Phaedra Flowers- Miss North Carolina
Not only have I proven my success by overcoming life’s every day challenges, but also by living and learning other life lessons God has put before me. Over the years, I have come to learn much about family, love, education, and life.
My hardest struggle came when I was only six years old and was faced with accepting the loss of my father. At such a young age, I took on additional familial responsibility and learned how precious life truly is. The value of friendship and love is something I continue to share as the true gifts in this life.
Another challenge faced me as I approached college as only an average student. With financial limitations, I worked full-time and took evening college courses to graduate in only three years, with honors! I think it was during this time I realized I could accomplish anything set before me.
As I mentioned earlier, love has been another obstacle in the last year that has proved to be a great challenge. With only a month until my wedding, my fiancé wanted more time. I felt lost, rejected and confused, I felt as though I had no place in the world. I found my spiritual foundation presented a great strength for me and do not know how I could have overcome this challenge without it. I had supportive family and friends, found my purpose again, and realized the importance of taking the time to grow in my relationship with the man I intend to spend the rest of my life with.
Success appears to be such a simple word, but when taken out of context and analyzed, we realize its value is far more. The life lessons we stumble upon on this journey of life are what make us who we are and help us to grow into what we will be. It is not the material things I have received that mean the most, but the reward is in the accomplishments that have gotten me where I am today, which makes me successful.
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it”.