Dance Marathon!

On Sunday I participated in Iowa City West High School's Dance Marathon!  This event is a 6 hour long event that students take a pledge to stand on their feet and dance in honor of kids with cancer.  The money we raised supports Children's Miracle Network at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital! WE RAISED A GRAND TOTAL OF $95,034.22 Throughout the event different miracle families come and tell their stories, it gets really emotional but it reminds you why you are doing what you are doing.

Earlier this year our school lost a very special student named Austin aka Flash to cancer.  We Donated $10,000 of our total to the Fight With Flash Foundation.  In honor of him we changed the lyrics of Hallelujah to sing about Flash and it was truly an amazing feeling having 1000 students all together for him. It has been really neat to be apart of a community that is willing to come tougher and do so much for a family like Iowa City does.

If anyone ever gets the chance to participate in a Dance Marathon I highly suggest it! It is a great experience and one I will forever remember.

"One day we will dance for life until then we will dance for a cure"


Love Always,
Miss Pearl City Outstanding Teen
Julia Baker

A New Year!

Hello, My name is Julia Baker and on Saturday I was crowned Miss Pearl City’s Outstanding Teen 2016!  I am so excited for this opportunity and to start my preparation of my journey to Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen.  This blog will hopefully allow you to follow my journey and get to know me a little better.

A little about myself!

 

I am a 17-year-old junior at Iowa City West High school where I am the Feature Twirler and a member of our award winning Varsity Dance Team! I’m a participant of WHS Dance Marathon that raises money for Children’s Miracle Network!

Outside of school I am also the assistant coach for Ambition Baton Twirling, I absolutely love sharing my passion with kids and seeing the smile on their face knowing I put it there. 

My platform is really important to me because it’s very personal.  Overcoming Learning Disorders: My Battle with Dyslexia.  School has always been harder for me and we found out when I was in 3^rd grade that I had dyslexia.  For those of you who don’t know what it is, it is a disorder that causes your brain to mix words and letters up.  This makes it very difficult to learn to read and write.  For example when I was growing up I would write my name AILUJ but in my head… it looked like JULIA!  I was blessed to have an amazing support system behind me who helped me out.  I would practice reading all the time whether it was street signs or cereal boxes before school! As I have overcome this disorder, I have learned how to help others overcome their learning disorders by showing them that they are not alone! My hope for my year as Miss Pearl City’s Outstanding Teen is that I can continue to raise awareness to those who are struggling and help them feel confident in themselves and enjoy learning. 

It’s just the start!

Saturday night wasn’t just special to me because I won a crown; it is super special because I get to share the year with my sister.  My sister was crowned Miss Pearl City 2016 shortly after I was! It must have been our magic pink evening gowns because now we aren’t just sisters, we are pageant sisters!

Thank you to everyone who supported me….it’s just the beginning J

Love always,

Miss Pearl City’s Outstanding Teen

Julia Baker 

Junior Year

Hi Everyone!

A lot has happened the past few weeks, and I apologize for keeping that from my blog.

September was full of debate practice, show choir rehearsal, all state preparations, and keeping up with my classes.

Debate has been going great! This year I became president and have been working hard to keep up with everything I need to do. I have been helping a lot with different fundraisers that our team needs; however, there is always something more that needs to be done, so the work never ends. I am up for the challenge, though! Recently, I went to a tournament in Des Moines where I placed 3rd place in original oratory. I was really pleased with my placement because I know I will only continue to improve.

Show choir has been going well, too. Lately, we have been having a lot of rehearsals to solidify our show. It is great to be able to see it all come together. I am really excited for our works in progress show coming up on November 7th. Any one who is available that night should come! It will be a great time.

All State was a long process that finished up this past weekend. Students from all over the state of Iowa tried out for the All State Choir. After a couple months of preparing, it was the final moment. Only one person from my school made the choir, but as my choir teacher says, we all got better through the process. Next year, I plan to put forth more effort in order to finally make the choir.

I have also recently joined a new club, Best Buddies. This club allows students to spend time with those who are special needs. I was paired up with a 14 year old special needs boy named Richie. I look forward to getting to know him with all the activities we do!

Class work has kept me pretty busy as well. On the plus side, I maintained a 4.0 for the first quarter. Not only that, but I have began working with middle school students. I tutor them in french, and it has been a lot of fun. Hopefully this progress will continue as the year goes on and my classes get harder! I even went to take my PSAT's and I am anxiously awaiting my score!

Homecoming was also a great experience. Better yet, I got to enjoy two since my boyfriend and I go to different schools. It was so much fun. Here are a few pictures:


Davenport North Homecoming

Our Group

Bettendorf Homecoming

I played stylist for all but two of the girls pictured :P

Just a couple of weeks ago, I attended the Miss Eastern Iowa pageant. It was a great show and I truly enjoyed it. Here are some pictures from that pageant as well:


The new Miss Eastern Iowa, Erica Lester

Miss Iowa, Jessica Pray.

