Stepping Out of Ordinary . . . Again

I have never been one to be “ordinary” or fit in. You see, I have a knack for getting into things that are considered different or need some serious explaining or endorsement. When I was around 9 years old, I had to pick a new sport. My parent’s rule was one sport and one art every year, but we had moved when I was 8 and I wanted to try something new. I found competitive cheerleading—not the sidelines stuff (which I also did), this was flipping, throwing people in the air, and spinning. As marveled as I was with this sport, not everyone else was. I constantly had to explain what I was doing and how it was a sport. I even did my North Carolina High School Graduation Project on this, so don’t worry I can argue this.

Then at 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. Alopecia is a disease where one’s immune system attacks healthy hair follicles that they believe to be an invader. Basically, I lose hair and have bald spots all over my head. I was mortified and at this age, I thought it was the end of the world.

Fast forward to 22, I began my Master of Science in Child Life. I can guarantee you do not know what a Certified Child Life Specialist is, but that is what I am. I’m a healthcare professional that works with children and families to minis distress and maximize coping and understanding of hospitalization, illness, grief, and disability. Again, this is not someone's ordinary healthcare field and I constantly explain my role to patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

That same year, I got back into pageantry. Cue the judgment. I competed for my first local title in the Miss America Organization, and I won! I was Miss Greater Sandhills 2016 and I went onto win the Miss America Academic Award at Miss North Carolina that year. You guessed it though, I constantly had to explain to others about this scholarship organization, my platform, and the difference these amazing young women beside me were making on the World.

I think it is clear to see that I have a knack, or I am a magnet, for unordinary. You can also see that I’m quite determined to prove others, and my self, wrong. I thrive in trying new and unusual things. And that is exactly why I am starting this blog. I have wanted to do this for a long time, but I was afraid. In the spirit of 2020, I decided that I wasn’t going to have regrets and that I just HAD to try this on my own terms. I plan to be authentic, goofy, and unordinary. . . Basically, just being myself. That may not get me all of the followers on Instagram or the loyal readers on my blog, and it may not make me successful in ordinary terms . . . BUT, if I am being myself then I will be successful in my own unordinary way. . . again.