Pageant took place this weekend. It was my very last pageant as a Judson student.
This tradition has come to be one of my favorites at Judson. It is such a great opportunity for the Sisterhood to be strengthened.
When most people hear pageant they think of a beauty contest. While there are many beautiful girls on the stage during pageant, it is not a beauty contest or, as the Junior Miss girls would say, “a scholarship program.”
Pageant is a play. Do you remember reading that book when you were younger, you know the one about those terrible Herdmen kids, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
See, pageant is a play!
I was a part of pageant my first year at Judson. I transferred in my Junior year and I jumped right into traditions. Pageant helped me make friends.
Imagine...
I didn’t know anyone. I came to school with my roommate, but I knew NOT ONE PERSON in my class.
That is normally how things work when you go away to school, but I was in my third year of college. Everyone in my class knew each other, groups were already formed and lunch tables had already been picked.
I came to Judson and had to find my place. So, to pageant I went. I was a year older than the girls in the class that I chose to be in, (Since I transferred I got to choose to be in the Junior/ Soph class so that I could catch up and become involved in all traditions.) but I knew that I had to make friends!
I went to practice each night and didn’t really do much. I didn’t have a part because I missed casting the previous semester, but I was there.
I sat on the floor in the auditorium and watched my classmates perform “Honk.” I did homework and said this silly phrase that I borrowed from a crazy Youtube video over and over again. (If you are in my class you know what I am talking about...) I became known for that phrase, everyone knew that I said it and it was even a joke in wishing well (another tradition) the following year.
Then one day I was given a part! I was Grace, the red-banded duck. Not a huge part, but I did have a line or two. Just yesterday I realized that I spoke with a British accent in Pageant just for the fun of it! I remember thinking that it added class to my character. I know that was a random fact to mention, but the audience had to have thought it was strange because the play was set on a farm.
I grew close to my class through pageant. I made some of my best friends at Judson because of those long late night practices! I found my place within the Sisterhood because of PAGEANT!
Then last year I was a big sister! My little sisters were in pageant! Ashley, Brittany and Audra were amazing! I was proud to see them on stage and thankful for all of the hard work that they put into pageant (a gift to their big sister, ME). I remember thinking that “Into the Woods” was the best play that I had ever seen. The sets were beautiful, the music was fantastic, and each part was cast perfectly! It was WONDERFUL! And my little sisters cared enough to put all of that work into something for me. Again, Sisterhood was strengthened through pageant.
And now this year, my grand-little Julie was the lead in Thumbelina. She sang and performed so well! I was beaming with pride as her grand-big. (I know that is strange lingo for those that aren’t accustomed to Judson tradition talk, but I am Julie’s big sister’s big sister. That makes me something like a Judson Grandma...) It was great to see how the Junior/ Soph class came together to pull off such a great production.
Each year the Sisterhood grows! Each year it is strengthened. This is the last pageant that I will see as a student, and I can say that fact does make me sad. I will miss this tradition, but I do plan to come back to see it in the future. This is one tradition that I will not want to let go!