Finally, one of the most exciting things that has happened recently was Miss Muscatine's Pageant School. There were many speakers including: Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, and Jennifer Caudle, Miss Iowa 1999. I loved getting to talk with both of these women. Both of them, along with the other speakers, are amazing women who I truly learned a lot from.


With Jennifer Caudle, Miss Iowa 1999

With Elizabeth Davidson, Miss Pearl City.

With Katie Stam, Miss America 2009!

That is all for now, but I really promise to post again soon!


Until then,
<3 Jessica

Back to the Books

Hi Everyone!

I am so sorry that it has been so long since my last post. This summer has been incredible, and the school year is already off to a great start.

About a week and a half after Miss Iowa, I went to a retirement home in Bettendorf to perform. My grandpa lives in that building, so it was great to be able to see him and represent myself as Miss Pearl City's Outstanding Teen.

I also had a few choreography camps for my showchoir, and I absolutely love it! Our show is much different than years past. I hope that if anyone has the chance to come see it, they do. Our full shows will begin in December, and I promise you will not be disappointed!

During the summer, I began working with a summer program at the YMCA. I loved getting to work with so many kids! Everyday we were doing crafts, going to the gym, having healthy snacks, and going outside when it wasn't too hot. I was able to directly work with over fifty kids about staying healthy and active. It was a great experience and it helped me understand my platform even more.

For the Fourth of July I was in two parades. First, the Bettendorf Parade was in the morning. It was fun to see people I knew in the crowd as we passed. I even saw kids from my summer program, and kids from Hoover that I had worked with during the school year. After that, it was time to head to Muscatine. The parade down there was different because I didn't know as many people; however, I still heard kids in the crowd from Washington Elementary School who remembered me from coming to their school. It was so great hearing their excitement as they began to remember my visits. It made me feel as if I had truly made a difference!

In the middle of July I was able to participate in a pageantry class from Maxx Models. It was a lot of fun, and it was great to be able to continue practicing even after Miss Iowa.

Later that week I went back down to Muscatine to do a radio interview with the Miss Muscatine/ Miss Pearl City group. Brooklyn and Jessica were both there and Elizabeth joined us on the phone. It was great to spend time with all of them again, and after Brooklyn even came back to Bettendorf with me to go shopping! Overall, it was a great day. :)

I also went to Miss Clinton County. It was a lot of fun to see the new contestants compete for the crown. Congratulations to the new titleholders! I know you will have a great experience at Miss Iowa.

The next day I was back in Muscatine once again to perform at the Muscatine County Fair. I performed two songs, "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", both from the Phantom of the Opera. I have always loved performing, and this was no exception. It was a lot of fun seeing other titleholders, performers, and of course, enjoying the fair!

The first weekend in August, I attended the Miss Scott County Pageant. This one was a great show too. I congratulate all of the titleholders once again. You, too, will have a great experience at Miss Iowa.

The next day, I headed to Iowa City to attend Francesca's send off party before Miss America's Outstanding Teen. She looked and sounded incredible! It was no wonder that she made top 15 at the national competition. Congratulations to Francesca, you are a great representative of Iowa!

I've also begun to prepare for my next year. Trying to find songs to perform has been a long process that has no where near come to a close, but I look forward to continuing this work!

Since school has started, I have had something giong on just about everyday everyday. Monday's are debate and showchoir. Tuesdays are debate. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays I work at the YMCA. Somewhere in there, I must find time to do homework for my classes, prepare for All-State Choir Auditions, keep up my role as the President of the Debate team, eat, and sleep! So far so good! :P

I will continue to update as all this work begins to pay off.

Until then,
Jessica :)

Miss Iowa: The Competition

Hi Everyone,

Even though Miss Iowa Week has finished, my blog has not! I apologize for not posting about the rest of the week, so here I am playing catch up!

Thursday we went to The Skip-A-Long Daycare Center. I love playing with the kids and watching them be in awe of all the pretty girls in crowns. ;) They are so adorable! I made a couple friends, and we were both very upset once it was time for me to leave.

That afternoon we met back at The Clarion to listen to a presentation. The presentation, given by Ashly Lagneaux, was about The Children's Miracle Network and The Children's Hospital in Iowa City. Ashly explained different areas of the hospital and told stories about some of the kids getting treatment. She even told us about plans to build a new hospital just for the kids! The project sounds very exciting.

That night was the first preliminary competition, and the teens competed in Talent and Sportswear. Sportswear was so much fun, and I loved the outfits we got to wear! Next was talent. I love to sing and perform, and I love my song. Performing was such a thrill that I can't even describe.

