Miss Teen Achievement
Newfoundland and Labrador

Hello Newfoundland and Labrador!

I guess I’m a little overdue for a journal entry- I apologize! Things have been extremely busy. I have just finished packing for my newest summer adventure. I will be spending the next couple of months on Quirpon Island, a tiny island off Quirpon on the Northern Peninsula. I’m going to be working at the Quirpon Lighthouse Inn and will be cut off from the internet and my cell phone for the whole summer! I have to admit I’m pretty excited about it, especially now that the biggest chore (packing) is finished.

These last few months have been filled with experiences I will never forget. My Girl Power! tour went so well. Thank you so much to everyone who helped out, especially to Joanne March (MTA NL Co-Director) for all the running around with me that she did! This lady has brought me everywhere, from Ferryland to Clarenville to Carbonear - and she has done it all out of the kindness out of her heart.  On Saturday, I boarded the DRL bus with Gander Bay as my final Girl Power destination (for now). I have been looking forward to this one for quite some time, as I look forward to all of them!

It’s difficult to communicate how it feels to be in front of twenty or thirty girls and knowing that I have the power to really make a difference in their lives. It is so empowering to have the opportunity to pass on any knowledge or experiences I have to them and to bestow upon them the challenge to be the best that they can be. I have made many new “little sisters” and many new lifelong friends on this wonderful journey.

In the past couple of months I’ve received questions from many girls interested in entering Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador in October. If that’s you right now, reading this and toying with the idea over and over in your mind, I have three words for you: GO FOR IT!  What do you have to lose? I really believe in this organization and in the difference it is making in young women’s lives all over the province. A little over a year ago I was where you are, wondering whether I should enter and if I had the “potential” to measure up to the calibre of young women I saw on the website. I am so happy that I had that spark of wonder and “what if” and sent in my application. I can’t imagine my life today if I didn’t. Whenever I need to make a big decision I ask myself, “in forty years when I look back on this, what will I want to say that I did? Will I want to say I made the easiest, safest, most predictable choice? Or will I want to say, yep, I was apprehensive and unsure but I DID IT!”  You deserve to be recognized for the hard work you do for yourself, your community, your school, your province.  So, just fill out that application and send it in!!!!!  You will never regret this decision!!!  Rememeber the deadline for applications is July 31st!!

My one piece of advice for anyone filling out that application package is to choose your platform carefully. Choose something you are very passionate about. I’m sure anyone who reads my journal entries knows how passionate I am about youth involvement and volunteering, and that’s my platform. Remember that you will be expected to make a speech on this topic and it is always much easier to speak about something that you care a great deal about. The more passionate about something you are, the more it shines through. Believe me!

With that I’ll be saying goodbye now. I am eager to face my own challenges this summer (especially the no internet part!) and would like to wish you all the best. Remember, “if you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Much love,

Kayla Carroll
Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador 2009-10

March 22, 2010

Hello to you all!!

It’s hard to believe that it was almost two months ago since I’ve written a journal entry. Time has flown by and I’m in my final weeks of my first year of university! I just wanted to say a quick hello to everyone and to update you all on my crazy hectic life!!

Girl Power! has been going amazingly well, I am so pleased and proud. The 2010 kickoff in Carbonear was fantastic. It involved about 30 girls and a sleepover. As you can imagine, there wasn’t much sleeping involved. If I remember correctly, the girls stayed up until at least 5am and were up again at 7:30, without so much as a yawn! I know that I must have passed my sleepover expiry date already because I certainly had a nice, long nap on Saturday! Thank you so much to our volunteers and sponsors in Carbonear, it was a fantastic event. I’d also like to personally thank the Rowe family for inviting me into their beautiful home for the weekend. The pictures are on this website in the Gallery section, have a look! The girls gave me a beautiful bag for my crown and sash as a thank you for coming out. It is just what I needed and I will never forget the kindness of the people in Carbonear!

