This morning I woke up bright and early to cheer on my high school's football team, the Absegami Braves. Although the wind chill was frigid and my toes were numb, I was warmed by the sight of so many old friends, whom I've shared a bundle of memories with throughout the years. It's somewhat baffling to think that so much has changed over the years, but at the same time, nothing has changed. I'm more than thankful to have led a life thus far, where I can walk into a familiar space and be greeted by the hugs and compliments of those I grew up with. After our alma mater beat our rival team 44-6, I headed home to hibernate under a blanket on my couch and haven't moved since. I'm incredibly thankful that I lead a life where I am constantly exhausted, busy, and stressed because that means that I am surrounding myself with challenges and goals to achieve.
With each passing year, I find myself becoming more and more aware of how thankful I should be and how easy it is to get lost in the complexities and rigidity of life. Not everyone gets to wake up every morning and enjoy a cup of their favorite coffee, followed by attending a college class, in order to get one step closer to how they envision their lives to be. Today, and everyday, I am undoubtably blessed to have a family that supports my outrageous endeavors no matter how many times I change my mind or how outlandish my ideas appear to be, friends/teammates that always provide me with a safe space to vent, a second, pageant family that has taught me many life-changing lessons to instill a belief in myself that I never knew I had, and a "pen pal"/boyfriend who makes me feel as though I am the most special human being to ever walk this earth and who showers me with unconditional love.
A few months ago I had the opportunity to participate in the Scarlet Day of Service with my teammates, a day Rutgers University students dedicate to serving the greater community. The site we chose was a nursing home for elderly women, in which we were hosting a "Pirate Luau"(trust me, it was as fun as the title hints!) After assembling leis, concocting "mocktails," and playing DJ, our site leader approached us to do a quick dance performance for the women. On the spot, we threw some of our sideline routines together and the women could not stop hooting and hollering(especially when we did the kick line!) They even asked us for an encore performance, which we eagerly performed without hesitation. We invited some of the women up to teach them a sideline and you would be surprised at how limber these women were. They were giving me a run for my money! In that moment, I was giggling and having so much fun that I completely forgot that we were in the middle of midterms and I had a mountain of work to do. It was then that I realized how thankful I am to realize the importance of immersing myself in the service of others. There is nothing like putting a smile on someone's face while sharing your talent, something that has brought so much happiness and substance to your own life. I am thankful for my health and my ability to dance, as others are not are lucky to have such basic necessities. After our performance, we were able to spend some time conversing with the women and gained a little insight to their personalities as they imparted life lessons I will never forget. When all the volunteers were asked to stand in front of the room and introduce themselves, complete with college major and career goals, the women were in awe of what we all strived to achieve. The moment that stuck out most prominently to me was when the women were asked if any of them had similar majors or careers, they all sat their quietly, with the exception of a few. One woman explained that when she was growing up, they were taught solely how to be a housewife and college was seldom an end goal. One of the things I am most thankful for is my education and how it's allowed me to expand my mindset and view of the world in just a few short years. I'm thankful that my family has put everything on the line to see that I reach my utmost potential. I'm thankful that I am allowed to be vocal about my beliefs and opinions and that I am encouraged to make change in areas I see fit, without fear of retaliation or intimidation. I have been granted endless opportunity and been able to take advantage of it, which not all can say. On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful to be surrounded by endless support.
This past weekend, I held my first set of Fall Arts Workshops through The Arts Empowerment Project, with help from my alma mater dance studio, The Absecon Academy of Performing Arts and my mentor/dance teacher, Miss Jenny. There is nothing like being surrounded by the laughter of children and watching lightbulbs start to emerge as they're running through interactive activities that teach underlying lessons of creativity, team building, critical thinking, and the like. I'm thankful that I've found a passion that sparks me with energy, constantly challenges me, and something that I can pursue every day. I'm thankful to have attended a dance studio that leaves it's doors open to its students long after they've "left the nest," as Miss Jenny would say. After a long few hours of movement-based challenges to get the participants on their feet and working in groups, we all sat down and had a moment of reflection, by taking out our writers journals to complete a prompt based on "I Am" poems. Part of this year's workshop was to supply each child with a writers journal where they could step outside of their comfort zones, learn about internal reflection, and have a safe space to store their deepest thoughts and dreams. When the girls were done writing, quite a few were eager to stand up and share, presenting their carefully crafted phrases like, "Art means me feel important. Art makes me feel like I can do anything. Art makes me feel special." One of my girls, for the "I want" part of the poem said "I want to be just like Cierra when I grow up," and another wrote, "I want to be as good of a dancer as Cierra when I grow up." I am thankful to be a role model and mentor to so many beautifully driven and talented young girls, who constantly inspire me and motivate me on a daily basis. It is moments like these where you can't help but be anything but thankful.
It is my wish you for all on this Thanksgiving, that you remember the little things, the seemingly common and mundane things, and give thanks that they are present in your lives. Call a far away loved one, put your phone away and look someone in the eyes to tell them how much they mean to you, and give generously with all that you have. Let this be the day that you turn your life around for the better and live life with open arms, an open mind, and most importantly, an open, giving heart.
This past weekend, I held my first set of Fall Arts Workshops through The Arts Empowerment Project, with help from my alma mater dance studio, The Absecon Academy of Performing Arts and my mentor/dance teacher, Miss Jenny. There is nothing like being surrounded by the laughter of children and watching lightbulbs start to emerge as they're running through interactive activities that teach underlying lessons of creativity, team building, critical thinking, and the like. I'm thankful that I've found a passion that sparks me with energy, constantly challenges me, and something that I can pursue every day. I'm thankful to have attended a dance studio that leaves it's doors open to its students long after they've "left the nest," as Miss Jenny would say. After a long few hours of movement-based challenges to get the participants on their feet and working in groups, we all sat down and had a moment of reflection, by taking out our writers journals to complete a prompt based on "I Am" poems. Part of this year's workshop was to supply each child with a writers journal where they could step outside of their comfort zones, learn about internal reflection, and have a safe space to store their deepest thoughts and dreams. When the girls were done writing, quite a few were eager to stand up and share, presenting their carefully crafted phrases like, "Art means me feel important. Art makes me feel like I can do anything. Art makes me feel special." One of my girls, for the "I want" part of the poem said "I want to be just like Cierra when I grow up," and another wrote, "I want to be as good of a dancer as Cierra when I grow up." I am thankful to be a role model and mentor to so many beautifully driven and talented young girls, who constantly inspire me and motivate me on a daily basis. It is moments like these where you can't help but be anything but thankful. 
