As Miss Bismarck prepares to compete for Miss North Dakota in the next few weeks, Alysse Charlesworth tells us what it's like to walk a day in her shoes.
7:45 A.M. My alarm goes off and I get up, no snooze for me I’m too busy today. It usually takes me 15 mins to do my makeup and 10 mins to do my hair but 10 minutes to brush my teeth. I got Invisalign in January making it important to keep up with my dental health. I usually clean up a little in the morning before running out the door with my crown in one hand and backpack in the other.
Breakfast: Consist of a piece of fruit, banana today, and my water bottle.
8:45 A.M. I arrived at Light of Christ Catholic School for a Miss Bismarck appearance. Today I taught preschoolers an Easter lesson plan that included working on our right and left with the bunny hooky poky. We acted out movement such a hop like a bunny, waddle like a duck, and gallop like a horse. We hopped in and out of our bunny holes (Hula-Hoops) on one foot and we used our imagination to act out Peter Rabbit, plus so much more.
Conclusion: Bunnies hop a lot.
10:00 A.M. First class of the day is Physics II. We are currently learning how our nervous system works by transmitting electrical signals along axons and nerve fibers, surprisingly it’s similar to the wiring of a lamp in your living room! We are also gearing up to help out the Science Olympiad for the local high schools tomorrow.
11:00 A.M. Back to my house to make something to eat. I have a two-hour lunch which allows me to cook a pretty decent meal. Plus I’m usually starving by now because I never eat enough for breakfast…. While I eat, I catch up on current events. I like Vice news, BBC and surprisingly snap chat’s Stay Tuned. I also check my social media and emails. Most days their not too much to see but some days this can be really time-consuming.
Lunch: Italian Chicken topped with pineapple and a side of wild rice. Paired with steamed broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. Oh and a glass of milk!
1:00 P.M. In chemistry we are performing an explosive reaction between nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and carbon disulfide to produce a bright blue chemiluminescent flash and a loud barking or woofing sound, the experiments called the ‘barking dog’. An example of chemiluminescence would be a glow stick.
2:15 P.M. I hit the gym. My workout changes daily but there is two I really want to tell you about.
First, I am so lucky, my local pageant set up a sponsorship with a personal trainer through Thea Ward Fitness. That’s Miss America’s personal trainer!!! Thea workouts are different every week and are a half-hour session. We may use battle ropes, TRX training, sandbags, active-motion bars, you name it she’s got it!
Next, I get to go surfing in North Dakota. I take part in a group fitness class called glide fit. It’s a low impact high-intensity full body training that really works my core and cardiovascular system. The whole workout takes place on a “surfboard” making me focuses on my stability and balance. This takes my planks, squats, and lunges to a whole new level.
3:30 P.M. COFFEE or tea, I brew it at home with a little sugar and cream.
3:45 P.M. It’s time to buckle down and do homework. I usually start on the kitchen table then migrate to the couch or the floor. I struggle focusing in one spot for a long period of time. I don’t touch my phone, one I need to stay focused because these concepts are often tough to grasp, and two it’s a black hole for time. I usually put it in my bedroom to charge.
5:30 P.M. I make dinner. I’m usually concerned with the amount of homework I have so don’t put much effect or time into dinner. Often its left-over, sometimes fast food but most often its Omelets.
Dinner: Omelet consists of four eggs, mushrooms, onions, red green or yellow peppers, and cheese. Accompanied it with more vegetables like carrots or cucumbers dipped in ranch that I snack on the rest of the night while studying.
6:00 P.M. Back to homework.
7:30 P.M. I call my mom or my mom calls me. I make it a priority to call her once a day.
8:00 P.M. I work on my dance lesson plans. On Fridays, I teach tap classes in Dickinson, ND, at Artistic Dance Exchange Dance Studio. My classes include 3 to 6-year-olds, elementary age, middle schoolers, high schoolers and solo practices. I absolutely love my classes!! When I moved to Bismarck, I knew there was no way I could give up teaching so I gladly make the trip every weekend to see them. Dance is my passion and my hobby, and I cannot imagine not teaching because it brings me so much joy.
10:30 P.M. I get ready for bed. Brush my teeth another 10-minute process, wash my face and clean up a bit. Once in bed, I play video games. I use video games to de-stress. I like games that are challenging where I have to think fast and strategically. They help get my mind off the day and focus all of my thoughts on something less stressful/fictitious.
11:30 P.M. Lights out. I plug my phone in on the other side of the room. This makes me get up to turn my alarm off in the morning and sleeping next to your phone is bad for your health. I aim for 8 hours of sleep but depending on the day that’s not always achievable based on homework.
Thank you for reading, I hope to see you at Miss North Dakota in Williston on June 9th!