Last Saturday, I brought the message to Bay Roberts for the next location on the 2010 tour. We had such an overwhelming response out there that we had to break the girls up into two groups! I can’t even tell you how happy I was to meet all of the girls. I also laughed a little when one girl told me that she had “Googled” me earlier that morning to see what I looked like. Oh, the joys of the internet! Girl Power always encourages me and pumps me up, and I was fortunate to have some great volunteers to share the moment with me.  Joanne March and Kathy Dicks-Peyton, Co-Directors of the Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador organization, and Brianna Mercer, a great friend and amazing person, came along to help me out. I also have to send a special thank you to the Guidance Counsellor at Amalgamated Academy, Ms. Kerri Morgan, for her hard work in putting everything together. Oh, what a fantastic time we had! The girls surprised me at the end of the day with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I was so touched and surprised by their thoughtfulness. They are hanging in my closet right now so that I can keep them forever to remind me of the wonderful young girls across this province. I have never been more proud to call this place home!

It’s amazing how true it is that no matter how much you give, you always get more back. It is so rewarding to have the opportunity to do this Girl Power event and to inspire girls throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.  They never cease to amaze me and I am so impressed with how mature and well thought out they are! There are times that I sit back and listen to what they have to say and I think in my head, “these girls are going to make such a difference someday.”  Their stories are interesting and insightful and I don’t think they understand just how amazing they really are! I know I will never forget this experience and I hope that none of them will either.

This weekend I will be heading to St. Lawrence - another fabulous night without a doubt! I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning, I wish every day could be Girl Power day! Oh, what I wouldn’t give for 50 hours in a day J I’ll update you all again in a couple of months, I’m sure I’ll have lots of exciting news to share.

Much love,

Hi everyone,                                                                                    

Welcome to 2010! Strangely enough, the more I tell myself that I’ll update this journal regularly, the closer the time comes when I realize that more than a month has gone by. In my last entry I was in the middle of a study break, anxious to finish my first semester at university and get home for Christmas. Today is the last day of January and Christmas seems like it was so long ago! Where does the time go?!

The next few months of my life are going to be extremely exciting. As most of you (hopefully!) remember, I had previously written about planning a provincial Girl Power! tour. Over Christmas I did a lot of brainstorming and writing, and have recently put together an information package that includes everything one would need to know about the event. I then sent it out to everyone I knew, hoping they would forward it along, and eventually through a snowball effect I would have a tour underway! So far the response has been great and I’ve been contacted by a few places. Please get in contact with me if you’d like to browse through the information package.

When I first applied for the 2009 pageant I listed my platform as “youth empowerment”. Back then it seemed like the only logical thing I was passionate enough to be able to speak about for a minute if chosen for the top eight. In high school I was as involved as I possibly could be, and always wanted to engage other people my age to get out there and make a difference.  Since winning this title and having the opportunity to act as an ambassador for youth, I and my original platform have grown and reached new levels.

I no longer see empowered youth strictly as the young person that leads a group, starts a new trend or joins a new club, but also as anyone at all that feels that they have the power to make a change in their own lives and that strives to make a difference in the lives of others. The reason why I am so passionate about this Girl Power! event is not to have a reason to travel around this beautiful province, it is not because I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and it is not because I want to publicize the Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Scholarship Program and what we represent. While those three reasons are sure to be outcomes that I am excited about, I truly and deeply with all of my heart believe that I have the ability to empower the young girls of this province to not only strive to be the best that they can be, but ALSO for them to realize that they deserve the opportunity to reach their dreams. In the time that they face such negative pressures from their lives to grow up and conform to what society feels a young girl should be, I want them to learn that it is okay to be who you are, to not have all of the answers, and to want to be different.

Anyone who has ever had the good fortune to be put in the position that I’ve had has wanted to make a difference. It is my goal to finish this reign and be able to say that I actually DID make a difference, and for it to be true. However how exactly does one classify a difference? I know it may be unrealistic for me to say that through this Girl Power! night every girl that participates will someday grow up and have the confidence to pursue her dreams because of what the night represented for her. However, even if ONE girl in the couple hundred that I’m hoping to reach, someday looks back and realizes that she was empowered because of what I have planned, then that is all of the difference that I hope to achieve.

