What are your Hobbies?
Reading and Writing poetry, Acting, Going to the beach in my hometown, Bowling, Running, Playing Scrabble, and Spending time with loved ones.
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What makes you special and unique?
I believe that I am special and unique because of my very different and sometimes embarrassing laugh. I have a laugh like no other and it allows me to easily be spotted in a thick crowd!
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What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received was from my grandmother. Since I was a young girl she has taught me that I am my own person, with my own goals, dreams and decision making skills. She has always encouraged me to be an individual who is not afraid to be different and stand up for what I believe is right. This advice has allowed me to feel confident in my own skin and with who I have become as a young woman.
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Name one thing you cannot live without.
One thing that I can not live without is my precious puppy Princeton. He is a Maltese that I was blessed to rescue from a home where he was mistreated. Since he has come in my life, he has brought me so much joy and happiness! I do not know what I would do without him!
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What's the most valuable lesson you've ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I have ever learned, is never to stick your hand on a hot stove twice. By this, I mean that it is okay to make mistakes in life, but learn from your mistakes and move on. Messing up is a necessary part of life, but be sure to learn the lesson being taught, so that the same mistake is not repeated.
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Who is your most valued role model and why?
My role model is a woman who has faced trials and tribulations beyond my greatest imagination. She has overcome so many challenging things in her life, and has inspired me to be a stronger person and to always see the light at the end of the tunnel. She is my mother. My mother has taught me that life is not about the mistakes we have made, but rather about the revival and delivery from our mistakes. That is what defines us as individuals. She is my role model and one of the strongest women I know.
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What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment was when I attended a local preliminary to the Outstanding Teen Pageant. One of the teen contestants who is very dear to me was being asked her onstage question. She was being asked about her role model. Out of nowhere, she said my name and said that I had encouraged her to keep competing, because it was not the losing that mattered but the ability to rise above the loss and try again. When she said my name I was completely shocked and so honored that she thought about me at such an important moment.
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What is your workout routine?
My workout routine consists of running, lifting some weights, and bundles and bundles of crunches! I've never been one who is big on dieting, so me preparing for swim suit has to come from the gym!
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What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment to date, I believe would have to be, my platform. I created a non-profit organization that helps children who are affected by substance abuse. Since I too am a child that grew up in a home where substance abuse was present in my life, I feel that I have knowledge and advice to provide to those in similar situations. I have seen so many positive things come from my organization reaching out to young children. I believe it will be not only my greatest achievement to date but of a lifetime!
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What is the best compliment you have ever recieved?
The best compliment I ever received was from a little girl in my after school group at the YMCA. One day she looked at me and said, "SaSha, you are such a great friend". Although, I have heard this many times growing up, from this little girl it meant the world to me. Not only had I reached to her as counselor but she actually cherished me and considered me a friend. What an honor!
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What is your secret wish?
My secret wish would be to know all of the languages in the world. I suppose this would be more like a super power. Then, I could travel the world and discuss many different topics, relate, and converse with millions of people. I believe this would be the opportunity of a lifetime; a unique, key hole that would allow me to understand many different cultures.
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What was your most embarrassing moment?
My Most Embarrassing Moment would have to be when I was shopping with one of my best friends from childhood, and we met someone that she didn't know. I went to introduce her to the new oncomer and could not remember my best friends name! My mind went blank! Who doesn't know the name of their best friend? Ha.. Needless to say I felt terrible for days and was pretty humiliated!
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What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is potato chips! I will eat any kind, anywhere. I know this is terrible, as my friends always say, they're nothing but fried carbs! Regardless of their terrible reputation, they have become one of my favorite snacks. I would choose them over a sweet treat anytime!
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What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is The Fox and the Hound by Disney. I know it's a children's film, but it has such a great message. It shows how two different types of people can become great friends, regardless of their species, or in a more practical case their backgrounds and beliefs.
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What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
When I'm in the need for some fun, I love to go bowling with my friends. Its a great way for us to all get together and have a little competitive excitement!
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What would be your dream vacation or destination?
My dream vacation would be to gather a bunch of my closest friends and family and travel around the entire world, on a month long escape from our hectic lives. We would be able to see all seven of the world's wonders and share to many exciting and once in a lifetime memories!
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What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?
I love Mississippi because of it's great southern hospitality. I know this is very stereotypical, but I have seen first hand, the wonderful kindness our state has to offer. After Hurricane Katrina our state came together in a way I would have never imagined. I believe in a time of such tragedy many states would have fallen apart and experienced a great amount of conflict. Our southern hospitality shown through and we learned to look to our neighbors and community members for support and just look how far we have come today!
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I will be thirty years old. I see myself with a stable job and a doctorate degree. I hope to be settling down in life and beginning to fulfill my true person for living.
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Who am I?
Whenever asked to describe myself, I always find it hard to decide just where to start. So, I'll start with the beginning. On the day I was born, I was off to a rocky start. I was born three months premature to a very young mother. The odds for my survival were extremely slim, but I made it. This has caused me to feel strongly about the fact that I do have a purpose in life and I am here for a reason. I was raised by my grandparents, along with the help of the rest of my family. I love my family more than anything in the world. Even though we have our problems just as every family does, I believe God blessed my by giving me the one I have. Growing up with such a large and unique family has definitely structured me into the sometimes stubborn and loving person I am today.

I am a huge optimist and believe in looking at the brighter things in life. There's no point on focusing on all the negative because life doesn't come with huge erasers to erase the things we do not like. So, find good in all the bad. I love animals and have the most beautiful cat and puppy. Their names are Phoebie and Princeton. My favorite food is my grandmother's homemade macaroni and cheese, chances are you haven't been lucky enough to experience this amazing dish, but I'm sure she'd invite you to dinner anytime you would like to come! My family is extremely generous and I believe this has led me to be very generous as an individual. I take honor in the fact that people can always look to me in their time of need.

One day, I hope to be able to travel the world and be a motivational speaker. What will I speak of? Well, I hope to tell people about all of the hardships I have experienced throughout my life, and all of the great things that have come from them.
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Tell us about your platform.
My platform is Project Redline Inc. It is a non profit organization that I began to help adolescents and teenagers who are affected in some way by substance abuse. Project Redline Inc. mainly focuses on alcohol and drug abuse.

So many children in this country are growing up in homes where one or more of their family members are suffering from addictions. I grew up in a home where both of my parents were highly addicted to drugs and alcohol. As a result, I was raised by my grandparents. I was fortunate. Many children don't have relatives who step in and make sure they are provided for. Even though I had an alternate source of parenting, that did not stop the pain that I suffered everyday.

I know first hand that it is extremely embarrassing and hard to be a young child of an addict. I have gone through times when I had no self-confidence at all, and questioned my purpose here in life.

Children and teens today are going through the same types of anguish. My platform is for those children. It allows the children to know that they are not alone in this battle. I want them to know that there are thousands on thousands of people across the country who are going through exactly the same thing. Project Redline Inc. brings hope back to people who have lost all traces of the world, it builds a support group, strategies, and self-confidence that allow children and teens who are suffering from their parents' addiction to end the pain and substance abuse in their lives and move on to become strong, healthy individuals.
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