St. Patrick’s Day Parade

            The day after the Facial Rejuvenation Center Grand Opening, my family went down to Balboa Park for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. When I first arrived, I had no idea of what a big deal this parade would be, but within a half an hour more and more people began to arrive and my eyes started taking in everything around me. About 6 city blocks were squared off for the parade and the entire section of the park was donated to an ongoing fair, concert and beer garden for the entire day. There were at least a few thousand people there, which is more than there had ever been at any other parade. When I walked around to visit people while my aunt and dad set up the car, I met a lot wonderful and sweet people who were so excited to have me there, take pictures with me and even give me small souvenirs. A clown gave me a tiny dog made from a beaded necklace, and some volunteers for the Al Bahr Shrine gave me some pins that said “Kiss me I’m Irish” or “Irish In Training”. It was really sweet to see so many people in a community getting together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The parade route was also the longest parade route with the most people on it that I have ever experienced. It was down and back on at least 6 or more blocks and there was a never-ending wall of people on both sides. Even people up on hotel balconies and house’s roofs were screaming and waving down hello to me in the parade. It was the most fun I have ever had in a parade, and I am so thankful that I was able to experience it. This being my second to last parade, I was just so excited that it was such a rewarding experience and that it was something that I will never forget and be able to tell my future succeeding queens about, and how they should definitely not miss it.

San Diego Facial Rejuvenation Medical Center Ribbon Cutting

            On Friday, My dad and I went down to El Cajon during the evening to take part in a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new business of San Diego Facial Rejuvenation. I walked in and saw that there was the entire chamber of commerce of East County there as well as many supportive friends and family for the Dr. Paul and his wife. The entire office was quite small and thin so it was a bit difficult to maneuver through and see all the different rooms, their equipment and what they did but I learned that they also do things in the office such as permanent makeup, and Botox and facial injections. I had one of the interns there to give me a short tour around and basically tell me what each room did, how much the different things cost and what they did for you and how often you had to get it redone.  One interesting thing that I discovered was that a lot of the people who came to support the doctor were past patients of his or colleagues from the past. It was really neat to see so many friends and family coming to support him and that he was able to share his accomplishments with a lot of different people. That’s something that I hope I am to experience when I finally become a doctor-that a lot of my past colleagues, fellow medical students, and friends will be able to come and share that time with me when all my hard work has finally paid off. Because its not the fact that you are now opening the business, its too remember how far you’ve come and the lessons you’ve taken to get there. That’s what really counts when you have worked hard to get to, and achieve your goals. So I was really proud to be able to share this experience with the doctor and his family because it was a one in a lifetime thing, and therefore priceless.

Star of the Sea Bloodmobile Drive

            On Sunday, my mother and I went to the American Red Cross bloodmobile in downtown Oceanside in front of the Star of The Sea. I had not prepared exactly for the weather and was surprised to see just how much fog there was. As Miss California Teen Achieve, I usually wear dresses or a nice suit to my pageant events but for some strange reason, I thought it would be warmer at 8 am so I dressed in a nice dress with high heels but quickly realized my mistake as the wind roared by and I wrapped myself in a blanket. My mother decided to go get my clothes but while she was gone, I was faced with a long list of people who had appointments to give blood. I think there were about 10 people in the one half an hour that I was there. I could not believe how many people were both walk-ins and had appointments. They were so dedicated to helping save lives that it didn’t even matter that the wait was 30 minutes out in the cold-that right there, is dedication. Not only were these wonderful people so dedicated to their ministry, they also were the most friendly blood donators I had ever encountered. They made the time pass so fast, and there was not even a moment that we were not all laughing. Its moments like this were I am so thankful for what I do and am so glad that I was able to meet and be part of something like that-because it is so inspiring to me as a person and also to my reign. I hope that in the future, even after I give up my title, I will be able to remember times like this and always keep a smile on my face, even when times are tough.

In the Union Tribune for the Heritage Day Parade

My photo in the Union Tribune for the Heritage Day Parade!

RSD Orthodontics Ribbon Cutting

            On Monday afternoon, my father and I drove to El Cajon for the grand opening and ribbon cutting for RSD Dental Group. When we arrived I was excited to see that there were already two queens there: Miss Rancho San Diego Teen and Miss Teen El Cajon along with the entire El Cajon Chamber of Commerce. When I went in, I was introduce to Cheryl Tran who is the Main Owner of the Dental group. She took Miss Rancho San Diego Teen and I on a short tour throughout the new business and I couldn’t believe how updated and clean it was! Every room had computers and TV’s and even a machine that used water and drills to create a new crown for your tooth in a little as 8 minutes! I can’t believe how much technology has improved from a few years ago, when I had braces. Later on, after the ribbon cutting there was a raffle and I was shocked because my dad and I actually both won! I won a t-shirt that said SMILE and a water bottle, while my dad won a free whitening service that was worth around $500. I was so happy because normally I have terrible luck when it comes to raffles. But the luck didn’t stop there-the dentistry team decided to give all three of us queens free whitening services so it didn’t matter that we didn’t win originally. I have never been toa ribbon cutting where the people were so giving and thankful for the support I gave by coming. This is why I absolutely love doing events in El Cajon-because the community is so warm, welcoming and thankful. They make you so happy that you took time out of your day to come to their community. I am very excited for my next event, so that I can once again have a similar experience; and make my reign as queen even more memorable.

Heritage Days Parade

            On the cold and windy day of February 26, 2011, I got up and ready for the Heritage Days Parade down in San Diego. The weather was already quite cold and rainy by the time I was ready to leave and I had this feeling deep down that it would not be clearing up. And I was right. When we arrived down in Imperial (my parents and Aunt) the check-in booth announced that it would most likely be sprinkling the entire afternoon, so we would have to improvise. My mother decided to put the signs on the inside of the windows with some of my past delegate sashes on the front glass so that I had a title on the front as well. When the misty weather calmed down a bit, I got of the car to go talk to a few of the other parade participants including the fire and police departments, hip hop group, nurses, and some men for the scholarship program. They took pictures with me and I handed out my cards to many of them to stay in touch and also send them the pictures we took. When it was finally time for the parade start, I went back in the car and went through the parade just like I had in the Mother Goose Parade, with my head and hand out the window, waving at all the passersby’s. Even though there weren’t that many people along the parade route, just seeing the looks on the people’s faces that were out there in the cold, made the entire trip worth it. I really am glad I went, because now I have just continued growing my social network as well as being able to experience another day of being a queen.