There are youth all over this province that I am proud to know and who deserve recognition for the hard work they are doing to make a difference.  I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about one such person and I feel is important for people to support.  This is this year's Miss Central Avalon, Sarah Downey of Makkinsons, who has proven herself to be a leader and an insporational role model for youth.  She is collecting teddy bears and toonies to show love and support from the Children of Canada to underpriviliged children around the work in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Guatemala, the Philippines, Cambodia and Afghanistan.  Sarah, young women like you strengthen my belief in today's young women.

As you can tell I’m obviously in an incredibly inspirational mood today. I could possibly write forever about all of my dreams for the rest of the year. It’s easy sometimes for me to get discouraged when I reach obstacles or face unfamiliar challenges in my life. Maybe since starting my second semester of university and realizing that I got through the first one unharmed and with much of my sanity still intact, I’ve found my motivation and desire to be who I want to be. While I am growing and changing almost daily, at the source of it all I am still the same girl that represented “the most beautiful and unknown” community on the Northern Peninsula on the stage of the Sheraton on April 5^, 2009. Although I was a little nervous and intimidated, I wanted to passionately show how proud I was of where I come from and how I became the person I am today.

It is with this same enthusiasm and passion that I challenge you all to analyze your own lives and acknowledge the people that have had made a difference and have helped you get where you are in any way at all. It can be a parent, grandparent, friend, teacher, etc. Sometimes we need to be reminded just how much of an impact we can have on those around us. We all have the power to make a difference.

Much love,
Kayla
Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador 2009

Hello to you all!

I never imagined just how busy I would be once university got underway! At the moment I’m taking a much-needed study break, as I’m right in the middle of my first semester’s final exams. In about a week I’m going to be home in St. Lunaire-Griquet with my family and friends - and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely excited!

Strangely enough, the time is absolutely flying. I know that’s an overused expression, but I can’t think of another way to describe the last four months of my life! I’ve been very fortunate to be in St. John’s with a large circle of people to help me out and to turn to for support. Thank you all so much, this transition wouldn’t have been easy without you!

If any of you were following my Girl Power! Nights, you will remember that I had planned a trip to Makkovik at the end of the summer. I left St. Anthony and flew to Happy Valley-Goose Bay on August 28^, but unfortunately got stuck in Happy Valley-Goose Bay for the night as the weather in Makkovik was extremely bad. Thank you to Craig Compton for giving me a place to stay. I really appreciate your help! Unfortunately the night had to be cancelled but nonetheless thanks to everyone who gave their time and donated to the event. After Christmas I’m going to be starting an effort to co-ordinate Girl Power! events right across the province. It is my dream to visit every little nook and cranny of the Island and Labrador, to motivate and encourage the young girls of our province to be the best that they can be. Please email: contact@missteenachievement.com, if you are interested in having me visit your area           

I’ve been extremely fortunate in the last couple of months to have been invited to numerous events. As you may know, all of these events (and pictures!) are posted on other various pages on this website so please check them out! There were a couple of events however that stand out in my mind that I must talk about. The first was the Kids Eat Smart Gala which took place in St. Johns on November 7. The Kids Eat Smart Foundation Newfoundland and Labrador is a registered charitable organization that supports the education, health, and well-being of school children throughout our province through the support of quality nutrition programs. Their goal is to provide children with the nutrition hey need to learn, to grow, and to be their best. Attending their fundraising event was a real treat for me because there is a Kids Eat Smart Club in my high school, Bayview Regional Collegiate. Seeing for myself how beneficial the program is and then being given the opportunity to speak about the benefits to the people who make it happen was amazing. Thank you to Kids Eat Smart for the invitation and also to the Hair Force for styling my hair and to the Model Shop for their beautiful dress!

