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Having Faith & Aging Gracefully
By Britany Belczak, Miss Teen International 2004 When you feel overwhelmed by all your responsibilities, do what this successful teen does: Say a prayer, make a senior citizen smile, stick to a “to-do” list, and give “KISS” a chance.
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Stop for a moment and think about the number of people you talk to each day. Whether it is a quick smile and a cheery “hello,” or a long conversation with someone close to you, we all enjoy these interactions with different people. It is easy for my generation to take all these social opportunities for granted, because we are still young, healthy, and ready to embrace all of life’s opportunities.
It’s different for individuals in nursing homes, who have lost their precious independence and who often feel left out and unappreciated. In the International pageant system, contestants carry a platform, which is something they care about and wish to promote using their title. My platform is “Serving Seniors and Bridging the Generation Gap.” I chose it because my school instilled the importance of serving seniors when I was still very young.
When I was in kindergarten, my teacher began taking my class to a local nursing home to visit with the residents. I will never forget one special lady who touched my heart. She was so incredibly joyful, and so appreciative of these small acts of kindness. I can still see her face to this day as I shared a piece of fruit, a Christmas card that I made, sang songs, and hugged her goodbye. This experience left a lasting impression on my mind and heart, and the joy I gained from my class visits to the nursing-home residents has inspired me to encourage my peers to become involved in volunteer service to the elderly.
As Miss Teen International, I realize that wearing a crown gives me a larger audience than a typical teenager. I am using my title to recruit more youth to the service of the elderly by working closely with the development director at my school, who shares my enthusiasm for serving senior citizens in our community.
I want all teens reading this column to keep this point in mind: It takes very little extra effort on our part to help “the Greatest Generation” remember they are loved!
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FAMILY MATTERS: (Top) Britany’s competition success comes with the love and support of her family (from left) brother Joey, sister Mandy, Dad, and Mom. Playing dress-up (right) and singing into her “Miss Microphone” (far right) were sure signs of Britany’s teen pageant triumphs.
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Pageant Progression
I have not been involved in pageants for very long, but I have always watched them on TV with my mom. The first pageant I competed in took place in November 2003. Thanks to the immense amount of help and support I received from my family and friends, I finished as Third Runner-up. I then went on to compete in a local pageant, Miss Columbus (OH) Teen, which I won in January 2004. After this pageant, I was hooked, and I officially could call myself a “pageant girl.”
The next event I entered was Miss Teen Ohio International. I loved absolutely everything about this pageant. As much as I wanted to win, it was surprising when my name was actually announced as the new winner! The Ohio pageant was a preliminary to the Miss Teen International pageant in Chicago, which was held in July 2004. There I spent a week with 41 amazing girls from all around the United States and other countries, such as the Bahamas, Canada, and the Virgin Islands. I felt richly blessed by God when I became the new Miss Teen International for 2004.
Being Miss Teen International has dramatically changed my life. Besides winning some $20,000 in cash and prizes, having my own photo shoot, and wearing fabulous clothes wherever I go, I have experienced things as a teenager that most people will never be able to do in their lifetime, what with being in fashion shows, traveling around the United States and even internationally, having articles written about me, singing at different events, appearing in parades, and speaking in front of thousands of people. This is a year I will cherish my entire life.
Extracurricular Efforts
A question I am often asked as Miss Teen International is, “How do you do it all?” Well, it is definitely not easy, but I love my busy lifestyle! I am in my senior year in high school with a 4.25 GPA and a place in the National Honor Society. My many extracurricular activities include serving on the both the prom and homecoming committees, playing volleyball, varsity cheerleading and softball, chapel worship team (I love singing!), and scrap booking. Also very important to me is my relationship with Christ, which takes work each and every day.
I am a believer that you can have it all — just not all at once. My favorite quote is “Commit to everything you do with all your heart.” I love being involved in a variety of activities, but there comes a time when events overlap. For this reason it is essential to decide what is most important to you. Right now, being Miss Teen International is my most important commitment. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I want to make the most out of it that I possibly can. I am still able to enjoy everything else that I like doing but only when they don’t interfere with my many pageant commitments. Juggling all of my activities is actually easy when I evaluate what I want to be most committed to.
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HOME AWAY FROM HOME: (Far right) Britany visits with (from left) Heather and Georgianna, two residents of the Sunrise Assisted Living Center of Gahanna, Ohio. (Right): Britany learned to give her elders a hand at an early age from the lap of Grandpa Belczak.
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My Secret Weapon – “KISS”
Here is my secret! I use the “KISS” method to help me succeed — with “KISS” being the acronym for the phrase “Keep It Simple, Silly.” Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by all of my activities, I say a quick prayer and remind myself to “Keep it simple, silly.” It’s not possible to do too many things at once, and it also does no good to worry about all that you need or want to get done. Instead, make a list of the things that you want to accomplish. Start with number one and work your way down the list. If you don’t get them all done in one day, don’t worry. Remember that you always have tomorrow to accomplish what you didn’t get done today.
I have also learned to keep things simple by trusting in this Bible passage found in Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
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YOU CAN GET IT ALL!
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