over and out

well, this is going to be my last post my friends!

It is a bittersweet feeling, kinda makes my tummy feel funny actually. I have learned so much from this year. Thinking back at myself from a year ago, the girl who hardly knew how to wear makeup, didn't have a facebook, wasn't connected with politics all that much, and hadn't a clue how to blog (still not sure if that last one has changed! hehehe). I know that the experience of holding this title has helped me to grow in ways that I never would have without it. I feel much more like I know who I am as a person and what I stand for if that makes any sense at all. I am sure much of that comes from interview experiences and resume writing. I feel confident that whatever I do in my future there will be lessons taken from this experience that I will always be leaning on. I thank God often that I have been so privileged to be called Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 08 for these 14 months. Just thinking about that is a humbling fact. I am really just a small-town girl who did this pageant as a sort of shot-in-the-dark thing hoping to learn things and have fun and excited about possibilities it might bring for my career future. The many ways that I have been blessed by the people in this organization, the people who have really made me part of their family, is really mind blowing! These relationships have touched my life and I am so grateful for that. I also think fondly about the pretty things of pageantry! I know this sounds really silly but I just have to say it because it is so true! I have really loved being able to wear the crown! It is really a small part of pageantry in essence and this organization obviously stands for so much more but it is really really fun to wear the crown! It is a wonderful feeling to put on a pretty dress, and wave in a parade as Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen. I know there are people who think that that part of the year of service isn't what really counts and to a certain extent they are right. It is really the community service that is incorporated and all of those types of aspects that are truly important. But the parades are just fun! So I just had to say that those have been a very exciting part of my year. My blog wouldn't be complete without saying that.

I also have a ton of people that I could thank, however, I have thanked them in my welcome letter in the program book, in my farewell video, in past blogs, and in thank you cards, so I will not thank them again here. I will generally say that I am forever grateful to all the people who helped shape my year.

Now I absolutely have to say CONGRATULATIONS SARAH!!!!! I am so proud of you hunny! You are going to make an absolutely fantastic teen titleholder and I cannot wait to watch your year unfold. Congrats also to Laura Hall our new Miss Vermont. I really was so impressed with all of the amazing talent and poise displayed by all of our teens and miss contestants on Saturday. We have some extremely smart and talented ladies in our state! It was a fantastic show and I couldn't have been happier with the results. One thing I must mention is the bumpit!

Probably the funniest crowning ever occurred Saturday night when Sarah crampton's name was called. She had worn Bumpit in her hair. This is a hairpiece that is place underneath the hair to give it a teased/lifted look. It is impossible to pin a crown to this! So, when miss Sarah won I spent a few moments untangling this lovely bumpit from her hair much to the confusement of Dana our MC. This joke will never be lived down. Congratulations also to Caroline Bright and Mary Branagin our Miss runners up. and also to Brooke Connor and Jacki Chace our teen runners up. You were fantastic ladies!

Well, Id better be off to bed soon it is late. I am beginning to get used to being a "hasbeen" haha. Its a funny title to hold but rather carefree! I am so glad to forever be part of the pageant sisterhood. Who knows? Maybe I will compete in the Miss category in a few years. Or perhaps life with take me in another direction. Whatever happens I am grateful for my time spent as Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen and am honored to forever hold the 2008 title.

Much love to all my friends new and old from this year, many thanks, and good luck Sarah! May your reign be completely fantastic!

yours

Blaize Hall

Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2008

.......Over and out

and this is when it's really hard to say quite how i feel

hey there friends

I'm sure a lot of you know this weekend is the 2009 Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen pageant. That means that I will be giving up my title, performing as the state teen for the last time and crowning somebody new. WOw! A whole year went by that fast? how did that happen? it's funny because as the pageant draws closer every minute I am not really sure how I even feel about this! I am excited to be passing on the crown! I really am so thrilled to see all of the contestants and watch them compete and to give the title to the new girl! But of course I also feel sad because after Saturday is over I will no longer be the state titleholder. I will never again sit in a car with signs with my name on them in the windows and wave at people with a crown on my head as this title. I will never perform on the piano as this title again. I am sad to see this year ending and there is always of course the feeling of wishing I had done more, wondering if there was some other way I could have used the title that was given me. Was there something different I should have done? Did I represent my state well? I am full of questions, regrets, happy memories,satisfaction, anticipation, excitement! I feel a bit relieved in a way that I will now be moving on. I somehow feel resolved, like my time has come, I have served my term and now it is someone else's turn to do the job. Yet at the same time I know that I will miss it! I have many things to look forward to this summer and the coming school year. I recently received the role of Cinderella in the Rogers and Hammerstein musical with a local theatre company and I am thrilled to be spending my time performing. I will be on the xcountry running team this fall which is also exciting. I have all of these things to look forward to but at the same time I know that probably nothing I do this summer could possibly be as exciting as nationals was last summer!

I feel like throughout this year Miss Vermont's Outstanding teen 08 has become a part of my identity and after Saturday that part of me might be lost! It's a little bit scary! But I guess what's really important is knowing that I will always hold the title of the 2008 teen. The many things I've learned this year will go with me wherever life takes me. The memories I have can never be taken away and the things I've learned about pageantry, about how people work, and mostly about myself are things that will benefit me my whole life! and I guess it's good to remember that I will always be me no matter what title I hold. That I need to stay true to who I am and what I believe in no matter who is interviewing me or what organization I represent.

Well, thanks for listening to me think myself through all this! au revior for now!

Blaize Hall

your miss VT Outstanding Teen 08

p.s. special special thanks to Caroline my mentor in SO MANY WAYS!!! thank you for everything you did to help me last summer and for all that you taught me. you are the best!

thanks to my mom, grandmother,Dave and Marie, Red Clover, Sue, Pam, Belinda and many others! It wouldn't have happened without you!