confidence, new friends, along with memories to last a lifetime. Most importantly, believe in yourself! I have been in your shoes and understand that it can sometimes be easy to lose hope, to feel nervous, and to give up. However, I need you all to remember that no matter what happens you are an amazing, talented person, who is ready and willing to accomplish great things. If you have any questions or just need some extra words of encouragement, please feel free to contact me! My e-mail address is slschaffer1@gmail.com or you can call me at (701)321-1061, I am here for support and wish all of you the best of luck!      

Yours truly,

Stacy Schaffer

Miss ND International 2011