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. :)