Miss Orem & Teen Blog

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

My Final Moments as Miss Orem 2014

Monday, June 1, 2015

Memorial Day

I had the opportunity to attend the service for Memorial Day this past Monday at the Orem Cemetery. I had never attended it before and am so grateful I did.

The service was awe-inspiring. Viewing the twenty-one gun salute, honoring the veterans, addressing the fiftieth anniversary of the war in Vietnam, and recognizing each branch of military helped me to gain a greater appreciation for our country and those who have put their lives on the line - and continue to put their lives on the line - for our freedom. Living in a free nation, it is easy to take it for granted, but I'm so grateful that we have a day dedicated to remembering the sacrifices men and women have performed to maintain our liberty.

Following the ceremony, I met a few veterans of the Vietnam and Iraq wars. They were very approachable and more than willing to talk to us. It was such an honor to be introduced to such brave men.

A few Daughters of American Revolution were present at the service. Knowing that they were related to the first defenders of our country and, essentially, the founders of our freedom was amazing to think about. I am so grateful that I was privileged enough to meet them.

Of course we had a fantastic time with the mayor as we always do. We had a great time taking pictures with him and hearing about his family who served our country.

Norman and Shirley Tong were the keynote speakers at the service. Both were present in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese began their airstrike. After hearing about Pearl Harbor in History classes throughout all my schooling, it was so moving to hear their actual accounts of the event. Shirley is Japanese-American and also spoke of how she was bullied because of her ethnicity following the attack Pearl Harbor. Not only was she bullied, but much of her life was altered. Hearing hers and Norman's story, it was impossible not to take note of the strength and courage they both possess. They display what it means to be an American.

Later that evening, Daisy, Jackie, Kim, and I were able to attend the Scera Shell for the performance of the Liberty Voices. None of us had ever heard of the Liberty Voices, but as soon as we heard them sing we knew that we had been deprived of fantastic musical talent for a great portion of our lives. We were completely blown away by their performance! They all had unbelievable vocal ranges. When I say unbelievable, I MEAN unbelievable! They sang Disney songs like "Let it Go,"and "You Can Fly!" They also sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God Bless the USA," and all the verses of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the finale.

Overall, it was a fantastic day. It was such a privilege to meet all the great people in our community and then finish it off with a musical celebration honoring our country. Becoming familiarized with the diverse backgrounds, personalities, and stories of the individuals I have the opportunity to come into contact with is definitely one of the highlights of being Miss Orem. I can't wait to see what June has in store!

Going along with Memorial Day, I am grateful for our great country and those who fought, and fight, to preserve it. From the American Revolution to the end of the Cold War, and from women's suffrage to the abolition of slavery, our country is built upon the determination for freedom and independence. I think that the following lyrics say it best,

"And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A."

- Lee Greenwood Proud to Be an American

Much love,

Jesse Craig

Miss Orem 2015

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Foothill Elementary 3K Run

May 22nd was the annual Foothill Elementary 3K. The moment I stepped out of my car I was greeted by a sea of hot pink - the kids. I LOVED getting to know them. They were all so friendly and outgoing and - despite the colder weather - they were optimistic about the run and couldn't wait to get started!

It felt like a mini-yearbook day because all the kids were signing each other's shirts and some even asked me to sign theirs. It was cute when boys asked me to sign their shirts - they were very and tentative about it because they wanted to maintain their manliness :).

Talking to the kids one-on-one was my favorite part of this event. We talked about their favorite colors, their excitement for school to end, and how they felt about running the race. There was this one little girl who was very excited when she noticed my crown and said, "I've never seen a real crown before!" She was so thrilled to touch it and then asked me where she could get one herself. I really wish I could have given each girl a crown. Their inner beauty just made them glow and it was certainly my privilege to interact with them and witness that.

For the race, Daisy and I ran with the first graders and kindergarteners while Jackie and Abby ran with the kids from the other age levels. We had a lot of fun encouraging the kids to keep going as they ran. At one point, I told some of the girls to keep going and show the boys what they were made of and one boy heard. He immediately darted off like a bullet to show me just how fast he could be. I tried to keep up with him for a little bit, but he was too quick!

After we finished running, we all stood at the finish line to cheer on those who were still finishing the race. So many of the runners were extremely determined throughout the duration of the course and finished strong, especially with the crowd's encouragement. It was really great to see the community come together to support one another in this event.

After the run, the royalty and I participated with the kids in a dance party to "Shut up and Dance With Me." It was fun to show them that even though we might wear crowns and sashes, we like to have fun and party just as much as they do. We jumped up and down, discoed, chicken danced, shuffled, and performed every other dance move in between. We also participated a little in the water fight several kids were having. One girl was courteous enough to ask if she could spray me, so I agreed that she could so long as she got me on the back. It was totally worth it!

The royalty and I then had the opportunity to distribute the awards to the winners of the different age levels. We were lucky enough to get a picture with the sixth grade boy winners. Aren't they adorable?

