BE YOUR BEST SELF – THE OFFICIAL PLATFORM OF AJM
"GJM 2006 Blair Harshbarger receiving Be Your Best Self Essay Award at America's junior Miss"
In hopes of encouraging others to develop qualities and adopt values displayed by outstanding people, AJM in 1987 created a nationwide platform — the “Be Your Best Self” program. Drawing from their personal experiences, Junior Misses across the nation use the Be Your Best Self program to teach young people to successfully deal with challenges they face. They stress the importance of living by moral principles, education, staying fit, proper nutrition, serving their community, and setting and striving to reach goals.
BE YOUR BEST SELF – Essay Guidelines
Five point essay, typed & double spaced, and a minimum of two pages. ALL Essays are due by December 17, 2006 - NO EXCEPTIONS. Late essays will not be considered for the scholarship.
Keeping in mind the elements of the Be Your Best Self program - living by moral principals, getting a good education, staying fit, proper nutrition, community service, setting goals, and working to reach them, submit an essay describing a time in your life when you best exemplified these qualities.
The America's Junior Miss "Be Your Best Self" program is a nationwide outreach aimed primarily at influencing young people. Adopted to be the America's Junior Miss program's platform in 1987, the Be Your Best Self program is an endeavor through which Junior Misses incorporate a positive, personal approach into working with young people to encourage self-esteem, thereby helping them successfully deal with challenges they face.
The seven elements of the Be Your Best Self program:
| 1. Living by moral principals | 5. Community Service |
| 2. Getting a good education | 6. Setting Goals |
| 3. Staying Fit | 7. Working to reach them |
| 4. Proper Nutrition |
Positive Role Models
Because they are positive role models, Junior Misses are often asked by various organizations, especially elementary, middle and high schools, to make personal appearances. The Be Your Best Self Program gives them the opportunity to approach each appearance with a definite mission and message. It is a personalized message stressing the importance of incorporating six elements into one's life- morality, honesty, integrity, love, respect, and hope.
The program is designed to promote literacy, all-around excellence and self-esteem in young people. It involved Junior Misses reaching out to young people and encouraging them to make a commitment to being the best selves in areas including academics, physical fitness, morality, character, and social and civic concern and participation. It includes, but is not restricted to, encouraging young people as they face the challenges of dealing with negative peer pressure and personal experiences. Junior Misses deliver helpful messages emphasizing the importance of setting goals and striving to reach them.
Life Values
Junior Misses talk of the satisfaction that comes when a person lives life always trying to do his or her best. They emphasize the importance of “No” to alcohol and drugs, and saying “Yes” to literacy and education. They stress the importance of families and relationships. We all should try to do our. That is and integral part of the Junior Miss philosophy, and Junior Misses in communities across America are using the Be Your Best Self Program as a platform from which to deliver that message.