What My Platform Has Taught Me About Bullying: Embracing Those Who Are Different

Happy October! A.K.A. Bullying Prevention Month!  My sister titleholder, Charlie Muraski, is Miss Idaho International (which is just a different pageant system) and her platform is Bullying Prevention! Today she is asking everyone to post a picture of themselves in a blue t-shirt to spread awareness. So, I want to #showyoumyshirt ;D, but I also wanted to talk about my platform, and what I’ve learned about bullying because of it!

For those of you who don’t know, my official Miss America platform is Possibilities for Disabilities. It is a program my little sister and I run which puts on sports camps for people with disabilities in order to give them opportunities to participate in activities that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

We started it, basically to bring more fun into their lives, but we found out it did so much more!

First of all, we realized that we had taken for granted the “fun” extra-curricular activities we had been participating in our whole lives. The piano lessons, basketball practices, choir rehearsals, etc., have taught us what we love, helped us form our identity, and most importantly shown us the value of working hard to achieve our goals.

But still, we found that the program we had started was doing even more in lives of each athlete, and every volunteer.

We run the program by getting our peers to volunteer as student coaches during camp. Possibilities creates a fun and inclusive environment, which helps the athletes break down the social barriers that their disabilities present them with.

In other words, when the athletes are playing fun games, kicking soccer balls, and goofing around with their peers all day, it gives them the chance to break the ice. Before we put together the first Possibilities event, it was easy for students to be reduced to label, such as “the kid in the Special Ed class”, “the girl with autism”, “different”, etc. However, as soon as we created an environment that allowed everyone to get to know each other, the athletes were able to show their peers who they really are—and they are so, so, so much more than their disability. We found out what they enjoy, what their quirks are, what they are passionate about, and what they dream of doing with their lives.

And, without intending to, we discovered what we thought the cause of a lot of bullying is, as well as how to prevent it.

We have a fear of that which is different than us: whether it is different religions, hobbies, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, ages, or in this case, cognitive or physical abilities.

Differences can be scary, and make us uncomfortable. They have been the root of many wars, arguments, and instances of bullying; however, diversity is also the source of innovation, creativity and synergy. It just depends on our attitude, and whether or not we choose to embrace those who are different.

For those of you who know my little sister (Hailey), you know we are very different. She’s basically crazy. Crazy awesome. But, again, we are opposites. However, that is exactly what makes us a great team. Her strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa. I am good at organizing, scheduling, casting a vision, leading a team, making and completing to do lists, etc. She is like the energizer bunny, is never in a bad mood, and is great at getting people excited. Our differences complement each other perfectly, and we couldn’t pull off our projects nearly as well without each other. That is something we should strive to do when interacting with anyone we meet: look for, acknowledge and appreciate the differences that exist between you and the people around you.

Don’t just tolerate those who are different, but love and embrace them as well. Our volunteers and athletes not only build valuable friendships with each other, but also take home an important lesson that extends well beyond working with students with disabilities: differences should not be feared—they should be celebrated. If everyone were exactly the same, this world would be so boring! Diversity is amazing, and if we learn to embrace it, rather than shy away from it, the world will be a better place.

For Bullying Prevention Month, I challenge you to befriend someone whose differences currently make you uncomfortable. No matter how old you are, whether you are in high school, college, or work a full-time job, find someone in your life that is different from you, and learn how to look past those differences. People are awesome—especially when they’re unique.

Ready, go!

Diabetes Can't Stop Us: Staying Active, Adventurous and Ambitious with Diabetes

This past week, I have had several followers ask some similar questions, and they’ve been bothering me.  I’ve been asked for diabetes exercise advice, how I can possible manage to stay active and not have my blood sugars drop, and, by parents, which sports they should allow (or not allow) their diabetic children to participate in. They have awesome intentions, but I believe the wrong questions are being asked.

First of all, my exercise advice for everyone, diabetic or not, is to find something you love. In order to stay fit, I like Crossfit, powerlifting, hiking, endurance cycling and running, playing basketball and volleyball with my friends, snowboarding and skiing in the winter, etc.—basically anything and everything! People have many opinions on what the best or most effective type of exercise is, but I say that the most important thing is that you find something you LOVE. The best exercise is the kind that is going to make you excited to turn of Netflix, get off the couch and get moving.

