Miss Sierra Leone USA Back-To-School DOs and DON'Ts: Part I

Hello world!!!

It's that time of the year again when all students, teachers, faculty, and staff members return back to school. As a current student, I will like to share some tips and recommendations to you all in order to have a successful and productive academic year. I am a staunch advocate for education for all, which is why education is one of the pillars of my personal platform (SHERO) as Miss Sierra Leone USA, because I believe that education and experience play vital roles in the empowerment of individuals as well as communities. Feel free to leave comments/suggestions in the comment section below.

DO
Have a nice and well-kept hair for the start of school, and this applies to both women and men. You do not want to start the school year with messy hair, not a good look for you at all. Your image and appearance matters.

DON'T
Be in a relationship with someone that stresses you out and is full of negativity, things like these are contagious. In starting a new school year, one needs to be well motivated and happy, because it definitely affects grades and attitude towards performance in school.

DO
Get all your stationery shopping done on time and be reasonable about it. Get items that you need and definitely know you would put into use in your academics. College students, this is the time to refill on your Ramen noodles and Yakisoba, because we live for that especially late-night hunger.

DON'T
Be involved in ten million activities before school starts whereby it'll be difficult for you to handle with your academics, because classes get more demanding as the semester/year goes by. I am guilty of this and still working on it. Be honest with yourself and do not think that the 24 hours we have in life will suddenly multiply, because that's not going to happen.

DO
Make a list of goals for the academic year such as your intended grade for each class and how you plan to study and handle that class. This is normally easy to do if it's a class that is being taken again, but new classes can also be figured out just from knowing people's experiences in the past with that course.

DON'T
Be intimidated by your professors or teachers and not getting help when needed. Yes there are teachers that are just naturally mean, but there are also the good ones who actually care about the well-being of their students and not just their professor ranking. Waiting last minute to get help or not getting help at all is one of the worst things that can be done while in school, because there'll come a time that you'll regret it.

DO
Enter the school year with determination to improve on time management. Time is very crucial for students because we sometimes get "lucky" in getting professors/teachers who give so many assignments as if that's the only class students are taking; be mindful of these kind of instructors. No matter how good you are with time management, do not ever disregard the importance of time and how much work must be put into your academics.

DON'T
Take so many classes thinking you can handle them and in the end do poorly in them, that's not a smart thing to do. There has been a time whereby I took so many courses in university and in the end, I didn't do very well in all of them. This was because I paid more attention and invested more time in some classes than the others. It wasn't that those classes were more important, it was because those classes required more time in the assignments than I expected.

DO
Look back at the previous academic year and reflect on the things that you did that helped you succeed and the things that created ruckus. Choose what worked and discard the things and habits that hurt your academic performance. The most important thing students can do for themselves is having a balance in all their classes. I have been guilty in the past of focusing on one particular course due to its intensity whereby in the end it hindered my performance in my other classes.

DON'T
Forget to eat and treat yourself. I am guilty of just being so delved into homework sometimes that I forget to eat, that may sound silly to you but trust me it happens. Do not lock yourself up in some corner all day studying or in front of a computer screen doing homework. Do not schdedule your life solely to academics and nothing to do with socializing.

Have a fantastic academic semester/year filled with wisdom, knowledge, and understand. Good luck!!!

Read Part II

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA

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Miss Sierra Leone USA Wants You To Leave Your Mark

Hello world!!!

Today is World Humanitarian Day! This year's theme is "I Was Here." This day is set as a time to recognize those who face danger and adversity in order to help others. WHD was designated by the General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nation headquarters in Baghdad (Iraq), which killed 22 UN staff.

This day is in recognition of those who serve others selflessly, and to celebrate their endeavors and the impact they make on others. Going along with the advocacy of Service in my personal platform, SHERO, as Miss Sierra Leone USA, I also believe this is a day to promote service. All acts of kindness can go a great way and positively influence one's life. I know that this world cannot be changed in a day or year, but the change can start with one person. The purpose of this blog post is to encourage you to contribute to your community in whatever big or small way you can. Change doesn't only start with a group but also an individual.

Reigning Miss Sierra Leone USA and Founder/CEO of When You Believe Foundation,
Ruby B. Johnson

This World Humanitarian Day and days to come, I encourage you to do something good, somewhere, for someone else. Make it a habit. Make the pledge to yourself. Empower others while showing your acts of kindness. I take on this challenge, do you?

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA


SOURCES:
UN World Humanitarian Day

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Miss Sierra Leone USA on Working Vs. Owning Property

Hello world!!!

A couple of days ago, I was doing some research online looking for data on women in mining in Sierra Leone. This topic is an interest of mine because my major in college is Mining and Minerals Engineering; also, I am very passionate about girls' and women's issues, which is why I decided to add a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Unfortunately, I was unable to find applicable data for this topic in my research. However, I came across several articles that talk about women's land rights in Sierra Leone. The articles talked about the women's low ability to own properties such as lands on their own without co-signers. What's intriguing about this fact is that women "constitute 60-80% of the agricultural workforce" but cannot own lands (West Africa Democracy Radio).

