What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include playing the piano, ballet, reading, leisurely hiking in the Appalachian Mountains, and keeping an ongoing journal.

What makes you special and unique?
As the musical Annie has explained, "You’re never fully dressed without a smile!" I have often been complemented on my dimples, which I have inherited from my mother and my grandmother. Being the only blonde in my family also makes me unique; I am living proof that blondes do have brains, and I have also found that blondes do have more fun!

What is the best advice you have ever received?
My mother has often advised me with her favorite scripture from the Bible, Proverbs 4:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." As I go through life, I become increasingly more aware of the truth that lies in this little piece of advice!

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I cannot live without my faith, which was instilled within me by my family when I was a young child. My family has always supported me with faith, hope, and love!

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
Throughout the many challenges I have faced in life, I have grown steadily more aware that by working hard, trying our best, and giving God the glory, anything is possible.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by role models, one of which is my grandmother, after whom I am named. With the graciousness of a queen, she is always eager to offer words of wisdom, and I have never heard an unkind word pass from her mouth. I hope to carry on her legacy in my own life.

What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment was when I was chosen to serve as Miss Mississippi Coast and participate in the Miss Mississippi pageant! This opportunity is an exciting bend in the road, and I am thrilled to discover where it will take me!

What is your workout routine?
My workout consists of a mixture of cardio and strengthening exercises. In addition, I take ballet classes for enjoyment.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment has been graduating as valedictorian of my high school class and following in the footsteps of my brother, who also graduated as valedictorian of his class in the same high school. My scholastic achievements have allowed me to be accepted into various programs at my university. I feel like this is an open door to my future, and I am willing to meet the academic challenges that are set before me. As William Butler Yeats once said, "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
I was once told by a very special person that I am beautiful both on the inside and out, a compliment that I was flattered to receive!

What is your secret wish?
My secret wish will always be my secret wish as long as I don’t tell anyone about it.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
One time during an interview, I was asked my father's rank in the Navy. Out of sheer nervousness, I mistakenly uttered a rank that was completely incorrect! The interviewer amusedly corrected me, and we proceeded with the interview. I assure you, from then on my father's rank has been permanently etched in my brain!

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Like any Southerner, I just love to indulge in a tall, icy glass of sweet tea! This sugary beverage may seem like a harmless treat, but when consumed in large quantities, it is quite a different story! Still, it never fails to bring a ray of sunshine into a cloudy day!

What is your favorite movie and why?
I love "The Wizard of Oz." I can watch it over and over again, and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" will never fail to bring tears to my eyes! Oh, Auntie Em! There's no place like home!

What is your favorite color and why?
Pink is my all-time favorite! It is the color of camellias, flamingoes, and raspberry tea, and I never grow tired of its rosy hue!

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
For fun, I enjoy doing ballet. After a long day, some plies are a great way to wind down and lighten up! My favorite form of relaxation is to ensconce myself in a chair with a good book, preferably one by Jan Karon. For recreation, I love traveling with my family in the mountains of North Carolina! Where else can one be so close to heaven with both feet still on the ground?

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
For a dream vacation, I would instantly hop on a plane to Europe! There, I would marvel at the art of the Renaissance in Florence, practice my French in Paris, and stop by London for afternoon tea!

What do you like best about your hometown?
Ocean Springs is a town with an atmosphere that is all its own. Nestled between Biloxi and Pascagoula on the beautiful Gulf Coast, it was the hometown of the famous artist Walter Anderson and is currently the site of the annual Peter Anderson Art Festival, which draws visitors from across the state!

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
Driving back and forth from Ocean Springs to Oxford, I see a quite a bit of our beautiful state. What strikes me the most about Mississippi is its profound diversity. From white beaches to large cities to peaceful pastures, Mississippi has a place for everyone. I quite agree with William Faulkner in his statement, "In order to understand the world, you must understand a place like Mississippi."

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
Oh my! I have a very eclectic taste in music! From Classical to Broadway to Country/Western, my heart is always filled with a song!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself obtaining a graduate degree. My involvement in the Croft Institute for International Studies and the Lott Leadership Institute has opened so many windows of opportunity! I have also am interested in the sciences. Time will tell what the future holds for me!

Who am I?
Throughout my life I have developed two very distinct passions. In the eleven years since I began taking piano, my love of the art has blossomed. I think of piano as a challenge, and I enjoy working through the tangled notes of complicated pieces like one would unscramble a jigsaw puzzle. Once I have a solo nearly perfect, I am overwhelmed by the satisfaction of a job well done. When I am playing the piano, the world with all of its cares and worries seems to hold its breath; time stands still and all that can be heard are the melodious notes cascading from the instrument. As I marvel at the power of music, one of the oldest traditions known to man, I am certain that I shall continue this passion for the rest of my life.

A very important passion of mine is writing. I never tire of shaping and molding my thoughts into words; the challenge of selecting the perfect words incessantly thrills me. Even as a child I composed short stories and poems, sometimes merely for the exhilaration of transposing my dreams and fancies onto a blank sheet of paper. With a few finishing touches, a whisk of a crayon and some splashes of paint, the final product would surely be admired, perhaps even gaining a coveted spot on the refrigerator door. Such a thrill continues to this day, and I never tire of transposing my thoughts onto paper.

My love of music and writing will continue to play a large part in my life. These varied subjects are unified by my one great passion, that of learning. The world is brimming with knowledge and information; it must only be sought after and ascertained. Each new day brings new occasions to explore the world of learning, an exciting journey of which I will never tire.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
Thus far, my main occupation in life has been my academics. My education has stretched beyond the realm of textbooks and class discussions. Aside from learning scholarly things, such as the preamble to the Constitution, I have learned the importance of deadlines, time management, and how work alongside various kinds of people. I have also realized that one must be physically fit as well as mentally fit, and I have tried to incorporate these two elements into my daily schedule to become the well-rounded person that I hope to be.

Tell us about your platform.
The World Health Organization estimates that 153 million people in the world have uncorrected refracted errors (near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism) in their sight. A pair of glasses can easily correct these errors, yet many people do not have access to corrective lenses. I have challenged myself to support the initiative of Lions Clubs International in their recycling of new and used eyeglasses. Collected eyeglasses will be sent to a clearing center to be classified by prescription and prepared for shipment to people in need around the world. Donated glasses help those who have never experienced corrected vision to see clearly for the first time. I consider this a worthy cause, as those who receive the recycled glasses will be able to see better to read, attend school, seek employment, and take care of their families.

As a child, I developed a significant case of nearsightedness. Immediately when I put on my pair of glasses, I noticed a difference. To be able to see each and every leaf on a nearby tree clearly was life-altering for me. I realized that the ability to see is a necessity to the pursuance of a better life for oneself and one's family. I consider the Lions Club a very influential worldwide organization, and hope to become a global leader in community and humanitarian service. I plan to take on the challenge introduced by Helen Keller in her 1925 speech at the Lions Clubs International Convention, to become "Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness."