Miss Pennsylvania Newsletters

          April was Autism Awareness month and probably my busiest month so far. On April 1^st I had the honor of testifying before the Pennsylvania State Senate Insurance and Banking Committee during their hearings on House Bill 1150 (HB 1150). If passed, this piece of legislation will open the door for families to acquire private health insurance for their children with autism. The day started out with the Joint House and Senate Autism Caucus Breakfast in the State Capital Complex. There I was able to interact with Secretary Estelle Richman, of the Department of Public Welfare, , as well as several members of the house and senate. After the breakfast we made our way to the hearing room where there was literally standing room only. Parents, grandparents, and friends of those with autism packed the room in order to let the members of the committee know how much we care about this issue. I was one of a five member panel of experts and family members in favor of the bill and I truly believe our case was compelling and convincing. 

     In addition to the hearings I had many opportunities to increase awareness about autism and advocate for those with the disorder. On World Autism Awareness Day I visited Thomas Jefferson Elementary School along with Mike Kelley from B104, a local radio station in the Lehigh Valley. While meeting with  to the 4th grade students there I spoke to them about autism and Mike read Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book. At the Lehigh Valley Walk Now For Autism, I helped my brother Brandon cut the ribbon to begin the walk. During the walk I also collected signatures on petitions for the HB 1150 legislation with help from a few local titleholders who generously donated their time that day. Other events that I had the pleasure of participating in this month included Autism Awareness Day at the Philadelphia Zoo where I served as emcee, the Employability Expo where I was the keynote speaker, and Bayada Nurses’ Pediatric Special Needs Trade Show where I conducted a workshop on issues related to being a sibling of an individual with autism. 

     Prior to the start of this workshop I met a family with two young sons, the youngest of whom had just been diagnosed with autism. In speaking to their mother I discovered that the oldest boy was not handling the diagnosis of his brother very well, so I shared with him my experiences as an older sister of a young man with autism. I suggested that they all come to hear me speak because I would be discussing more of my experiences as a sibling as well as many of the ways in which my parents successfully balanced having both a child with autism and a child without autism. They decided to come listen and I am so glad they did. I spoke in great detail of all the different emotions my family and I experienced from the time of my brother’s diagnosis through the present. I also shared the unique struggles we encountered and the creative ways in which my parents adjusted to our new family dynamic. 

     Toward the end of my presentation I began to talk specifically about my brother. When people meet him for the first time they always seem to comment on what a sweet and gentle spirit he has. Also, they are often left with a new understanding of what it means for a person to have autism. Talking about my brother in this way brought me to tears. It was the first time I have ever cried while speaking in public. I happened to notice that the mom I met earlier, who was sitting in the front row, began to cry as well. After the presentation she shared with me that it was the first time she had cried since the day her son was diagnosed. She said that she made a conscious decision to turn off her emotions and be strong for her family, but that somehow hearing all of the different emotions that my parents and I experienced validated her feelings and gave her the freedom to express them. I have had some pretty powerful encounters over the course of this year and interacting with this woman definitely ranks near the top. 

     Another experience which will certainly rank high on that list was singing the National Anthem at the deployment ceremony for the 353^rd Civil Affairs Unit of the US Army. Governor Rendell and Speaker of the House O’Brien both reconfigured their schedules to be present for the occasion. This particular unit was being called back to Iraq for their second tour of duty. It was truly an honor and privilege to be able to solute these soldiers and wish them well as they departed for their mission. I did my best to thank as many of them as possible for their service. What was so astonishing about this encounter was that so many of the soldiers thanked me for my attendance that day. They shared how excited they were to meet me and to have their picture taken with me. It just did not add up. All I did was sing a song and pose for a few pictures. These men and women were about to travel half way around the world and risk their lives to build bridges, schools, hospitals etc. so that the people of Iraq could have a more stable existence. Expressing my sentiments to one soldier however, changed my perspective on this point. He helped me to realize that though our levels of sacrifice may vary, the comparison should not diminish the significance of one act of service in favor of another. Instead we can be inspired by one another to go above and beyond our respective calls of duty to make a lasting impact on our world. 

     Over the past several months there have been times when I allowed the crowns, gowns, glitz and glamour of it all to cloud my perspective. But I am so thankful for appearances such as the Pediatric Special Needs Trade Show, Walk Now for Autism, and the Deployment Ceremony to put everything back into perspective. The title and the crown do more than provide an opportunity to serve. They bestow upon us a great responsibility to make an impact on the lives of any and everyone we interact with. This responsibility is not reserved for Miss America and the 52 Miss States around the country, but for every contestant and volunteer who wears the Miss America franchise name. Hopefully we all accept this responsibility and serve with pride.

| HOME | CONTESTANTS | TICKETS | PAGEANT WEEK EVENTS |
| MEET MISS PA | BOOK MISS PA | PAST MISS PA'S | MISS PA LOCALS |
| ENTERING THE PAGEANT | SCHOLARSHIP INFO | BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
| BOOSTER CLUB | WHAT'S NEW | NEWSLETTER | E-MAIL |

This site is designed and maintained by John R. Metzger
Copyright © 1997-2008 Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization, Inc. and John R. Metzger
All Rights Reserved.