African Safaris, Possums, Surprises and Miss Teen of Texas

No choice but to keep running and running and running and running. I do not know what else to do. As I run, I wonder to myself, "how did I become separated from the group? How did I wind up in this situation?" Running and running and running…will it ever end?

I can't slow down! Behind me is a hungry lion. However, part of me wants to slow down! In front of me are piranha-infested waters. What do I do? What can I do? I must make a choice…I must make a decision!

I know. It is obvious. I'll drop and play dead!

Like a possum! (Because it works for them!)

Was it real or was this scenario a dream?

Was it the result of a restless night's sleep?

Late night spicy food?

Nope.

None of the above.

You are on an African safari, separated from your group. As you are running, there is a piranha-infested lake in front of you with a hungry lion behind you. You have to make a choice…what do you do?

Not a dream…but the "sound-proof booth" question at this past November's Miss Teen of Texas Program in San Antonio. As Steffanie Scholze asked the question, I was pretty sure I didn't hear it correctly…I looked at her…she smiled at me. I guess that was the question.

Although not quite to the level of "Tebowing," my "possum" answer has generated picture poses, good natured joking and picking, as well as a sweet stuffed animal from Santa at Christmas.

To me, the question (and answer) marked a fun and exciting end to a fun and exciting weekend this past Thanksgiving in San Antonio, for, a few minutes later I was named Miss Teen of Texas.

I couldn't believe it. The weekend had already been awesome! Distinguished Youth and Miss Teen of Texas, to me, means celebrating what it is to be a young woman. It celebrates what it is to be real, in a world that is fake. It celebrates life-long friendships from all over our great state, and even friends from others parts of the country. It's a chance to relax and be yourself…it's a chance to think about your place in the world, both now and into the future. The program has been a blessing to me and my family since first competing in Little Miss in 2006 and becoming Young Miss of Texas 2008. Honestly, this year it was great just to be there! A little getaway with my family and friends…with a huge surprise at the end!

Final six…final three. Miss Teen of Texas. It was all such a blur! The next few hours were a also a blur of hugs, meetings, hugs, dinner, hugs, pictures, hugs and a late night drive home.

What am I up to now? After holidays, school exams and finals, a crazy basketball schedule and starting a brand new year, my goals are shaping up as I tackle being Miss Teen of Texas:

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  Be myself. Be real. Be a friend. Be an encouragement…in any, and all, situations.
  


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  Seek expanded opportunities for service to my community, school, church and charities.



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  Develop a positive, encouraging "program" to present to elementary and middle school-aged girls and "hit the road."



• 
  
  Be a resource and help to Miss Teen programs in other states. This program has been a blessing to me, and I want to be a help to the program.
  


• 
  
  Be a resource of fun and encouragement through my Miss Teen Blog and other social networking opportunities.



• 
  
  Be open to new challenges and opportunities, and do my best to represent all that is good in the young ladies of DYT and Miss Teen of Texas.

(A special thanks goes to my friend Sunny Hylton, Miss Teen of Texas State Director. I am thankful for her friendship as well as being a great mentor to me and other young ladies!)

An awesome 2012 to you!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and now to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" —Jeremiah 29:11-13

Introducing Miss Teen of Texas 2011

Hi everyone! This is Sunny (blogmaster and State Director). Thanksgiving weekend Savannah passed her title on to the new Miss Teen of Texas Kiera Kinnaird from Seagraves! Thank you Savannah for such a wonderful job and welcome to the family Kiera!!!

Happy Holidays! (Blog 3)

Happy Holidays!

I can't believe it's already December!  This year sure has flown by.  This past weekend was the Distinguished Youth of Texas program, which turned out amazing!  I wasn't technically allowed on staff since my little sister was competing in the Little Miss division, but I was able to make some appearances judging Young Miss optionals and emceeing in the Young Miss finals.  It was pretty hard because I wanted to hang out with everyone on staff and help out so much more!!  I can't wait until next year, when I get to be on staff again!  The Distinguished Youth Program is so fun because there are so many little youngsters who are so talented and cute!  It's also great because I got to see Carlene, Kim, Monica, Sunny, and Steffanie again!

A couple weeks ago I also made an appearance at the Coupland ISD Harvest Festival.  Like I mentioned in my last blog, this festival is really important to the kids and to myself.  Going back and visiting is so much fun because I get to see all my past teachers, all of which made such a huge impact on who I have become.  I love telling them how they have made such a difference in my life, and telling them THANKS for everything!  Without our teachers, where would we be, after all?  I face painted for the elementary and middle school students, and it turned out a pretty good success!  Other booths included the cake walk, where they could win huge cakes, and I would say I gave the cake walk some pretty good competition with my face painting booth. 

On November 14th, I participated in the City Wide Hold Up.  This is an event put on by the Wranglers (a spirit/service group at the University of Texas) every year to benefit Easter Seals.  Easter Seals is a program that provides services for adults and children with disabilities.  This was my first time to participate in the City Wide Hold Up, and I have to say it was a very inspiring experience.  The volunteers stand on street intersections with pots, so that motorists and vehicles can donate cash when they are stopped at the red lights.  This was a very interesting experience.  We got kicked off certain street corners by some homeless people who claimed that we were "on their property."  One homeless man talked to us for a long time about how he had lost his leg and job.  Their stories just made me realize how fortunate we all are, and how we take so much for granted.  At first we had a hard time getting used to being in the middle of some very busy intersections asking for money, but after a while the amount of donations was really suprising!  I was told that last year they raised $330,000!  Overall, the experience was very eye opening, and I would love to help raise money for Easter Seals again in the very near future!!

A couple weeks ago I also made an appearance at the Heart House Fall Festival.  Heart House is an after school program for low income families (for more information, see Blog 2).  I was asked to choose a booth, so I chose to make holiday picture frames with the kids.  Other booths included a sack race, basket toss, and face painting.  I was afraid the kids would choose more physical activities than the picture frames, but our table was quite a hit!  Even the little boys enjoyed making picture frames, especially for their fathers!  I love any opportunity I have to visit with these children, because they have so much to say and only need people to listen.  I will continue to be a weekly volunteer at Heart House again next semester.

Basically the holidays have been very busy so far! But this is the time of year when we can really make a difference to all of the people in need of help, food, shelter, or just a smile.  My next two weeks of finals are going to be extremely stressful and busy, but after that I plan on visiting the family as much as possible before I have to go back to school.  I have some events planned for the beginning of next semester, and can't wait to continue making an impact! Thanks for reading, and have a safe and happy holidays!

Blog 2

Hello again!
Since it's the holidays, there are tons of opportunities for events.
Yesterday I had an event at Heart House (http://www.hearthouse.org), which is an after school program for low-income children.  The service organization I'm in (Texas Sweethearts) allows us to go each week for two hours to help them with homework and offer ourselves as good role-models by giving advice and listening to them.  Fridays are "Fun Fridays" where they are able to do arts and crafts, so for my event I face-painted.  It was a lot of fun, and I think the kids really loved it.  Some were asking me to draw longhorns (for the University of Texas) and flowers all over their hands, arms, and faces.  I love going to Heart House because you are really able to develop personal relationships with the kids.  They absolutely LOVE when volunteers come, and always run up to us and give us squeezing hugs.  It really makes you feel good to see them so happy, and I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to maybe make an impact on their lives.  When each class came in to the face-painting room, I gave an introduction of who I was and what "Miss Teen of Texas" meant.  I explained to them that it wasn't the beauty pageants they see on television, but rather a scholarship and recognition program that rewards you based on your grades and community service.  I told them that if they worked hard in school and got involved in their communities they could do the same things - besides the boys, since there wasn't a pageant for them... yet. 
Tomorrow I will be at the Harvest Festival in Coupland, Texas.  The Harvest Festival is the fall festival for the Coupland school.  Coupland is a really small school (about 100 kids for Kindergarten through 8th grade) that I attended from 2nd grade through 8th grade.  The Harvest Festival was always special to me because it is a day when all the classrooms turn into fair-like enterprises, with a cake walk, ring toss, etc.  This year I'll have my own booth face-painting and taking pictures with the kids.  It means a lot to be able to use this as an event since Coupland holds so many memories and still has so many of the teachers that really made an impact on my life.  I'm really excited about it and will post pictures as soon as I can!
Next Friday I'll be assisting the "Sweeties," or new members of the Sweethearts, with their service project at Heart House.  They are putting on a fair for the kids, and will have 8 booths with different things to do.  I'll be face painting again since by now I'll be an expert!
Next Saturday I will participate in the City Wide Hold-Up (a fundraiser for Easter Seals, which is a non-profit organization that helps children with disabilities), and on the 21st I'll be at the Lighting of the Doves in Houston, Texas.  The Lighting of the Doves is a holiday fair.  I'll be at a booth with Operation Lone Star, which is an organization that helps the family members of soldiers.
I'm really looking forward to all the events I have coming up, and will keep you posted on new ones to come.  Hope everyone's Holidays are happy and safe!
-Savannah Wright

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Introduction

Hello y'all! I am Savannah Wright, the current Miss Teen of Texas. I'm 19 years old and from the small town of Elgin, where my four younger sisters and horse currently reside. I am a History and Sociology Major, with a Global Business Minor, at the University of Texas.
I won the title of "Miss Teen of Texas" in November of 2008. Since it was the first time Texas has participated in the Miss Teen of America pageant for 10 or so years, the pageant was joined with the Distinguished Youth of America (DYOA) pageant, a sister pageant for Little and Young Miss age divisions. I actually first became involved with the program when I was 9 years old, and participated in the Little Miss competition. I placed in the Top 10. Although I was so young, and pretty shy, I loved the experience and knew I had to come back! The next year I participated, I got 3rd runner up in the Young Miss competition. That was the year Shea Flynn won Young Miss of Texas, I believe. As a testament to what a great way to make friends and connections the pageant was, we now both attend The University of Texas, and still keep in touch! Unfortunately, I was unable to compete the next year- which was also the last year I could compete in the Young Miss division. I was so sad having to miss out on competing when I was a teenager, because we didn't have the Miss Teen of Texas program, but I was comforted by the fact that I still got to attend the pageant and see all my friends staffing since my little sisters were participating. I still remember the day when my mom told me that she had just found out that they were going to have the Miss Teen pageant back in Texas. I was 18 years old, and it was the last possible year for me to compete! I was very excited to have one last chance, and so happy about seeing all the regular staffing crew, and meeting the other candidates.
Competing in the DYOA and Miss Teen of America pageants have been an awesome addition and enhancement to my life. The people I've met through participating and staffing as Miss Teen of Texas in other states have all been amazing, hard-working, and humble people. The great thing about the pageant is that it allows you to see tons of other girls who are just like yourself. For that reason you are unable to walk away from the experience without taking great memories and new friendships with you. Although I mentioned I started out the pageant as very shy and nervous about speaking onstage, my experience through the pageant has enhanced my public speaking skills to levels I didn't think possible. The interview portion of the pageant has helped me in numerous situations while preparing for college and now preparing for a career. Overall the pageant has helped me and enriched my life in so many ways. I will never forget the people, skills, and awesome experiences that come out of participating.