Beauty pageants, beauty contests, or scholarship competitions–whatever it is or whatever you choose to call them–very often are NOT all about hair and make-up, pretty pageant gowns, or just about physical beauty or fitness.
There’s so much more that goes into beauty than the surface level items and many pageants are aware of that and look for it.
Every pageant contestant should consider volunteering even if you don’t need a “pageant platform” as it is a win-win situation. It helps you build character and your resume (win!) and it helps individuals in the community (win!) and the community at large (win!). It is a win-win-win!
The world is about more than “just me” or “just you” but sometimes it is hard to realize it if we just stick with our immediate family, friends, and school. That’s a good place to start, of course, so think about what you have learned from them or if there are needs you can help fill or awareness you can help from there. But consider branching out a bit too. Think about how you fit in a bigger picture and about what you are grateful…sometimes that leads us to ideas of where we can help.
And, just so you know and can rightfully hope for, volunteering will help you have meaningful things to include in your pageant paperwork and in answering pageant interview questions. To me, that’s not WHY you should volunteer but, frankly, if that’s what gets you started then that’s fine as once you do it a few times you might find you love it! 🙂
These are some great resources to locate volunteer opportunities both locally and nationally:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
And, of course, you can simply “Google” (do a web search) on “volunteer opportunities in ___ ” your area to see what comes up. For instance, in the Phoenix area you might find a site like this: http://www.handsonphoenix.org/
Or try searching “community information and referral” to see what you find for your area. In Arizona, for example, you’d find this site http://www.cir.org/ which offers MANY different ways to volunteer in all different sorts of arenas. Some leads they provide involve volunteering with all sorts of people (kids, families, disabled, elderly) in all sorts of situations (healthy or less healthy in various ways, military people, refugees, around literacy, or in regard to any number of support group-related or education-related topics).They also provide leads on volunteering with pets and animals, in the parks or around nature and the environment, with the government or any number of agencies.
The links/leads they offer information on what the volunteer opportunities are like, the eligibility requirements, and what you have to do to volunteer (training you’ll take, etc.), and what you are agreeing to do, etc.
So you can find a resource like this for your own city, county, state, or country!
You can also just think about “What do I care about in this world?” and jot down your thoughts and see where they lead. Reach out to organizations on your own, even if they aren’t listed in directories like the ones I’ve pointed you to here. Almost every city department might be open to volunteers, almost any organization could use some help.
And maybe you’ll create your own program or talk to go give at different places–that’s great practice for a pageant contestant who aims to be a pageant winner and take home the crown as often the titleholders are asked to give talks or make public appearances. Even if your pageant doesn’t require a “platform” you’ll still be ahead of the game.
And remember schools often value volunteers of all sorts, especially as budgets get tighter and tighter and staff or programs need get cut. So check out the schools around you, from day care, to elementary, to junior high schools, to high schools, to colleges and universitites–there is so much to choose from. Indeed colleges and universities often have SO many different departments and community programs of their own, so it is a rich source.