But then I pulled out my old outlines from the dusty pile and started working on the synopsis for each of the chapters. Well, one of the things that I'm very worried about is keeping veterans in the national spotlight. This year I've been able to do that as Miss America, but next year there's going to be a new Miss America. Just because I'm not out there as Miss America 2000 doesn't mean that they've gone away. First of all, it's a chance to have a national voice on an issue of which you feel strongly and to hopefully make an impact in our country and in the lives of many others.
Community service is first and foremost.
Of course, competing also gives you a chance to finish college debt free. I know that sounds like a programmed answer, but I graduated with a Bachelor of Science and will be graduating with a Master's that is totally paid for. There are very few young women who can say that. The Miss America Organization gives women a chance to achieve the higher education that no other organization can do. Although only one young woman gets the chance to travel nationally across America, competing offers the chance of a lifetime.