How do I stay active without my sugars dropping? I’m not magic—I don’t. I definitely am very careful about checking my glucose levels before, during and after a workout, but the truth is, sometimes I go low. It’s part of life [with diabetes]. How do I deal with it? I pause my workout, eat some carbs, take a short break and get back to it, but I never let it stop me, nor do I use it as an excuse to cut my workout short. That being said, while exercising, make sure you are careful. Test regularly, and always have carbs nearby. Every type of exercise will require a little different way of managing your sugars, but a few frustrating workouts should never keep you from staying active or doing what you love. Going to Crossfit for an hour is managed much differently from a day where I’m going to ride my bike 80 miles or run a half marathon. It may take time to learn to adjust to an exercise routine, but it shouldn’t stop you. Which leads me to the final question…

What sports or activities are safest for diabetics? It makes me really sad to think that a parent would ever instill the idea into their child’s mind that they can’t participate in some activities because of their disease. Sure, every time we are active, we are at a risk of dropping. Any time we are stressed, we know our sugars might go a little crazy. Should that scare us away from doing something we love? Of course not! Diabetes can make our lives, dreams, and goals more difficult, but it absolutely cannot make them impossible.

With diabetes, I have:

 

Summited Mount Idaho (elev. 12,065 ft.)

Skied the Swiss Alps

Traveled solo across 12 countries in Europe

Competed and set records in Powerlifting

Ridden my bike over 1,000 miles over the past two years

And, as of last week, survived the sleepless, stressful, but wonderful 

experience of competing for Miss America!

Did I have perfect blood sugars throughout all of my adventures? No! It was definitely a challenge to maintain an awesome a1C, but that didn't stop me, and it shouldn't stop you. 

This week, I want to hear what YOU have done with diabetes, and what you plan to do in the future! Complete this sentence: “with diabetes, I have…”, and let me know in the comments, or feel free to tweet me or tag me on Instagram!

Twitter: @sierra_anne93
Instagram: @sierra_anne_nicole

PO Box 6159
Twin Falls, ID 83303

Remember, we may have diabetes, but diabetes doesn’t have us!

Miss Idaho 2014 Awards and Scholarships

Social Media Award: Brittany Lock - Miss Syringa

Marketing Award: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley
Marketing Award Honorable Mention: Megan Wilson - Miss Canyon County

Alpha Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimwear Preliminary Award: Kalie Wright - Miss Gate City

Alpha Talent Preliminary Award: Kalie Wright - Miss Gate City

Sigma Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimwear: Preliminary Award: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Sigma Talent Preliminary Award (Tie): Kaitlyn Anderson - Miss Upper Valley

Sigma Talent Preliminary Award (Tie): Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise 

Sigma Talent Preliminary Award (Tie): Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Miss America Academic Award: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Miss America Community Service Award: Katelyn Strobel - Miss Pocatello

Boise Hunter Homes Outdoor Heritage: Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise

Boise Hunter Homes Business Women: Paige Jensen - Miss Western Idaho

International Air and Hospitality: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Miracle Maker: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Miracle Maker Honorable Mention: HannahSarah Davis - Miss Meridian

Four Points Award: Kaitlyn Anderson - Miss Upper Valley

Bert Parks Award: Malia Arnell - Miss Rexburg

Judge's Choice Award: Malia Arnell - Miss Rexburg

Most Improved: Kristin Tatilian - Miss Capital City

Rookie Interview: Katelyn Strobel - Miss Pocatello

Rookie Swimsuit: Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise

Rookie Talent: Emma Humphries - Miss Canyon Rim

Rookie Evening Gown: Cynthia Huntsman - Miss Idaho Falls

Non Finalist Interview: HannahSarah Davis - Miss Meridian

Non Finalist Swimsuit: Megan Moore - Miss Treasure Valley

Non Finalist Talent: Ellery Andrews - Miss Nampa

Non Finalist Evening Gown: Kristin Tatilian - Miss Capital City

Overall Interview Winner: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Top 11 Finalist: Brittany Lock - Miss Syringa

Top 11 Finalist: Cynthia Hunstman - Miss Idaho Falls

Top 11 Finalist: Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise

Top 11 Finalist: Paige Jensen - Miss Western Idaho

Top 11 Finalist: Morgan Hill - Miss Tri Counties

Top 11 Finalist: Dani Beckstrom - Miss East Valley

4th Runner Up: Megan Wilson - Miss Canyon County

3rd Runner Up: Katelyn Strobel - Miss Pocatello

2nd Runner Up: Kaitlyn Anderson - Miss Upper Valley

1st Runner Up: Kalie Wright - Miss Gate City

Miss Idaho 2014: Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley

Schedule Miss Idaho 2014

If you would like to schedule Sierra for an appearance, an interview, or anything else please email Deidre at missidahopr@gmail.com. Thank you.

I Am More

            One of the most touching moments during Miss Idaho week was a conversation I had with Miss Capital City, Kristin Tatilian. It was the very last day of competition; all of us girls had been living together all week. We were eating lunch, and I pulled out my pump to give myself some insulin. Kristin asked what I was doing, so I explained. She asked if I always wore my pump, because she had never noticed before. I was shocked she hadn’t seen it, because, of course, I had been wearing it visibly all week. “When I see you,” she responded, “I just see Sierra. I have honestly never noticed any machine. Your beauty and personality shines way too brightly for anything to get in its way”.  Even though I didn’t mind if people noticed my insulin pump last week, because I wanted to spread my message, it really touched me that Kristin would say something like that.

