Miss Deaf America Blog

Here it is! This is my very first blog entry as the NAD Miss Deaf America 2008-2010. For the next two years, I will be posting updates about my journey with the crown. In this blog, I will reflect upon various appearances, experiences, and my pursuits. Welcome aboard my two-year voyage!

I can’t believe how fast time has gone since I was crowned in mid-July! It feels as if it happened just last week, but no it has been almost two months now, time sure does fly. Before I knew it, I arrived back at Gallaudet University and started school as a second year student. Yes, even with my Miss Deaf America duties, I continue to be a full-time student about to declare my major in Communication Studies. In addition to that, I work at Campus Activities as the Public Relations coordinator. Because of that I came to Gallaudet two weeks earlier than the rest of the students for Campus Activities training and to prepare for the New Student Orientation (NSO). After all, NSO was a whopping success!

Back to my pageant experience, my two-week journey to Miss Deaf America was enriching. I will elaborate more about my experiences in the next entry.

I would like to share my favorite story of how I wanted to be Miss Deaf America. Yes! My dream sure came true!

At age five, I was exposed to Miss Deaf America for the very first time, when Miss Deaf America 1995-96, Jennifer Yost Ortiz, came to Kendall Demonstration School for the Deaf for an appearance and then
came to my first-grade class for a story-telling session. As my eyes met the sparkling crown for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the idea of being Miss Deaf America. I came home determined that I would acquire the crown when I was old enough to compete. A few years later, the NAD Conference was held in DC, and as a resident of Maryland, DC was in my backyard and of course I tagged along with my family to the conference. At the conference, I found out that the pageant was on the night of my birthday and my birthday gift was a ticket to the pageant. That night I witnessed Tyese Wright, Miss Deaf Maryland, being crowned as Miss Deaf America. My five-year-old self’sdream of being Miss Deaf America came whooshing back. From that day, I followed the Miss Deaf America Pageant closely. I remember spending hours looking through the pageant program books, imagining my picture on it someday. That is how I became very involved with NAD.

I found my passion in NAD just as soon I began my high school career in Maryland School for the Deaf, I became a member of Jr. NAD. That led to my acceptance to Youth Leadership Camp. When I came back home I was all pumped up and led my way to be the Jr. NAD president. Jr. NAD conference was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, I went as a delegate from my chapter and from there I was selected to represent Jr. NAD to the NAD conference in Palm Desert, California. I also witnessed Chelsea Tobin acquire the crown. I had absolutely no idea that Chelsea would be the one who will give me the crown in just two years.

Two years later, I turned eighteen and began my studies at Gallaudet University, and the NAD conference was approaching. The Miss Deaf Maryland pageant appeared very attractive and I was up for the challenge and then I won the title as Miss Deaf Maryland. As I blinked, the NAD conference 2008 happened and the crown came.

I have gone a long way with the NAD. The NAD is one factor in the person I am today. NAD and its programs have taught me to become a better leader. I always have wanted to be more involved with NAD, but wasn’t too sure how to, but Miss Deaf America is the answer. I am excited about the next two wonderful years with wearing the crown. I look forward to expand NAD membership by using the media to draw young people into NAD. I also sure hope that I will be an inspiration to another five years old girl to become our future leader!

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Happy Holidays!

Homecoming at Maryland School for the Deaf

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MY YLC Visit

My Journey to Miss Deaf America

Welcome to My Two Years Voyage