Check out this article about Neola’s success and future plans. Amazing!

Want to find out more about Neola? Read some of our previous posts here, here, here and here, or go to Neola’s Facebook page.

Hello All,

Sorry for keeping you in suspense, but here are the results we’ve all been waiting for. First, let me start by saying thank you to all for the continual support. My pageant weekend was a big success, and I could not have done it without your help. In a literal overnight miracle, I went from being completely hopeless in pursuing the event, to having many willing to contribute to my cause. I have learned the value of having people willing to support me without even knowing my face. This showed me the sentimental meaning behind the contribution of you all, and has created a bond between us that runs deeper than this pageant.

My usual lifestyle includes functioning independently on a day-to-day basis in every aspect. I am not used to having people around to unconditionally support me and my aspiration in the way that you all have been able to present to me in the past two weeks. Every time I received a new e-mail or text from Jennifer I did not know what to say, or how to react. In a short time frame you all have shown me more support than I have received in years.

As I continued through the last two weeks, I was always tempted to question why strangers would be so willing to help the “unknown.” I became aware of how many additional people are counting on me to succeed, how many additional faces are looking at me to be successful in the pageant. I was determined not to disappoint any of you, and to bring home the title that we all contributed to. It wasn’t until I was on stage at the pageant that I realized your eagerness to be of aid to me had nothing to do with this actual event. My interpretation is that you see more than a potential “beauty queen.” For one to show such willingness to another individual, that individual must have shown some ambition or promise. I am still trying to figure out exactly what the motivation was that made you all take interest. The more I think about it, the less relevant it is becoming. I shall no longer dwell on “why”, but I shall move forth to fulfill the promise that you see in me.

The pageant weekend was a complete success. I met new people, made new friends, worked with a really good team, and most importantly, worked on bettering myself. I had overcome a lot of challenges, portrayed a high level of confidence, built my self-esteem, yet still left room for improvement. This past weekend was not about being competitive or outshining the other girls, it was about me, and defining who I am to the world.

The best way to start this new paragraph is by announcing that I AM MISS TEEN GTA-WORLD!!! Out of 60 girls, 15 finalists were chosen to move on to nationals, where they will crown Miss Teen Canada-World 2010. Fortunately, I am one of those lucky girls. At Nationals, I will be competing against another 60 girls from across Canada. My duties as Miss Teen GTA-World are to continue to be a positive role model, promote my title by attending events throughout the GTA, obtain a lot of media exposure, and of course do a lot of fundraising for Free the Children Foundation. My platform will continue to be Conquering the Odds, and my campaign will be called: WE WIN. The preparation for this pageant will be more challenging than the first. The responsibilities have increased, the chances have increased, and the fees have definitely increased. I am determined to make the best out of this experience.

Once again, I would like to say thank you to all. This is only the beginning, and I will definitely make you all proud! If there are any appearances that you would like me to make, or if you have any suggestions for sponsorships, fundraising ideas, etc. Please feel free to make the suggestions to Jennifer, or you could contact me, or both. This is officially the start to a wonderful and life-changing experience, and I could not have done it without you all. WE DID IT! I will also post additional blogs to keep you all updated.

Neola Husbands
nh.msteencanada@hotmail.com

Just a quick note to let all of you know that thanks to your help, Neola was able to participate in the provincial pageant for Miss Teen Canada World last weekend. She did so well, she’ll be a finalist at the Miss Teen Canada World national pageant in July!

In case you missed it, you can find out more about Neola by reading There’s Something About Neola or by checking out Neola’s fan page.

The response to our first post about Neola has been amazing! Help is just rolling in. People have been fantastic. I have received great letters of encouragement, people donating gowns and dresses, people offering to send money, kids donating some or all of their allowance. Neola is blown away!!! I am blown away! Many thanks to everyone who has been a part of this!!!

Several years ago I worked for the Toronto District School Board as a social worker assigned to several downtown schools in Toronto’s poorest communities. I had the privilege of meeting some wonderful families and some truly amazing kids. There was one child, however, who really stood out. Neola – there was just something about her.

I first met her when she was in grade 4 at Lord Dufferin Public School. She was full of spunk, smart as a whip and incredibly funny. People were drawn to her. She was remarkable. I met with her weekly, kept a close eye on her and got to know this incredible person.

Neola’s life was not easy. Her father worked long hours every night and had to sleep every day. Neola was often alone; her siblings with their own issues often didn’t have time for their little sister. I remember on one occasion Neola had missed a few days of school and when she came back she looked terrible. She had lost weight, she looked exhausted and she told me how sick she had been with a very high fever and the stomach flu. I asked Neola who took care of her. She said “no one.” She took her own temperature and made her own soup and lay there alone and scared. She was nine years old. Can you imagine your own child spending days home alone and caring for themselves while very ill?

On another occasion Neola came to school with her finger swollen to three times its size with an open wound. She had cut herself opening a can a couple of days before. No one took her to the doctor; no one told her she needed stitches. A caring teacher from her school took her to the hospital. Neola never complained, she never cried and even as a young child always maintained her dignity and her sense of humour.

I left the Board in 2004 to go on maternity leave and ended up focusing on my private practice and did not return to the TDSB. I loved that job and I still miss it but I never forgot Neola. I have kept in touch with her over the years and so has that caring teacher who took her for stitches.

Neola is very special. As a teen she advocated on her own to go into care with Children’s Aid because she knew she needed support. She has been living in foster homes and group homes ever since. She has had a tough time but has stayed in school and maintained a good average.

Neola now has an amazing opportunity. She is a finalist in the Miss Teen Canada-World pageant. As Neola explains:

This pageant is not based on beauty or having a commercialized appearance. This competition is about defining your own beauty and discovering the most appropriate role model to not only represent, but to inspire teenagers nationwide. This pageant is about taking initiative, empowering others, and rising above and beyond one’s true potential. Along with the opportunity to enhance public speaking and marketing skills, the title of Miss Teen Canada is accompanied by a prize of twenty-five thousand dollars, missions with the Free the Children Foundation, and inevitably, gateways to a wider variety of universities.

This would be a wonderful opportunity for Neola but she cannot afford to enter the pageant without help. The costs for travel and clothing are too great. There are many ways you can help her. You can give advice and support. You can suggest places where she can find the things she will need at lower prices. You may have a beautiful gown that could be altered. You could donate money to a fund that I will be setting up for her to make this experience possible. If you are interested in helping this remarkable girl please e-mail me directly at Jenniferkolari@connectedparenting.com.

In future posts I will let people know how things are going with Neola, whether she makes it to the pageant and, if so, how she does. I would love for Neola to know that she is not alone, that people do care and that as a community we can help her participate in this incredible opportunity.