Gratitude in a Time of Great Expectations by Jude Maboné

Andy Jones

As the year comes to a close and I simultaneously prepare to submit my business school applications and head to Miss America, it would be easy to miss the beauty of my present reality in the whirlwind of stress and emotions that accompany big life events. I am one of fifty-one women who will have the honor of competing at Miss America 2024. Wow. This dream that stemmed from a time in my life where I went to bed thinking each night would be my last is finally realized after nine years and seven “state” competitions.

2023 was the most challenging and transformative year of my life. I entered this year asking God for really big yeses and it feels like He has opened doors for me personally and professionally that I had spent nearly a decade trying to kick down. I knew that I needed my life to change, but the experiences that I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the way my perspective has shifted far exceeds what I’d prayed for. 

Many wonderful things have happened to me, and I feel immense gratitude as I reflect on how much my life has changed since January and the ways I’ve been able to scale my impact. It has been the honor of my lifetime these last six months representing our nation’s capital and the community of people who live here and are often overlooked. I can see the tangible change we’ve made in such a short time providing our most vulnerable neighbors with access to CPR and AED education, and resources for heart healthy living thanks to my partnerships with MedStar Health and the American Heart Association. 

This year was, without a doubt, one of the happiest of my life, but it was also one of the most challenging. I’ve grieved, made tough decisions, and have made many sacrifices. Yet as I reflect, I am reminded that what makes life so precious is that blend of joy and pain. We can simultaneously grieve and celebrate and that’s what makes being human so special. I will carry that sentiment with me to Orlando.

In three weeks, I may or may not become Miss America 2024 and I am content with that. I would love to end the eighty year drought for DC (the last Miss DC to win was Venus Ramey in 1944, only the second Miss DC to win since Margaret Gorman, the first Miss America in 1921), collaborate with Miss America HQ on how to grow the brand (I’m an aspiring brand manager), and have the opportunity to represent the 125.5 million Americans like me who are living with heart disease as Miss America. But I’m also already implementing the impact I want to make now. Miss America aside, I am a leader in my community and am making the world safer and heart healthier every day. I am excited for whomever will earn the honor of being Miss America and feel blessed to be in a position where she will be either myself or one of my new friends.

 

So, as the year ends and I finally have the opportunity to take the stage, I am filled with gratitude, peace, and a healthy dose of humility. I believe that my God has me in His hands and that the outcome will go exactly according to His will and that’s a really satisfying place to be. My focus in Orlando will be to inspire others to relentlessly pursue their dreams, take risks and live in the “today.” 

DC, I cannot wait to represent you on the national stage. Thank you to all who have invested in me to get me to this moment. Orlando, here we come. I’ve never been more ready and I couldn’t be happier. 

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I can't thank Jude enough for sharing her first guest blog. You can learn more about her by checking out her interview with us on Section 36.