Friday was just as exciting. Early that morning, all contestants went to The Miss Iowa Golf Scramble at Duck Creek Golf Course in Davenport. This time was a lot of fun to get to talk to all of the golfers. I got to do a little golfing myself, too; even though I am definitely not a golfer. :P

That night was the second preliminary competition, and this time the teens competed in Evening Gown and On Stage Question. This competition is one of my favorites because I feel really confident in my gown and hopefully that showed to the judges. I also felt that I did pretty well with my on stage question. I was asked about peer pressure and about The President's Challenge!



Answering my On Stage Question


Saturday was a crazy day. First on the agenda was the Li'l and Junior pageant. Congratulations to Matilyn Hepker, Junior Miss Iowa, and Ally Wichman, Li'l Miss Iowa. It was great to see such talented young ladies.

Saturday night was the final competition for Miss Iowa. I had made top ten! I was so grateful, but sad at the same time. I had lost my voice due to allergies. I went through sportswear without a hitch. Then came talent. I was so nervous to go out on stage to try to sing. My song, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", requires me to be in my head voice for much of the song. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible due to the state of my voice, but I pushed on finishing the song as best as I could under the conditions. Finally it was time for the evening gown and onstage question. Again, I felt beautiful and confident in my gown. For the questions, I was asked about distracted driving and what ways I encourage kids to be healthy!

It came time for the awards, and I was extremely nervous. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make top five, but I did gain a new perspective. Even without a voice, I was confident enough to get on stage and try. I plan to come back next year even more prepared and even more capable of everything needed to be Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen! Congratulations to Francesca Lubecki- Wilde on becoming Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen 2011. You are a wonderful girl, and I know you will serve the title well.



Francesca and I at the After Party


Also, congratulations to all of my pageant sisters. Brooklyn Heuer, Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen, did extremely well for her first time competing at Miss Iowa. She is a wonderful girl that I had a great time with throughout the week. Elizabeth Davidson, Miss Pearl City, was first runner up to Miss Iowa, and I am extremely proud of her! Finally, Jessica Pray, Miss Muscatine and your new Miss Iowa, congratulations and good luck with everything you do this next year! All three ladies are fantastic and I am so glad to have been able to get to know each and every one of them. There is no doubt in my mind that they all will do great things, whether in the Miss America Organization or where ever else they chose to go.



Pearl City/ Muscatine Title Holders and Directors (Minus Brooklyn)

I have begun planning the rest of my summer, and I cannot wait to finish out the year as Miss Pearl City's Outstanding Teen! I will continue to update as I make appearances and performances.

Jessica :)

Miss Iowa: Day Four

Hi Everyone!

It is a really exciting time for Miss Iowa Week! The competition is beginning!

Yesterday was another exhausting day, but never exhausting in a bad way! In the morning we began our first phase of competition, interview. I love the interview competition because it gives you one on one time with the judges to tell them who you are and what you hope to accomplish.

After the interview, we headed to The Adler for our technical talent rehearsal. At first I was upset that I only had one person in the room with me instead of two because they were running ahead of schedule and my second person had not arrived yet. After, however, I realized that this is it! Everything I have worked for is here. I am ready to be Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen, and I hope that over the next couple days the judges can see that. I am so excited to be on that Adler stage in front of everyone showing what I have learned, prepared, and achieved.

That night we had dress rehearsal. This too was a wake up call for me. We are really here!

Tonight is the first night of the preliminary competitions. Teens will have their physical fitness competition and their talent competition. I will blog about that and the rest of the day's activities tomorrow, but for now it is off to The Skip-A-Long Daycare Center for our community service! :)

Jessica

Miss Iowa: Day Two & Three

Hi Everyone!

Well Miss Iowa week is in full swing! Yesterday I was so exhausted after rehearsal that I didn't have time to blog, so I am going to make up for it now!

Monday was a busy day. All of the Outstanding Teen Contestants had the chance to volunteer at The Putnam Museum. Mainly, we worked with one of their newest exhibits, The Titanic. It was very cool to see some of the artifacts that were recovered from the wreck; however, none of them were recovered directly from the ship. Instead, the recovered artifacts were found in the debris field surrounding the ship. I enjoyed learning about all of the interesting facts that surround this historic ship.

After the museum, it was off to The Fountains Senior Living Community. There, the teen contestants performed their talent for some of the residents. I loved getting to see everyone perform, and being able to perform myself.

Singing "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of The Opera


Group Picture

Today was an early morning. The contestants met at seven in the morning to speak with local radio stations. The experience was a lot of fun.

Another Group Picture

After that, we headed over to Ray Porter's workout studio for a 'Work Out With Ray'. This workout was challenging, but well worth the time. As Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen, you will be expected to workout twice a week with him. I am ready for this challenge since fitness is part of my platform. I realize that in order to promote healthy living, I must be healthy as well!

Soon, Contestants will again meet at The Fountains to watch the national teen pageant DVD. Then right after, we will all be heading back to The Clarion for our last normal rehearsal because tomorrow we have a dress rehearsal at The Adler!

I will blog again tomorrow!
Jess