Family is so Important

Sitting here on a rainy cold day, I want to make sure everyone appreciates their family. Families are the biggest support systems around and I am lucky to have an amazing one. I thank God everyday for the amazing family he has blessed me with. We have struggled together and came out even stronger. Take a minute today to tell your family that you love them.

I love you guys! 

An Unofficial Appearance "Post-Secret"

For those of you who follow Post Secret you know what it is about, and no, I wasn't part of this event, but I was lucky enough to be able to go to the most recent Post Secret event at CSU this last week. For those of you who don't know what Post Secret is, let me tell you!
Post Secret started with one man named Frank Warren. He encourages people to send in their secrets anonymously where he post them on his website. To visit his website click here There is more information about him and his message on his site.

I have been following Post Secret now for a couple years and have always wanted to go to one of his events! Finally he came close enough for me to go!! It was such a treat to be able to hear him speak!! Since I had never been to one of his events, or even seen on online, I had NO idea what to expect! I could not believe the crowd that was there as well! The show was sold out, so I knew it was going to be good!

Frank Warren sharing some of his favorite secretes
with everyone

After the show, we were lucky enough to actually get books and tickets signed by Frank himself. It was so awesome that he stayed and signed everything for everyone! That is something I really admired about him! He seemed really excited when I told him I was Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2012!

Here are some of the things I got Frank to sign for me

One of the reasons I love Post Secret is because I love the message from it. Post Secret has a strong message on that everyone has secrets, both good and bad. If we all keep things inside and don't share with others, then nobody can help. Part of my platform WINGS is bringing young girls and women together to talk about the peer pressures and the struggles they are facing. Much like how Post Secret is everyone else's outlet. I look up to Frank Warren to the message he as so strongly lived by and how he has believed in this program so much that it is now a national site and message.

My First Appearance

Soon after being crowned, it was time for my first appearance! This appearance was in Mansfield, Ohio with some of the other title holders. We all met early in the morning on this VERY cold day! We were helping out with an Easter egg hunt! It was such great fun to help the little kids find eggs and even serve them some popcorn! I spent most of the day with my older sister crown Jenna Fowls. She hold the title Miss. North Central Ohio 2012. It was great being with her! I also spent the day with my friends Emily Tabar who is holding the title Miss. Mansfield's Outstanding Teen and Chelsi Howman who holds the title Miss. Ohio River. Being together with everyone was so much fun and getting to help out in the community of Mansfield was even better! I am so blessed to have these great opportunities!

My First Day as Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen

Here I am on my VERY first day as Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen!! It was a great start the this year coming up!

I've been Crowned!

Wow! I can not express my gratitude to everyone who has helped me get to where I am! On March 24th, 2012 I was crowned as Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2012. So far, it has been such a joy to be apart of such an amazing family of girls! I have included some of the photos from my crowning.

My Year In the Making!

Hello! My name is Melanie Drews and I am Miss North Central Ohio's Outstanding teen 2012! Im so excited to have this year to advocate for my platform "WINGS". Please take a moment to look at my platform statement! Enjoy :)

Empowering today’s young women.

First they came

-First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me

And there was no one left to speak out for me..

“First they came...” is a famous statement attributed to Pastor Martin Niemoller about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group. Just like bullying, who will stick up for what is right? Where is the good in people and in humanity? I challenge others to open their heart and be the person to make a change. Growing up in a small town, there are a lot of pressures to fit in since everyone knows everyone closely. I believe that young girls in surrounding cities can benefit from this group and gain a sense of security. My platform Wings addresses several topics that helps empower women for a healthier high school career.

            When I started my platform I based my group on a book written by a well-known author, Regina Brett, and the quote “First they came”. Without her book “God Never Blinks”, about the 50 lessons life taught her, I wouldn’t have had the wisdom to give to others willing to listen. After each weekly meeting I would read them one lesson and challenge them to find the good in the week that was ahead of them. There is something in everyone that can relate to the hidden truth about life. Week to week, I saw three young ladies turn from freshman who felt lost and wanted to fit in, into women who knew the path they wanted to follow. They began to give back to their communities. I’m proud to say that my group will now be starting an after-school torturing program at our local middle school.

             When my father was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, I lost just about every sense of security and trust I had. Although most of these girls do not have to be faced with that kind of hardship, every family has hard times. When they come into this group, I want them to gain a sense of trust and compassion. I want to teach them that no matter what anyone says you are beautiful just the way God made you! No appearance is perfect, no person is perfect, but beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

I hope to one day be an inspiration to girls across the country and have the Wings group in all high schools around the world. Launching a state wide school tour to speak with school officials and board members to present Wings in hopes of starting an after school program in every community. I would also facilitate assemblies with power points to show young girls to expand their horizons. We are the youth of the nation, I am tomorrow’s dreamer, and I want to make that dream a reality. I encourage everyone to get out and help with their communities. I believe that if everyone helps, it would make our world a much stronger place. Wings would be nothing without the support of the faculty at my high school and a local group called Kiwanis. Looking to pair with Girls.inc a group that focuses on positive influences through today’s young female youth. Everyone deserves to have a positive high school career and to enjoy being young while they can because, tomorrow is not promised and today is all we have.

My favorite lesson that I have learned and shared with the young women in my group was lesson number fifty; “Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift…” This is my gift to you and the rest of Ohio, a group with passion a heart with care and a mind full of possibilities to get out and help others.