The story of how this project came to life...
The story of how this project came to life...
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One day, not so long ago, I came home from school to learn that my mother had scheduled an interview with someone from Miss Teen USA. As with many ideas seeking experiences that would contribute to finding my way in the world, it was just a suggestion. No pressure. She had never participated in a pageant before herself, but she was curious to learn more about what goes into the event. I found myself curious as well.
One day, not so long ago, I came home from school to learn that my mother had scheduled an interview with someone from Miss Teen USA. As with many ideas seeking experiences that would contribute to finding my way in the world, it was just a suggestion. No pressure. She had never participated in a pageant before herself, but she was curious to learn more about what goes into the event. I found myself curious as well.
The "Eclectiq Teen" project is my journey in advocacy and support for my incredible friends and fellow students here in New York but also all over the world. I know full well that not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have two loving parents, to live in an incredible city like New York that presents the entire spectrum of humanity on display each and every day and to attend an amazing performing arts school that inspires me to learn, grow, explore and exercise my skills and creativity as the core of what we do.
The "Eclectiq Teen" project is my journey in advocacy and support for my incredible friends and fellow students here in New York but also all over the world. I know full well that not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have two loving parents, to live in an incredible city like New York that presents the entire spectrum of humanity on display each and every day and to attend an amazing performing arts school that inspires me to learn, grow, explore and exercise my skills and creativity as the core of what we do.
The Phone Interview
The Phone Interview
I took some notes during the call with a very nice recruiter named Lynn and answered her questions about my interests in school and extracurricular activities. I spoke about playing piano, ballet dancing and being in the vocal studio at LaGuardia High School (the movie "Fame" was based on the school).
We both felt that the phone screening experience was really comfortable, interesting and positive.
Columbia Precollege Program
Columbia Precollege Program
One of the "ingredients" in this story is my interest in brain health and mental wellness. Columbia University offers a precollege program for high school students in their School for Professional Studies in neuroscience. I applied for the program and was accepted and will be studying "The Neuroscience of Psychiatric Disorders" later this summer. In applying for this program I had to write an essay about why I'd like to study neuroscience. My essay included the first-hand experience of performing classical music and reading research about how the brains of classical pianists "lights up" in different areas using fMRI and other sensor technologies.
As a sophomore in high school, we are already spending time with our guidance counselors thinking about college programs and areas of study that we have developed an interest in pursuing.
As a sophomore in high school, we are already spending time with our guidance counselors thinking about college programs and areas of study that we have developed an interest in pursuing.
Given that my high school has almost 2,400 students, it is easy to be lost in the sea of talented artists, dancers, musicians and theater enthusiasts who will undoubtedly go on to achieve great heights. Getting good grades and having long-standing extracurricular activities is expected. Pulling together my different interests into a "total package" that genuinely showcases the things that energize me and get me out of bed in the morning is key to this story.
Given that my high school has almost 2,400 students, it is easy to be lost in the sea of talented artists, dancers, musicians and theater enthusiasts who will undoubtedly go on to achieve great heights. Getting good grades and having long-standing extracurricular activities is expected. Pulling together my different interests into a "total package" that genuinely showcases the things that energize me and get me out of bed in the morning is key to this story.
Image credit: playgroundai.com genAI with the prompt: a ballet dancer stepping off stage in a white leotard with graceful long arms and a subtle sense of sadness
Two Tragedies
Two Tragedies
There were two tragic events in the recent past that make me want to focus on mental health and wellness. The first was a tragedy that took place at my ballet school. One of the dancers took their life after being bullied and harassed. They were also not promoted to the pre-professional division which is a requirement to be able to advance at the school and eventually become a part of the troupe. Everyone at the school across all of the various divisions were hit really hard.
The second event is the all-too-common loss of life due to an accidental drug overdose. There are dangers that teens need to steer clear from in order to not be sucked downwards into depression, drug abuse and a life in crisis. I've read research that it only takes 8 minutes of connection for someone to experience drastic reduction in loneliness, depression and anxiety. We don't always need adults to tell us what to do and how to feel. We can save ourselves with just little moments of attention to each other.
...and how the story turned out.
...and how the story turned out.
LaGuardia High School Teen
LaGuardia High School Teen
There were a few options requested on the Miss New York Teen USA "production form" for what should be printed on my sash. My dad thought it was funny to put "Hell's Kitchen Teen" as one of them, knowing that they probably would not select that one. In the end, the committee selected "LaGuardia High School Teen" and I'm totally fine with that.
One unexpected surprise was to find out that a fellow LaGuardia student had also applied for the competition and so we were able to request to be roommates. I think it made a big difference for my experience of the pageant to have a friend from my high school to talk with.
Overall it was a really positive schedule of activities, from the interview with the judges to the pep talk from the organizers and previous queens, I can honestly say that I was not expecting so many of the girls to be friendly, genuine and honest about their journey to Albany New York for the pageant. Some of them of course had done this before and knew all of the details and showed what a year or two of competing can bring to your walk, your talk and your sense of style when selecting your gown.
My parents were there in the audience, snapping photos and cheering me on. The big news is that I made it to the semi-finalists (round of 15) which meant that I had to do one more wardrobe change and one more runway walk. I'm not at all disappointed that I didn't make the next cut (top 5) and I'm definitely glad that I did not win. That might sound odd, but winning means dropping all of your plans and activities and swapping in 100 appearances for the next year and also having to immediately get ready for the Miss Teen USA pageant in August in Los Angeles.
Becoming an eclectiq pageant teen was fun and educational and taught me useful and new things about myself (and also how to do stage makeup and hair, thank you stylists!), but I was already registered for a summer music academy after the pageant and an important trip to Indonesia to visit my mom's family and I could never see myself removing those experiences from my plans.
Active Wear
Active Wear
Yes, there was a large fan flowing our hair back at the end of the runway.
Pageant Program
Pageant Program
Thank you to all of my sponsors who contributed their support! Your names are in the program too!
Runway Action Shot
Runway Action Shot
Contestants were sequenced by last name, so I was one of the last to appear for each of the segments (cocktail dress, active wear and evening gown).
Pre-pageant Photo
Pre-pageant Photo
Everyone dressed in pink for the opening number wearing our sashes.
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