In June 2012, a three-day conference on Women's Rights to Land and Justice was held in Freetown, Sierra Leone. At the conference, women's access to land rights was discussed in further details and how women's voices can be heard, especially the farmers. Currently in Sierra Leone, women "rarely own land titles or property in this country, either individually or jointly with their husbands." In the article, it is said that "The campaign seeks to address the pressing need to discuss and develop national approaches to women's rights to property and land and access to justice around these issues in Sierra Leone ... Up to now, violation of women's rights and the inter-relationship between these violations and other gender based violence issues have remained in the background, according to activists."

Personally, I know that women's right to own land and property is a conversation of great relevance. Women must have the right to own as much property as possible, even if it is not the norm of society. Today, women work in the public and private sectors, therefore, it is imperative that they gain ownership and contribute to job creation for our country, Sierra Leone. Due to traditions of past times, women were not allowed to own property but were the property of the men in their kinship. Laws must be created and enforced nationwide which gives women the right to own lands. Granting women the right to own land will also help create opportunities for more women and men who work in the agricultural sectors. Agriculture is a very relevant industry in the rural area of Sierra Leone, and I believe it will be very beneficial if some of these jobs are created and directed by women farmers as well. Women already carry many titles in life, and I am advocating for land/property owner to be added to that list.

My personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is SHERO: H is for health, R is for rights, and O is for opportunities. Women must have the right and all-access to owning property regardless of how large or small scale it may be. I am not advocating that all women must own properties, but I want them to have a choice in that aspect. By having this right, they in return can create multiple opportunities for other women in their area of interest. I believe that with increase in land ownership by women, it can be of great benefit to several regions and Sierra Leone's economy. In a 2012 data collected on Sierra Leone's GDP, agriculture contributes to 51% of the country's economy. It can increase Sierra Leone's food and cash crop production with the creation of jobs for more farmers, and possibility of sales increase that benefit the salary of workers.  Another reason why women's access to society's opportunities is that Sierra Leone was ranked 66 out of 86 in the year 2012 by the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI). I find this statistic to be very disappointing.

Another reason why I highly advocate for betterment in the agricultural sector is because it is vital for the people's nourishment. Creating jobs and opportunities for workers in farms increases production and chances of having naturally-grown foods. Being a Sierra Leonean woman, I always look forward to eating my cassava leaves, rice, potato leaves, greens, cassava, etc. Yes, they can be grown on their own but the nurturing of farmers is of great importance. We will not have the necessary nutrients in these leaves and carbohydrates if it weren't for the farmers that take care of them each day. Never forget that wel bodi na gentri (health is wealth in krio).

Therefore, I advocate for women's right to own lands and support the movement of property management by women. I believe that in any work of life, the women and men must be well taken care of in order to achieve success. Sierra Leone must invest in women as much as men in all sectors of life in order to fully attain development. Also, more women need to take initiative and step up in leadership and management in the agricultural sector.

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA

SOURCE:
Advancing Sierra Leone's women's rights to land, justice
Sierra Leone Country Report
Fairer deal for rural women

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Miss Sierra Leone USA Media Watch: Afrikan Goddess Media

Hello world!!!

Hope your week has been nothing less than fantastic, if not, I hope it starts to be! Today, I have the pleasure of sharing an article that was published by Afrikan Goddess Media about me for their August Issue. I absolutely love the article, the AG team, and the so sweet editor-in-chief of this publication. The AG team is comprised of dynamic women, and I truly admire their knowledge, talents, and passion for life. I was honored to be their January 2012 Afrikan Goddess because of the work I do with my non-profit, When You Believe Foundation, Inc. Now I am truly humbled that they have done another feature on me with regards to my reign as Miss Sierra Leone USA.

Read the full article here!

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA

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Miss Sierra Leone USA Wants You To Carry Yourself Like Royalty

Hello world!!!

Over the past month that I have served as Miss Sierra Leone USA I have been asked several interesting questions, I may share some of them in a future blog post so all can laugh as well. Some have been funny, weird, outrageous, and wacky. A common question I get sometimes when I attend events with my crown on is, "are you wearing a crown because it's your birthday?" The first time I heard that I found it to be odd, but then I quickly remembered that I have seen several people wear tiaras for their birthdays; for my 21st birthday last September, my friend bought me a tiara which read "21" and I wore it for all my birthday festivities throughout the weekend. Whenever people ask me the birthday question, I quickly respond that it isn't my birthday but this crown comes with a title that represents a wonderful group of people and powerful nations, Sierra Leone and USA!