The second event which I will never forget is the St. John’s Downtown Christmas Parade. The parade was the first from St. Johns that I’ve ever seen, and I am very fortunate to have been a part of it. It’s an indescribable feeling to go through the parade and see the masses of people as far as you can see. The little kids were the absolute cutest, waving to me and calling me “princess”. Thank you to the Hair Force for the beautiful job on my hair, to Always In Vogue for the GORGEOUS fur coat, and to Exotic Limousine for the beautiful car I rode on.

Anyways I’ve definitely taken a much too long study break! Trying to find the words to communicate the last four months of my life has been more challenging than I would have thought! If you’ve noticed, the date for the 2010 pageant has been set for October 15-17. If you’re between the ages of 13 and 18 and are considering applying, I strongly encourage you to do so. My life has been so positively impacted by the experience and I can’t stress enough how rewarding it is. To all of you reading this, thank-you for your interest! I look forward to the coming months (but mostly for Christmas!!).

On behalf of the Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Scholarship Program, I’d like to thank our sponsors for their continued support and also wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Much love,

 Kayla

Kayla Carroll

Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador 2009

Hi everyone!                                                                                                                    

After  one of the most fun, yet busiest summers of my life, I am writing this on my very last day home in St. Lunaire-Griquet.  On Monday I will be in St. Johns' to begin another chapter in my life. I am very excited but would be lying if I said I’m not a little nervous. I remember on the first day of Grade 12 last year I told myself that I would make the most out of my last year and live it to the fullest. I never imagined that things would have changed so much and that here now, on my last night home, I’d find myself looking back on all my memories from high school. Bayview Regional Collegiate Class of 2009: thank you for all the memories. Sometimes we argued and fought and didn’t like each other much but I know that in the end we will miss each other this year as we all go our separate ways.

The hospitality and warmth of the people on the Northern Peninsula and Southern Labrador has been much appreciated this summer. There wasn’t one event that I went to that I didn’t feel completely welcomed and there is no greater feeling than knowing that people are happy to see you there. I have to say that it is especially cute for the little girls to look at me like a princess. I really enjoy taking my little tiara for the girls to try on and get a picture. They are so proud to “be princesses” themselves. I may say it a lot but I feel truly blessed with this opportunity. Although it is a little nerve wracking sometimes at different events (I am not used to everyone staring so much!!). I really feel like I connect with people when I get to explaining who I am and where I came from. I know how boring it might be for me to get into every event that I did this summer so I want to say thank you to everyone who has been involved in making my summer a success in any way. However, I feel that I must specifically thank my mom for keeping her sanity this summer. Between her three daughters, herself and my father working fulltime, she always managed to work something out for me and thank you for that mom! I am getting really teary just thinking about leaving my family and friends behind- I will miss you all and I love you!

Girl Power! has been turning into a hit! I was lucky enough to be invited to Roddickton-Bide Arm by their Recreation Committee to host the event. I must say that it was a little more challenging at first because unlike in St. Anthony where Kathryn and I knew most of the girls, we didn’t know the girls there and they were a little shy! However we rose to the challenge and I am proud to say that the event was highly successful. Thank-you to everyone who helped out that night especially Kathryn Smith, Bernice Smith, Glenda Hillier, Shelia Fitzgerald, and all of the other volunteers and sponsors! The weather is supposed to be uncooperative in Makkovik in the next couple of days so I have my fingers (and toes!) crossed that I’ll make it there.

The next couple of months are slowly filling up with different things to do. It will be a little bit of an adjustment I think for me to attend functions in St. Johns where I don’t know anyone, but I’m looking forward to promoting the Miss Teen Achievement Pageant and our values.

It’s getting late and I’m quite afraid that I’ll have to sit on my suitcases to get them shut (who knew that I had so much to pack!). Here I go- about to start a new adventure…wish me luck!

Much love,

Kayla

Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador 2009