What are your hobbies?
Dancing, reading, painting, traveling, and eating lots of chocolate!

What makes you special and unique?
One quality that makes me unique is my cheerful attitude. I always try to look for the best in people and situations and maintain an optimistic view on life. We can never live the same moment twice, and I try to keep this in mind as I enter new situations everyday.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
My dad has always told me that attitude affects everything you do, and he continuously encourages me to be optimistic. Whenever you face a difficult situation, don’t focus on your obstacles. Instead, concentrate on what you can do to help the situation, and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Name one thing you cannot live without.
Chocolate! On a serious note, I have to have my quiet time in the mornings. Being able to pray and have my personal devotion every morning helps me start the day out on the right foot and keep my priorities in line.

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I have learned is that perseverance is the secret to success. Things that are truly worth having do not necessarily come easily, and you cannot give up when obstacles appear to block your path. It is in overcoming those obstacles and continuing to believe in yourself that you truly experience growth, and, thus, success.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My mother, without a doubt, is my most valued role model. She is a very strong woman, and I admire her character and integrity. She has been an incredible source of encouragement to me through her love and support, and I hope to reflect these same qualities to others.

What was your most unexpected moment?
When I was 13, I competed with my first ballet solo in a regional dance competition. Since it was my first solo, I had not expected to receive a high score for my dance, and I was very nervous. However, I actually received a gold medal for my dance, and I was very excited! From that point on, I decided that I would always believe in myself and put my heart into everything that I did.

What is your workout routine?
My workout routine consists of cardio 5 days a week and strength training 3 days a week. I also enjoy pilates - it is refreshing and a great workout for the abs. And, since I am a dancer, I get quite a workout each time I practice!

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I do not necessarily define accomplishment in terms of awards and titles. For me, being able to give back to children in my community through being a literacy volunteer, teaching dance, and teaching Sunday school has been my greatest accomplishment. I am very blessed to have been given the talents and resources to pursue excellence in my own life, and, more importantly, to bless and serve others along the way.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
A parent of one of my dance students once told me that she hoped her daughter would grow up to be just like me, both in my dancing ability and in my character. This compliment has encouraged me to strive to not only be a good dancer but, more importantly, to always be a positive role model.

What is your secret wish?
I have always been fascinated with the position of First Lady, and I would actually love to be the First Lady! I know this is not something one can really plan for, but I think it would be an amazing experience!

What was your most embarrassing moment?
One night, I went to an event and ended up sitting with a guy that I was interested in. After I left, I texted one of my best friends, “Guess who I sat with tonight??! Date night coming up!” However, instead of sending this message to my friend, I accidentally sent it to HIM! To say the least, I was a little embarrassed!

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Anything that involves chocolate!

What is your favorite movie and why?
“Father of the Bride” is my all-time favorite movie because it reminds me of the close relationship my dad and I have. Steve Martin is so funny in this movie, and he actually reminds me of my own dad. I only hope that when I get married one day, my dad won’t go to quite the same extremes!

What is your favorite color and why?
Pink has always been my favorite color. It’s fun, girlie, and sassy!

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
I love having a movie night with my friends, and it's never complete without lots of chocolate! I am a hopeless romantic, and I love to curl up with a good Nicholas Sparks book and listen to Josh Groban. I also enjoy painting and anything to do with dance!

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I would absolutely love to visit Hawaii. It appears to be so beautiful and exotic from the mountains and volcanoes to the deep blue ocean. I love to be outdoors, and I think I would love Hawaii!

What do you like best about your hometown?
My hometown, Starkville, is small town with big heart! The people are warm and friendly, and you always see someone you know wherever you go. It is also home to Mississippi State University, and I am proud to be a Bulldog!

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
The more I’ve traveled outside of Mississippi over the years, the more I’ve grown to appreciate the people of our great state. There is such a sense of community in Mississippi, and I honestly love our southern accent!

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
Carrie Underwood! She is my favorite artist right now - I love her lyrics and, most of all, her amazing voice!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I hope to have my master’s degree and a job as a public relations specialist for an organization. I also hope to be happily married with one or two children and a small dog. I plan to continue to dance and teach dance, and I would love to own my own dance studio one day!

Who am I?
Well, to begin with the basics, I am a senior at Mississippi State University majoring in communication with an emphasis in public relations. I plan to graduate in May with my bachelor’s degree and attend graduate school to obtain a master’s degree in advertising and public relations.

“Unless you try something beyond what you’ve already mastered, you will never grow.” This quote by Robert Osborn has inspired and challenged me over the years to dream big, work hard, and refuse to set limits on myself. I am passionate about dancing and teaching dance, and I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to study this beautiful art form over the years. I am very family-oriented, and I am so blessed to be surrounded by an incredible family and wonderful friends. Most importantly, God is the foundation of my life, and I’m striving to grow, learn, and walk with Him each day.

On a lighter note, I have a mild obsession with anything pink or leopard print (including shoes!). I love anything with chocolate, and I have to have a little dessert after every meal. I also enjoy traveling, and New York City has been my favorite place to visit. I am a huge fan of “I Love Lucy,” and watching a re-run always brightens my day! I also love watching SEC football, especially my MSU Bulldogs. You can always count on me to ring my cowbell proudly!

Tell us about your occupational experience.
I have been teaching dance classes at Dancing Feet Academy for six years, and this has truly been a blessing in my life and has brought me so much joy over the years. I teach ballet, tap, and jazz, and I have taught a variety of age groups from 3 year-olds to 16-year-olds. I have a passion for dance, and I absolutely love working with children! Teaching dance is a way for me to combine these two loves, and it gives me the opportunity to inspire children to develop a love for dance.

I would have to say that the number one thing I have learned from teaching dance is patience. Giving children the individual attention they need while maintaining control of the rest of the class at the same time can be quite a challenge! However, I would not trade my time with these precious girls for anything; I realize I’m in a position to be not only a teacher, but also a good role model. I always try to let integrity guide my actions and hope to encourage other girls to do the same.

Tell us about your platform.
When I was a child, my parents instilled in me a love for books, and this has had a huge impact on my life, especially my education. When I was sixteen, I began reading to preschool and elementary classes to share my love of books with children. I soon discovered that reading was, indeed, a problem not only in my own community but in countless communities across our nation. For this reason, I have continued to read to children in hopes of instilling in them a love for books that will persuade them to want to learn to read for themselves.

My platform issue is encouraging and motivating children to read, and my focus is on literacy in children between the ages of three and eight. For the last four years, I have been reading to preschool and elementary school classes in both public and private schools. I have also tutored children in reading in one of our public schools and at a local community center.

I am convinced that my literacy project has benefited the lives and education of the children I have read to and tutored. Research has shown that children who are read to often at an early age tend to be more successful in their education and in the workplace than those who are not read to. Since reading is a foundation for all other learning, I believe we should make improving childhood literacy a top priority in our communities.