What are your hobbies?
I enjoy singing, dancing, tumbling, working with children, coaching cheerleading and tumbling classes, volunteering in the community, getting involved on USM's campus as much as possible, animals, taking care of my family and friends, preparing for medical school, working out, watching inspirational films, and just living life!

What makes you special and unique?
I think one thing that makes me unique is that I have four brothers. Not too many young women can say that they have been able to successfully endure the torment of growing up with four brothers! One thing is for sure...they sure did make me tough by picking on me so much when we were younger! With how over-protective all of my brothers are, I am still to this day not sure how I ever made it out on a single date or how I have been able to get up on stage in a swimsuit in front of hundreds of people without any of them really going crazy! It has not always been easy being the only girl in my family, but I can say that I have four amazing guardian angels who have always kept me safe through the storm.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
A friend of mine once quoted from Eleanor Roosevelt, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." This is probably the greatest piece of advice that I have ever received. As I have gotten older, life has just continued to become harder and much more challenging than I could have ever imagined. But, it is so important to persevere and remain strong. It is important to hold on to your dreams and keep your faith because there is nobody who can take that away from you so long as you do not let them.

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I feel as though I cannot live without peanut butter! I eat a little bit every day which I try to convince myself that it's ok since peanut butter is a great source of protein! Peanut butter is just so yummy and it always makes me smile. It is the perfect treat!

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
I think one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned is that life does not always go as you plan. I have had to watch several of my once thought "life plans" fade away before my very own eyes. It is difficult to put your whole heart into something or somebody because you believe and pray so strongly that it will last forever... and then something happens and things don't work out the way you planned. But the truth is, we may never know our plan. God is in control of that. I have learned that sometimes you just have to wake up in the morning, thank God for another precious day, and sit back and let him take the wheel from there.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My role model is one of my best friends, Cassie Nabors. She is an amazing woman with so many goals and ambitions for her future. I look up to her because somehow she manages to be the best person that she can be and she still manages to help out a whole lot of people along the way. To be able to spend so much time helping and reaching out to others yet still be so accomplished in life is something that I find to be truly fascinating. I hope to one day be half the person that she is. That would be an accomplishment to say the least.

What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment was when I found out that my dad had an addiction to narcotics. I will never forget the hurt and confusion that I felt on that day or the pain that my family members had to endure. But life throws a lot of curve balls and you just have to deal with them! My dad was sick but I can proudly say that he has been a recovered addict for almost six years and he is still my hero. It is not unusual in the world we live in today to go through something tragic like this. It is, however, unusual to be able to say that you have hit the very bottom and have climbed your way all the way back up to the top...and then a little more! My dad is a remarkable person and I am so very proud of him.

What is your workout routine?
I cannot give out my exact workout routine because it is my little secret on how I keep in my best shape! I will say that I make it a priority to make it into the gym at least four days a week and that I try to change it up as much as possible. It is good to keep surprising your body with something new! The results are much more satisfying

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I think my biggest accomplishment to date is being in the top fifteen percent of my class at the University of Southern Mississippi. I am very involved with a number of different things and I stay extremely busy! I think it is impressive to be able to say that you are involved with a whole list of different things yet still be in the top fifteen percent of your college class! I work extremely hard to keep up my grades in college so I am very proud of this accomplishment!

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
One of the little girls that I coach at South Mississippi Elite looked at me one day and said, "Miss Emily, you look just like my Barbie that I have at home." I have never felt more beautiful in my entire life and I knew I could trust her opinion because children tend to be brutally honest!

What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is that I will one day have the power to heal. I want to be a doctor and I hope that along my journey I will develop that "special touch". I would love to spend the rest of my life taking care of others and making people feel better.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
When I was a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi, I slipped and fell one night when I was getting dinner in the commons and all I remember is my food flying up into the air and landing in my hair! There were a good fifty people who saw this little incident of mine and what made it really bad was that I had landed so hard on my tail bone that I could not get up and walk away. I had to have someone carry me out of the cafeteria! Come to find out I had broken my tail bone and it took a good four months to heal!

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Chocolate of course! It is not the best thing for you but boy do I enjoy the taste!

What is your favorite movie and why?
I love the movie August Rush. I like it because it is probably the most inspirational movie that I have ever seen, plus it has a lot to do with the power of music and I am a firm believer that music can heal the soul. So I really love the message that the movie sends out.

What is your favorite color and why?
I love green! It just makes me feel pretty when I wear it and I feel happy when I see things that are green.

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
I like to read inspirational novels. Lets be honest...sometimes you just need a little spiritual up-lifting! There is nothing better than reading about other people and their struggles or how people have overcome their obstacles in life. That is what I like to do whenever I have any spare time.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I would love to go to Hawaii. I have just always heard how beautiful it is so I would love to experience all of the wonderful things that I have heard about throughout the years!

What do you like best about your hometown?
I love all of the parks that we have in my hometown. I love to be outdoors and there is nothing better than sitting in a park being surrounded by nature's beauty! The Botanical Garden is my favorite place to go in my hometown.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
I love the weather! I really like when it is hot outside because I cannot stand being cold! And one thing is for sure, Mississippi tends to be really hot but it hardly ever gets too cold!

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
Coldplay. Chris Martin is my favorite artist. He puts so much passion into his lyrics and I feel that I can relate to every song that he has ever written and that just does not happen too often!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself as a well-accomplished orthopedic doctor with a big family full of love!

Who am I?
My name is Emily Gadilhe, but I like it better when people call me Em. It just feels more personal to me. I have an amazing family and the best friends that anybody could ever ask for. I am probably one of the most passionate people that you will ever meet. I put my whole heart into everything that I do and I don't think that a lot of people can truly say that. I want to be a doctor one day and I know that if I do nothing else with my life, I will take care of other people. It is important to use your talents and share everything that God has given you with the rest of the world. I have been blessed with a very compassionate heart so I like to share that with everyone around me. I volunteer with a Special Olympics all-star cheerleading program here in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and it is probably one of the most life-changing experiences that I have ever had. Those kids have proven to me that miracles can and do happen every day. They have taught me that there is NOTHING that you cannot do when you set your mind to accomplish something.

I had originally intended on going to Auburn University, but I was called to come to the University of Southern Mississippi instead. I did not know exactly why at first, but now I know for sure. Being at USM has brought out the best person in me. I have learned things about myself here that I never knew, and I will be a very successful person in life because of what I have gained from being at Southern Miss. I am a very happy and hopeful young woman and I just hope to spread joy and happiness everywhere I go.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
I have been coaching cheerleading and gymnastics for the past seven years of my life. Children are just so special and the kids that I have had the opportunity to work with have all touched my life in a very special way. I have learned the importance of being a good role model and the importance of encouragement! Most importantly, I have learned patience! All of these things I will carry with me as I continue to go through life and I am a stronger person for the experiences that I have gained through coaching.

Tell us about your platform.
My platform is called Five Steps to Success: Involving Those with Special Needs in Athletics. About a year and a half ago, a man named Brandon Roberts started the first Special Olympic all-star cheerleading program at South Mississippi Elite right in the city of Hattiesburg. The program was designed to get kids with special needs involved with a popular activity in the state of Mississippi. At SME, we strive to help these individuals with special needs to achieve five things: To build self-esteem, to improve social skills, to create friendships, improve health, and improve athletic ability. Statistics show that all five of these areas increase dramatically when individuals with special needs become regularly involved with athletics. My goal is to help these kids grow and become more confident in themselves. I try to help these individuals realize that there is nothing that can keep them from accomplishing all of their dreams.