Avery Building Character

Want to know why Avery is so passionate about building Character?

Entering Jr. High School, I discovered just how important my support system is in my life. These two years were extremely difficult for me even though many good things happened for me at the same time. I felt the need to continue my focus on self esteem but realized that choices I was making in my life and the choices others were making were very different. It was difficult to accept but I discovered the "character" of someone has a lot to do with the way you feel about yourself.

I witnessed some of my best friends making bad choices due to peer pressure or just wanting to "fit in" or to be accepted. I had to make some "unpopular" choices which in the end cost me several opportunities that I had worked for my entire life. But, I was not willing to sacrifice my morals, beliefs or values just to receive those opportunities. In the eighth grade, I was elected homecoming queen and I won a Miss America's Outstanding Teen preliminary pageant all in the same week. What should have been the happiest week of my life was probably one of the toughest and loneliest. Instead of my peers being happy for me or congratulating me, I received comments like "You knew you were going to win" or "You win everything". The truth is I did not even know I was on the ballot for homecoming queen because I was not even in my homeroom class when girls were nominated for the court or when the voting was done. Many of my friends turned against me and were quick to tell me that I would never win homecoming queen. Also, when I won my local preliminary pageant, one of the other girls competing was very rude to me and said she just could not understand why I won. It was like I needed to apologize for my success or achieving my goals. I had worked so hard and I knew I had always tried to do the right thing. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I do try to treat others as I would like to be treated.

Needless to say, I was sad and very low and would often tell my mom that I did not have any friends. I would ask her "mom, why does everyone dislike me or treat me so poorly?" She would often say that at this stage of my life that I would find out who my true friends really were. I have to admit that at times I resented doing the right thing and separating myself from my peers. I got so tired of hearing from my parents and my inner circle "Avery, you need to learn from these situations and remember you are just building character". When in fact, I basically just wanted to be what I thought was a normal teenager. By normal teenager I mean have a lot of friends, socializing and experiencing the day to day fun in and out of school that I witnessed from my peers.

I have learned through many tears and many lonely days and nights that your morals, values and beliefs and ultimately how you feel about yourself often determine your position or situation in life. I want to be successful and I have many goals and dreams I want to accomplish. I want to help others realize their dreams and that "tough times don't last, but tough people do". By tough I mean those with character; those who have the foundation and the belief in themselves to do what they are capable of doing or being the best they can be. I truly want to make a difference and help others through my own experiences. My initials are ABC for Avery Brooke Cooper. While promoting my self esteem platform I tried to discuss accepting, believing and caring about yourself and others. I wanted to re-brand my platform from "You are my Sunshine" to something more cute and catchy. So, incorporating my initials and 1,2,3, I chose to promote ABC for Avery Building Character...Easy as 1,2,3. I do feel building character must be an essential ingredient in a persons growth and human development. I am proud to promote this effort during my year of service as Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2009.