To Melissa

This next "thank you" post is dedicated to my dear friend, mentor, and longtime pageant sponsor Melissa. She has SO many qualities that I absolutely love! She is incredibly kind and generous but she is also hilarious and always the life of the party!

In order to fully understand our relationship, I must share the story of how we met. In 2009, as I was searching for a pageant sponsor, my mom gave me the wonderful idea (of course) to call the sponsors from the year before. Melissa was my second "cold call" so I was definitely nervous. As I told her the reason I was calling, I could hear the curiosity in her voice. Then....began the questions. Needless to say, I was "grilled." (Lol) She asked me about my goals, personal/family life, about FAU and my major, and anything else in between. She even asked me to come in to her office for an interview! I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but something told me this could potentially be a fantastic relationship. Well, 4 years later, our relationship and friendship has blossomed into so much excitement, love and encouragement.

Melissa, THANK YOU for welcoming me into your life. I am so blessed to be your friend, that there really aren't words to describe how I feel and how grateful I am for you. You have challenged me to be a better person, a better community advocate, and a more educated young women. You have provided me with an endless amount of opportunities that have opened my eyes about our nation. Thank you for financially sponsoring me all these years and never giving up on my dream to win a local title. Now, I'm on my way to Miss Florida and I'm so excited to see where life is going to take us next.

I love you with all my heart, I love scrappy, I love your business Accounts Receivables Inc., and yes I love Bama football too ;)

Nicole

"That's all they really want

Some fun

When the working day is done

Girls - they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have fun"

- Cyndi Lauper 

(I just felt this was fitting!)