            You all know me as the beauty queen with diabetes. Your support has been so overwhelmingly amazing these past 6 days, and I have developed an entirely new appreciation for this disease, because it has brought me a whole community of friends. I think it is wonderful that we all of have something in common that has brought us together, but I have had one comment pop up on social media this week that stuck out to me:

            I want you all to know that, as much as I am enjoying hearing about how much I have touched your lives, diabetes does not define me. Your diabetes, or whatever your struggle or disability is, does not define you either. I am also not just “a pageant girl”, or anything close to a supermodel. I am a completely average, normal girl, who likes to sing, and thought that entering the Miss America Organization might give me opportunities to serve my community, while inspiring me to stay healthy and improve my public speaking skills.

So, I’ve decided to write a blog to tell you who I am: what I love, what I enjoy doing, what and who inspires me, my passions, and how I want to make a difference with my life and be remembered.

Like Dixie said, I like to powerlift and do CrossFit! I love working out. I also love running, biking, skiing, and snowboarding. I played basketball, was on an all-star cheer team in high school (Planet Cheer), and was also on a ballroom dance team.

Some basic, but silly, facts that all my best friends know about me are:

• ·      I love anything and everything Wonder Woman
• ·      My favorite animal is a jellyfish
• ·      My favorite colors are lavender and pink
• ·      I love grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate cheesecake
• ·      My favorite Disney characters are Eeyore and Belle
• ·      My #mcm is Kevin Malone from the Office (and I also love One Direction and Nick Jonas)
• ·      My #wcw…oh where do I even start! I love Nicole Johnson (duh!), Ellen DeGeneres, Sheryl Sandberg, and Eleanor Roosevelt! I also look up to my Miss Idaho sisters! Especially the ones I have gotten to know well: Laura Hampikian, Kaitlyn Anderson, Katie Strobel, Dani Beckstrom, Malia Arnell and Carolyn Pace. You guys exemplify everything this organization stands for, and I know there is AT LEAST one future Miss Idaho on that list!
• ·      I have two little sisters, Hailey (18) and Sydney (15). I have two puppies, and a Flemmish giant bunny (if you haven’t seen one, Google it)!
• ·      My room could win an award for being the messiest in the world.
• I collect clocks from wherever I travel to, and set them to the time zones they are from! I also collect pins and buttons!

One of my greatest passions is traveling. In 2014 alone, I have been to 12 different countries and 9 states. On January 2^nd, I left for a three month backpacking trip through Europe, and visited a bunch of places. My favorites were London, Swtizerland (I skied in the alps!), and Paris. I saw a Backstreet Boys concert in Spain (yes, they are still rockin’ it), and I also went all over Italy and Germany, as well as Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, and Ireland! It was an amazing trip to say the least. You can read more about it in a past Miss Idaho blog post that I submitted when I was a local titleholder here!

I also went on a short term mission trip to Cambodia last summer, and lived in Ecuador for a year when I was 14! In Ecuador, my dad volunteered as a doctor in a mission clinic in a small village called Guadalupe! My sisters and I went to school, and helped in the clinic in our spare time.

I would like to be a CEO and/or own my own company “when I grow up”. I am not sure what kind of company, but I am very passionate about business. I feel that, with the gifts and talents I have been given, it is the best way for me to make the greatest possible impact on my community. Two companies I admire a lot are Chick-fil-A and Southwest Airlines because of their dedication to their employees and customers. I hope to learn from their examples to implement their ability to show compassion and care in my own company!

At some point, I would like to live in Ecuador again, or any developing country. Since I am not studying to be a doctor, I instead plan on serving the people there by helping them set up their own businesses and teaching them business skills.

At some point, I promise I will tell you about my platform Possibilities for Disabilities, but that will be its own blog post!

I hope this will help you see me for more than just my disease. Now that I’ve shared who I am with you, this week I want to get to know YOU! Post your pictures, still with the hashtag #showmeyourpump, but this time, tell me something about you! Whether it is something you just found out you had in common with me (aside from our disease), something that makes you unique, or something you are passionate about, I want to hear about it! Ready, GO!

All my love,

Sierra

P.S. If you haven’t already, follow me:

Facebook: Miss Idaho Organization

Instagram: @sierra_anne_nicole and @missidorg

Twitter: @sierra_anne93 and @missidahoorg

AND, now you can write to me and send me stuff too! I love snail mail :D Hope to hear from you!

Sierra Sandison

P.O. Box 6159

Twin Falls, ID 83303