By Yvonne Dick
Jenah Walcheske will compete in July to become Miss Teen Canada World 2010, after having secured the title Miss Teen Ponoka County World 2010.
“It was the first time I'd entered anything like that,” says Walcheske, “I was looking for information about scholarships and bursaries for next year, and an ad (for Miss Teen Canada) came up on the side of the web page and I clicked on it and filled out the form, just to see what it was about.”
To Walcheske's surprise and delight, she won the title of Miss Teen Ponoka County-World. During the first go-round with the pageant, Walcheske learned a lot. “It wasn't like you would think of the stereotypical pageant. We learned things like social skills, interviewing skills. It's a long process to prepare for physically and mentally, but you learn so much and it's a confidence builder. You meet so many people, and it's a lot of fun.”
As a 2010 graduate of Ponoka Composite High, Walcheske is a past winner of the The Katelyn Cook Inspiration Award, given annually to a student at PCHS who “best exemplifies Katelyn’s kind heart and uplifting spirit.” She also received the Birchland Dental Clinic Scholarship, presented to a student continuing in a non-degree dental-related field at a post-secondary institution or pre dental. Walcheske will be going to Vancouver this fall to pursue a dental career.
As part of the upcoming pageant, there were many steps to take before being able to sign on for Miss Teen Canada. Walcheske had to get sponsors to commit to $2,500 and raise at least $400 for Free the Children. The teen who raises the most for the Free the Children will get to go on one of the Me to We volunteer trips.
“What I’ve realized these last few weeks is that you cannot let anyone bring you down. When you feel like giving up, you have to keep working that much harder,” Walcheske said. “When someone tells you that you can’t do it, show them you can.
“Honestly, you are the only one who is going to determine you success and you can’t let anyone take that away from you. As long as your intentions are good, your mind is honest, and you go for it with all your heart. No one said this life is going to be easy. So keep smiling, keep dreaming and continue to find peace of mind. Confidence is beautiful.”
Follow Walcheske at http://jenahwalcheske.onsugar.com/ and find out on July 18 if she is the next Miss Teen Canada World.