Rollin' in Style: The Rockland County Columbus Day Parade-Nanuet, NY

 

I may not be from Rockland County, and I am certainly not Italian, but there is nothing better than seeing a community of people come together in joyous celebration and being able to participate in the festivities. Nanuet is a small town, but that does not mean that they don't know how to put together a fantastic parade, even in the chilly weather. I loved the small-town feel and how people could watch the parade from the comfort of their own porches, or they could join their neighbors for an incredible cultural experience. Columbus Day is not just about Italian pride, but also about everything that America stands for. OK, so what if Columbus was really looking for India and just happened to land in America and made the mistake that changed the world forever? Columbus showed us that we should never be afraid to take chances, because if we don't take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself, then we never give ourselves the chance to achieve any greatness. He taught us that it is perfectly ok to make mistakes, because sometimes your biggest mistakes can turn into happy accidents. He taught us that there is always a way to take your negative situation and turn it into a positive. He helps us realize that there is always room for more knowledge and personal growth. AND after losing 2 of 3 ships and making it to dry land alive, I would like to think that he has taught us what determination and resilience can accomplish. 

Now, I'm not saying that I am going to be a navigator and discover any new countries, but I know that if I didn't sincerely believe in myself and in the possibility of achieving great things if I truly apply myself and take chances, then I would have never won Miss Hudson Valley 2012...been accepted to Pratt Institute...gotten my current job...and the list goes on and on. I never really gave Columbus, or his day any thought, but seeing so many people come together to celebrate his accomplishments made me take a second look at this national holiday. Even if the story of his voyage did not have a moral at the end, he would have accomplished something incredible; he would have brought together a community of very unique individuals. It was such an honor to meet the different members of the Rockland community and see all they have to offer. Looking at the crowd around me and how united and happy they looked made sitting in the cold completely worth it...

And even though we may not look like it, trust me, it was cold.

Wave, smile, knees together, back straight, pretend you're warm.
Who would have thought being in a parade would be so
much to think about?!?

From Pageant Experience to Job Opportunity

Oh friends and family please bear with me! I am so late on a number of posts, but there are only 24 hours in the day and 7 of those go towards sleep, and another 9 hours of my day is dedicated to work. WAIT! What was that? Megan has a job??? Yes people, this beauty queen FINALLY has a job other than catching up on her beauty sleep and trying to find a job. This post has very little to do with pageantry and yet has everything to do with pageantry.

I have been searching for a job in interior design tirelessly for quite some time. Let me tell you that not even a week after winning the pageant I already had a job interview! The only thing to change on my resume was the addition of "Miss Hudson Valley 2012" under the "Honors and Awards" category. While that first interview came with no reward besides interview experience, another job opportunity came knocking on my door very soon after. Everyone seemed so curious about my pageant experiences and seemed to see something about pageants that most don't. They realized how much courage and confidence it takes to compete in pageantry; they understood that the interview and public speaking skills I developed are actually an asset to their companies. Knowing how to communicate in a professional manner with co-workers and clients is an essential quality to have for any job; being confident in yourself and the work you do is imperative as well. People place horrible stereotypes on pageants and pageant contestants/beauty queens, but what I have found is that because of my pageant experience I have assets that others may lack and employers are looking for. In these hard times I was able to nail a job on my second interview. Say what you may about pageants, but they have changed me and my life for the better.

I Have a Proclamation!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said "If you modestly enjoy your fame you are not unworthy to rank with the holy." It is a little over a month since I was crowned Miss Hudson Valley 2012 and I am still a little bit overwhelmed by all of the attention that I have been receiving since. However, recently I have learned that it is ok to celebrate yourself and your accomplishments and that it is ok to be celebrated by others, even if they seem greater than you are.

I know I am VERY late on this, but on Wednesday, September 28, Miss Westchester 2012, Sarah Hreyo and I had the pleasure and honor of being invited to City Hall in Yonkers to meet Mayor Philip A. Amicone. While we were there we met many politicians and judges, including the ONLY female judge in Yonkers. She was so excited to speak with us and proud to see strong young women making a difference in their community; I couldn't believe that a woman who is working in a field dominated by men, a woman who should be and is an inspiration to me thinks that I am an inspiration as well.  It was hard to imagine that such important figures in our community would take time out of their busy days to meet with us and congratulate us on our accomplishments. As if that wasn't an honor enough, Mayor Amicone presented Sarah and I proclamations on behalf of the City of Yonkers. It was such a nice surprise and honor to be recognized for not only being Miss Hudson Valley, but for how I got there by being a hard working, intelligent, positive female role model for our community.

Meeting the mayor and so many other inspirational and esteemed people from Yonkers was such a humbling experience, but more importantly it has helped me open my eyes to the fact that I am no better or less of a person than they are. I am just a normal girl trying to make a positive difference in her community, like so many other young women who do not understand the value in the work that they do. I appreciate all of the support and encouragement that has been given to me by my incredible friends, loving family, and people I have met on my journey as Miss Hudson Valley, however short it may be thus far. Know that that proclamation was not an honor presented specifically to me, but to all who have been my cheerleaders on my journey to Miss Hudson Valley, as Miss Hudson Valley and more importantly on my life's journey. Being celebrated by an incredible group of people has given me the desire to celebrate everyone who has helped make me who I am today, after all, I am who I am as a result of where I came from.

The Inevitable Beginning of the Supposed End

I have heard my name called a million times in my lifetime. Every day in class of all 19 years of my education from my very first day of pre-k to my last day of college I, like every good student, heard my name called for attendance. I have heard my name called for countless school award ceremonies. I have heard my name called during eight commencement ceremonies. I have heard my name called as a contestant in many pageants, as a state finalist in a few pageants and as a winner of 3. I cant even count the number of times I have heard my mom call my name up the stairs when I was taking too long to come down for dinner...or worse, but never have I been so surprised as when I heard my name called on September 4th, 2011 at the Miss Westchester /Hudson Valley 2012 pageant. I was the very last name called that night, and I truly believe I was the most unsuspecting person in the room.

I joined the Miss Westchester / Hudson Valley pageant with every intention of it being my last and zero expectation of winning, but with the hopes of doing so. I was under the impression that if I was going to make this my last pageant that I should be less focused on winning and more focused on truly being myself and making sure that I enjoy every moment of the experience. I wanted to ensure that even if I did not win, that I would walk out feeling like a winner and that I retired from pageantry on a happy note. Backstage I spoke of my retirement and how this would be my last pageant. I wished all of the other incredible young women good luck and was simply grateful for having met them. I knew that night that no matter who won, the crowns would belong to two deserving young women who would represent the Westchester and Hudson Valley communities beautifully; I had no idea that I would have the honor of being one of them.

The hosts for the evening called up the first and second runner up for Miss Westchester and then excitedly announced the lovely Miss Sarah Hreyo as the new Miss Westchester 2012. It was such an exciting moment for me to watch someone like Sarah,  who worked so hard and truly deserved this incredible opportunity to be given the chance of a lifetime. I had no idea that after the first and second runner up were called for Miss Hudson Valley that I would hear "MEGAN HERNANDEZ!" I nearly collapsed from shock. I forgot how to cry. I forgot how to smile. I forgot that my jaw was hanging wide open. I felt nothing other than "this can't be real".

When I had a chance to embrace and talk with all of my new pageant sisters I made that weekend they all reminded me of how I told them that I was retiring from pageants and we joked about how now I will be headed to the Miss New York USA state pageant representing Hudson Valley! Sometimes happy surprises come at the most unexpected times. Sometimes you think your journey has come to an end, but it is really only the beginning of a new and exciting adventure. :)