I am enjoying my reign more and more with every opportunity I am presented with! This event has definitely been my favorite so far! Through this event I realized just how much of an impact a person can have on a child - crown or not. They look at us grownups as role models whether we realize it or not. The way we behave, speak, carry ourselves, act, and treat others displays our character which children take note of. That is why it is imperative that we display the best version of ourselves at all times because as children begin to construct their identities and self-esteems, they will draw from the best examples they know.

One more note - for the rest of my blog posts I want to conclude with something that I'm grateful for, and I invite you to do the same through finding something to be grateful for each day. I know from personal experience that an attitude of gratitude truly does create miracles!

To start off, I am grateful for music. I'm so thankful to have the ability to play instruments, sing, read music, and enjoy the benefits of listening to music. A song like "Shake it Off," or perfect vibrato while playing the violin, can change my mood from one of aggravation to appreciation.

Much Love,

Jesse Craig

Miss Orem 2015

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Culver's Ribbon Cutting

I certainly have been able to hit the ground running since being crowned as Miss Orem! On Tuesday I had my first event which was a ribbon cutting for the new Culver's restaurant! I was initially very nervous what with it being my first event and all, but from the moment I walked in the building I was greeted by warm and friendly people who were excited to have me there, so my anxiety went away!

The owners of the new Culver's are so amiable and professional. They graciously welcomed all who came to the grand opening. A fun fact about them: they are only in their late twenties! Wow. Clearly their perseverance and dedication has paid off. And I couldn't help but notice that they look like real life versions of Barbie and Ken.

It was such an honor to have Craig Culver attend the ribbon cutting and hear the story of how he and his wife began Culver's. He emphasized the point that the business franchise isn't about the money, it's about the people. Making sure families are comfortable and satisfied has been his goal, and he certainly has accomplished that from what I've seen!

One of my good friends Lauren works at Culver's so it was really exciting to see a familiar face there at the opening!

Jackie and I got to try some of Culver's famous frozen custard. Let me tell you, it is famous for a reason. It's so flavorful, creamy, and tastes like an angel bestowed heavenly grace upon it. I HIGHLY recommend it!

This was such a fantastic event! I'm so glad I got to become more closely acquainted with members of the community, city council, and chamber of commerce. Even though I've only been Miss Orem for a short time, interacting with these people has certainly begun to enhance my growth as a leader and spokesperson of the community. I can't wait for more opportunities like these to arise throughout this year!

Love,

Jesse Craig

Miss Orem 2015

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Miss Orem 2015!

Hello everyone! My name is Jesse Craig and I am Miss Orem 2015. It still hasn't really hit me yet that I am Miss Orem. It's been a dream of mine for so long and I can't believe that it's actually happened! I truly am blessed. So you can get to know a little bit about me - since hopefully you'll continually be reading up on the Miss Orem Organization's adventures ;) - I'll just share a few things: I just finished my Freshman year at the University of Utah and am hoping to obtain degrees in Political Science and Biology. I love country music, Costco chocolate cake, bursting out into random songs, dance parties, and learning about math, English, and history.

The pageant was such a fantastic experience. I'm so grateful that we began having workshops in February so that all of us contestants could become so close. It was also so nice because every single girl was so encouraging, supportive, and kind. We had absolutely no stereotypical pageant drama ;).

My royalty is incredible. We are all so different and I love it! Just so you can get to know them a little better, here's a few things about each girl:

McCall Butler is my first attendant and is so down to earth and easy to talk to. She makes everyone feel loved. She also almost has her Associate's Degree as an Engineer at UVU! So she's not just drop dead gorgeous, she's also a genius. McCall is also so spontaneous and will just burst out with a crazy dance move or joke out of nowhere.

Daisy Allred is my second attendant. She is so flamboyant and confident! She will randomly just start dancing, singing, or walking with a flair and style that's all her own. She also attends UVU and is majoring in the performing arts. Daisy is also so passionate about her beliefs and stalwartly stands by them.

Abby Lee is my third attendant. Abby is just radiant and makes everyone feel important and included. She attends UVU and is on a running scholarship. Not only is she an incredible runner, but she is also an exceedingly talented dancer as you can see above. Basically, she's talented, athletic, intelligent and a fantastic all-around girl.

Then of course there's my little sister Jacquelyn Jenkins. Jackie is beautiful and so talented. She knows sign language, she dances, and she is a cheerleader for Orem High School. Not only does she have all those talents, but she just glows because of the beauty she has on the outside and inside. Jackie has already made me feel so loved and I know this year with her will be one for the books.

I am beyond excited for this year. I'm so lucky to have my family, friends, royalty, and director as my supporters. I know I have HUGE shoes to fill following Maddi Millard and other past Miss Orems, but I'm willing to assume the challenge! Here's to the start of an auspicious year!!

Love,

Jesse Craig

Miss Orem 2015