I’ve never been a performer. This probably has a lot to due with my gracefulness. Okay, fine — lack of gracefulness. Do I run into walls because I turn corners a tad too sharp? Maybe. Might I happen to trip a minimum of once a day? Sure. (It’s a good day if I make it trip-free before noon). So, growing up, I never danced. I never figure skated. I neverran track (safety concerns would have existed for all involved). Thus, I spent mychildhood playing volleyball: A sport where you’re supposed to fall on the ground.
A lot of my close friends were/are dancers, who get dolled up to take the stage and perform beautifully choreographed pieces in front of a ooh-ing and awe-ing crowds. I always admired the self-confidence they emitted when they were up there. They looked beautiful, but how they carried themselves has always been what I found to be the most striking.
I used to watch MTV’s “MADE” after school — a self-improvement show morphing tomboys into pageant queens, cheerleaders into BMX bikers, run-of-the-mill Cinderella stories. I often wondered if I entered “MADE,” what I’d want to be morphed into. Figure skating was always up there… mostly for the costumes. Cheerleading, too, was also in the tops — I was pretty shy, so being able to lead a crowd to pump them up seemed appealing.
But, alas, once the show would end and the credits rolled, I would power my television down and go on with my afternoons — off to volleyball, knocking out some biology homework. I never took action on moving toward taking on those roles that existed outside of my comfort zone. It was always just a “what if” not a “how can I?” I think we all grow up wishing we had tried something different, but time passes by quickly. Before you know it, you’re a senior in college.
That’s where I am. I’m a 21-year-old senior journalism student at the University of Florida — less than a year away from thrusting myself into the real world. Looking back on my time at UF, I’m really proud of the accomplishments I’ve made. I came out of my shell and took on leadership positions whether it was becoming a vice president of my sorority, president of my school’s branch of Her Campus or a sports reporter covering the Gators.
But I never ended up tackling that performance thing. To this day, the only time I’ve been on a stage was at my high school graduation. Let’s be honest, that doesn’t count. I guess you could say I’m going through a “carpe diem” phase — perhaps a quarter-life crisis. I want to be able to look back on my time in college and say I tried things that were different, out of my comfort zone. Here’s where the whole crown thing comes in.
There’s no doubt the University of Florida is a school of tradition. One of our long-standing traditions is the Homecoming Pageant. This is a pageant, held this year on Oct. 22, which “highlights the most outstanding men and women on campus.” Essentially, it allows male and female students who have become involved during their undergraduate experiences to have fun in a pageant and, in a way, become recognized for their accomplishments.
Here is what will go down during the pageant:
- An opening dance (!) number with all of the contestants.
- A round featuring “Gator gameday wear” (orange and blue dresses).
- A formal wear round (gowns, tuxes — the whole shebang).
- Interviews on stage. Contestants will answer a question crafted by the judges.
Here’s what has to happen before the pageant:
- Designing/selling advertisements for the pageant program
- Selling tickets/ rallying support
- Putting together autobiographies for the judges
- Learning the dance
- Acquiring pageant outfits (a red, white or blue dress; a gameday dress; a formal gown)
This is my chance to install a “MADE” operation for myself. I’ll get to work on building my self-confidence and take a risk. I’m in my last year as a college student, and this is my very last chance to do something like this. Is it out of my comfort zone? Totally. Will I be facing my fears? Absolutely. Will you join me on my journey to the crown? I hope so.