May 21st: Hot Springs, SD (0 Miles, 18583 Total)
I was finally home!
May 21st-23rd: Hot Springs, SD (0 Miles, 18583 Total)
Did a LOT of homework, practiced the piano for more hours than I can count, walked in heels around a gym for longer than I would like to admit, finished up all of my scholarship applications, and started feeling really prepared for Miss South Dakota.
May 24th: Hot Springs, SD> Rapid City, SD… and back (156 Miles, 18739 Total)
I drove up to Rapid City to get my hair done (Marissa at High Maintenance is the BOMB!) one last time before Miss South Dakota, and to drop my gown off at the seamstress for some last-minute alterations. Shameless plug: KJ Forever Yours Alterations on Kansas City Street is THE LADY when it comes to ANY alterations!
May 25th-27th: Hot Springs, SD (0 Miles, 18739 Total)
Wrote close to 80 thank you notes, polished up my piano piece a little more, and prepared for my speech at the American Legion’s Annual Girl’s State.
May 28th: Hot Springs, SD> Vermillion, SD> Mitchell, SD (610 Miles, 19349 Total)
Mom and I trekked all the way to Vermillion from Hot Springs so I could speak at Girl’s State on behalf of USD’s Student Government Association. It was great to be back in Yote country. When the ceremony got over, we attempted to drive back home but stopped in Mitchell to rest.
May 29th: Mitchell, SD> Hot Springs, SD (351 Miles, 19700 Total)
We woke up and made the last leg of the journey back home. I did some laundry, unpacked my bag and repacked it with swimsuits for the next day’s journey.
May 30th: Hot Springs, SD> Chadron, NE> Alliance, NE> Denver, CO> Chicago, IL> Norfolk, VA (2261 Miles, 21961 Total)
Christopher got tickets to Virginia Beach’s Annual Patriotic Fest and booked last minute tickets for me to fly out and spend the weekend listening to country music, fulfilling my mermaid needs- bodysurfing in the waves for hours, and spending quality time with good friends! The trip was exactly what I needed to unwind before Pageant week and to get away for a weekend.
June 3rd: Norfolk, VA> Denver, CO> Alliance, NE> Chadron, NE> Hot Springs, SD (2141 Miles, 24102 Total)
The journey back home was a long one- I walked into the house around 2am (technically June 4th). It took me a whole day to recover- I stayed in bed all day working on homework!
June 5th: Hot Springs, SD> Edgemont, SD> Rapid City, SD…and back (176 Miles, 24278 Total)
When mom got off work we went to Edgemont to vote in the Primary election. I then travel to Rapid City to attend Shantel Krebs’ Election Party, and while the results were not what we all wanted to see, it was great to connect with so many familiar faces.
June 7th: Hot Springs, SD> Rapid City, SD… and back (156 Miles, 24434 Total)
After a killer workout at Health for Life Fitness with Scott Shannon, I went to Rapid City to do two mock interviews with Sara Frankenstein and Molly Barari. The interviews were both at very professional law firms and prepared me very well for my upcoming interview at Miss South Dakota, especially for political topics. After the interviews, I picked up my gown from the seamstress and began running some errands. I started to not feel very well and drove myself to Urgent Care. A shot of antibiotics later and a trip to the Walmart Pharmacy, I was headed home with a warning that if I did not feel better that I should head to the ER. Luckily, the medications did the trick.
June 8th: Hot Springs, SD (0 miles, 24434 Total)
I woke up feeling like a different person. I got ready for the day and headed to the VA Hospital to do a Mock Interview with community members from Hot Springs. This interview helped me get my game face on, and I was impressed with myself and my performance even with the events of the night before.
June 9th: Hot Springs, SD> Rapid City, SD…and back (156 Miles, 24590 Total)
Today I went to Rapid City, yet again, to finish the errands I started Thursday. I picked up some last-minute necessities and made my way home to finish up homework before Miss South Dakota week starts- TOMORROW!
It is absolutely incredible how fast time has passed. I do not know where the month of May went, and I cannot believe Miss South Dakota week starts tomorrow. Since January 1st I have now traveled almost 25,000 miles. My travels have enriched my life, created countless memories, taught me valuable lessons, and added to who I am as a person. This next week I will utilize many of these moments to show the judges who I truly am. Whether I walk away with a sparkly hat or not next week, I am thankful for the innumerable blessings that have been granted to me and I only hope that I can make purpose of them, possibly as your next Miss South Dakota.
Political Science Princess 
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