Saturday, Dec 4th 2021
Dear readers,
This is my very first time posting a blog. I'm excited to share with you my journey and maybe even spread a little positivity to your day.
I know that it is important to start every day on a positive note, because challinging situations and difficulty are always going to be a part of life. When I wake up, my morning rituals begin. I hear my cat snowball begin to purr and rub up against my side. I yawn and give him a pat on the head. I begin stretching. I look out my window and say hello to my beautiful tiny succulent plants. I begin my upbeat playlist on spotify and head my way to the bathroom. I splash my face with cold water to wake myself up and begin getting ready for the day. Routines really help me stay focused and on track to staying positive.
Another way I stay positive is I like to make daily mental goals for myself. Sometimes they are short-term goals and sometimes they are long term. One important goal I have is to give someone a compliment throughout my day. It makes me feel good to see a person light up and smile. It makes me smile back and makes me happy. I have a very important long term goal that I focus on every day. I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up. In order to achieve that goal, I work hard with my teachers daily to keep my grades above average. Even though I have dyslexia and an IEP, I don't let it slow me down from keeping a growth mindset and trying hard. My education is important to me and I strive hard to inspire others to care about thier education too.
I have had a lot of positive influences in my lifetime. To name a few would be my parents, my teachers, and my friends. I believe this has had a huge impact on my personality. When I was little I had a unique opporutunity to be mentored by Krystian Fish. Her positive influence will most likely stay with me for a lifetime. In late 2013 my brother had just returned from the hospital and we met with his Make A Wish sponsor. As my parents were speaking with her, she leaned in and asked me if I wanted to be a princess. What little girl wouldn't? Before I knew it, she introduced me to the most prettiest girl I have ever met. Krystian Fish!
Krystian introduced me to the Miss Kansas Organization and told me that I could go with her to Pratt and be her Sunflower Princess! She told me that the Miss Kansas Organization helped women achieve their educational dreams and that I could do anything I put my mind to. I remember all the misses took young girls to the fish hatchery in Pratt and I thought it was so special because my mentor's last name was fish. Its like the special day was planned just for her. We were allowed to feel the eggs in the water and look at the fish ready to be released in the ponds. One of the baby fishes stuck to my hand and it died. I cried because I was so upset that I hurt the baby fish. Krystian easily knew how to calm me down and tell me its okay. She knew how to make me laugh and change a sad thing, into a positive thing. I thought she was the nicest person in the world. I knew when I grew up, I wanted to be like that someday.
Through my mentorship with Krystian, I learned many things. One most important thing was to never give up on your dreams. I would later join Krystian for three more years before she was finally crowned Miss Kansas. I may have been small, but I guarantee I was her biggest cheering section. I rushed to the stage because I wanted to be the first person to give her a hug. I had the honor of joining her the fourth time when she was the official Miss Kansas. Each time she was on stage, talking about her platform she stood tall and proudly spoke about her passions. I was glued to every word. She was the same girl on stage as she was off stage. The girl who'd take silly pictures with me or talk about our shared love of tacos. She was authentic and I loved that.
Since that time ever since then when I see a sunflower I think of that time. I think of the strong positive women that continue the Miss Kansas legacy. I'd love to someday follow in Krystian's footsteps and have that kind of an impact on a little girl like me. So I push foward each day staying positive and reaching towards my daily goals.
"I want to be like a Sunflower. So that even on the darkest days, I will stand tall and find the sunlight."
I hope you all will be like sunflowers too! Stand tall and stay positive!
Sincerely,
Kayla Lowmiller
