Miss Albertville, Amanda Koep Shares Her Hesitation, Excitement of the Program and Her Year

Hi Everybody! I want to thank you for taking the time to check out our Albertville RoyaltyBlog!

I am currently your 2012-2013 Miss Albertville and Miss Congeniality Amanda Koep.

I just recently graduated from STMA high school in 2012 and I am now currently studying Mass Communications and Broadcast Journalism at the University of North Dakota. I have enjoyed nothing more than being a part of the Division I hockey program up in Grand Forks as well as an internship as a feature reporter at Studio One.

However, I am very eager to inform you all about my personal experience and my overall biggest achievement in my life so far, my year as Miss Albertville, and how it truly changed my perspective on life.

Over this past year during my reign, I have had the extraordinary honor representing our beautiful city of Albertville. This commitment has taught me several life lessons that I will carry on with me forever. I, along with my royal family, was given the incredible opportunity to serve Albertville in numerous community events, parades, and of course all kinds of balls and galas scattered all over the state of Minnesota. The experience altogether turned out to be one of my greatest achievements in my life so far. I’ve never imagined the involvement of something so simple would bring me so much happiness. The new people I got to meet, the new royal family that I got to be a part of, and of course the honor of representing Albertville has been something that I will never regret partaking in.

During my reign I was given the chance to not only visit the wonderful city of St. Paul, but stay and enjoy an incredible weekend celebrating the “Coolest Celebration on Earth” at the St. Paul Winter Carnival. I learned all about the amazing story behind the Vulcans and all the northeast and northwest princesses. That experience alone, was life changing. Every step you took you either saw something incredible like an ice sculpture or you met someone new that you later found out turned into being an amazing person with an extraordinary background. There was a variety show with some amazing singers, ice sculpting and even the Red Bell skating challenge. This was a weekend full of some of the greatest memories and new friends that I’ve made just through my one year reign.

I am especially excited to run for the Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes scholarship program this summer. I have met so many lovely ladies throughout my year that I will get to see again this July. I am soooooo thrilled!! More importantly though to have the chance to represent Albertville in the best way that I can with a weekend full of sparkles and friendships, something I will miss very much when I give up my crown.

For the girl I crown to be Miss Albertville 2013-14, don’t take this opportunity for granted, don’t sweat the small stuff,and don’t be shocked if your heart grows a little for the love of your community and the love of others around you. Rewinding back almost a year now when I was hesitant about running as a candidate in 2012. I remember thinking there was no way I could manage my time. I just recently graduated, I needed a job for college tuition, I was preparing to be a division 1 athlete, and I was still trying to find time for my family and friends. But, I followed my heart because I wanted to make a difference in the world and figure there had to be a reason for it.

My advice to those of you who are questioning the candidacy, please stop. You’ve thought about it this much, just sign up and see what it’s all about. I guarantee you won’t find yourself questioning about it much longer. As soon as I stopped questioning myself I was able to find myself and become who I want to be, not who others want me to be because of this experience. My perspective has most definately changed for the better and, hey, maybe yours can too! Remember, everyone is beautiful in their own way. What can you do for your community?

So whether you’re reading this because you accidentally clicked on my name, or because you were wondering if there was going to be another new pizza restaurant near you, I hope you have taken a sense of what an amazing program this really is!

Thank you for reading!  Amanda