21st Birthday Queen

Today, the tiara I wear as Miss Sierra Leone USA comes with great honor and a big responsibility, and I'm grateful to the Almighty for that. However, one can make positive changes and impact their community with or without a crown. We are all born with crowns created by the Lord, we may not see it physically, but we must perform our royal duties regardless. When opportunities do not come our way, we must create opportunities. One of the many things that I absolutely love about my university is written in our logo, it says "Invent The Future." It is something that is always emphasized to us Hokies since our first year, and that our life and the future is really how we make it. I strongly believe in those three words.

My university's logo

In my personal platform, SHERO, O is for opportunities. As a community, we must create and make use of opportunities. For instance, girls and women must not limit themselves in no way but utilize the best of their ability and networks. In today's society, there's a higher demand for opportunities and I truly believe that we have the resources to create a brighter future. In 2010 at the age of 20, I started an organization dedicated to the empowerment of girls and women called When You Believe Foundation, Inc. The idea started with a passion, and with perseverance and willingness to ask for help, I was able to see my dream come true in working with many girls and women in various communities.

At WYBF's WINTERFEST 2012 in January

In conclusion, I want everyone to know that they are born royalty. The everyday titles that we carry in life are honorable as well. For me, I carry the title of daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend, cousin, aunt, mining engineering student, CEO, mentee, niece, neighbor, mentor, and of course Miss Sierra Leone USA. I honor each title with no preference over another and wear them well with prestige. Remember always that a crown does not define you, you define you. Carry yourself like royalty and feel like it always while inventing your future!!!

P.S.: I challenge you this week to do something innovative in your life or others', or work towards a dream of yours. Feel free to share it with me when you do. Good luck!!!

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA


SOURCE:
Life DePICted Photography

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Have Fun With Eyes On The Prize

Hello world!!!

Happy Sunday! This past Friday, I went bowling with some of my co-workers after work. This was my second time bowling. The first time I bowled, I learned the basics but performed horribly. This second time was no different, my scores were pitiful to look at. I was able to get double digit scores, but could not break the triple digit mark. Lucky for me, my team members were fantastic bowlers so my pitiful scores didn't hinder us in winning. I think the first mistake I made that resulted to my poor scores was that I admitted defeat before we even started bowling. I made statements to my co-workers such as "I suck at bowling," "be prepared for my horrible skills," and "please don't be mad at me if we lose." Thinking or speaking of defeat when in a challenge is never helpful.

Another mistake I made was I forgot the purpose of being at the bowling alley, which was to relax and have fun with my co-workers. I got caught up in the game, all in the name of winning and scoring higher points, rather than having a good time. I recall that the first time I bowled I had lots of fun, and my scores were even more pitiful then. It is okay to be competitive but sometimes the experience is more worthwhile during the competition. As time went by, I got lots of coaching from my team members and those of the opposing team. They encouraged me to focus more on the skills rather than the scores, which was a very valuable advice. Also, I learned not to be too hard on myself, especially when others are cheering me on. Stress and fun do not work well together. I needed to believe in myself. After a while, I started focusing on how to improve my skills and staying calm.

Photo from my first bowling experience earlier this year

Also, I realized I was focused on how the others played and tried to copy their moves. One of my supervisors told me that I shouldn't look at how others perform but just work with my body and see what my skills are. In life, we tend to be so focused on what others are doing and lose attention on ourselves.  We lose originality and confidence in ourselves, and perform as others because that is what we idealize as "success." I listened to the many advice that I was given based on their varying techniques, and made them my own and find my niche. It is not all advice that one gets is applicable to their personal life. What also worked as a disadvantage for me was that I was trying to impress the other players and show them that I am a force to reckon with in bowling. Obviously, I was wrong about that too!

In the end, I had the lowest scores but I did better and even made a couple of strikes. Which felt awesome, and everyone was genuinely happy for me knowing how much hard work I was putting towards improving my skills and scores. I put more attention to relaxation and skills, and I had fun. I am pleased with myself that I decided to play regardless of my premeditated loss and did not quit during the game. Anything is possible with hard work, perseverance, with a little fun on the other side.

I am sharing this moment in my life with you because the lessons I learned from it are not just applicable to bowling, but life in general. No matter what your focus may be, keep your eyes on the prize, and do not give up. Have fun during the experience, and soak in every moment. 

Have a great week, everyone!!!


Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA

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It Was Red At First Sight: Miss Sierra Leone USA Meets Sheryl Lee Ralph

Hello world!!!

Last wednesday, I attended a book signing and discussion event with Ms. Sheryl Lee Ralph in Maryland. Her new book, Redefining Diva: Life Lessons from the Original Dreamgirl, is a great read, and I'm glad that I have my copy. I decided to attend this event because I grew up watching her on Moesha and have followed her public work since then. I've always admired her work, and how she always presents herself on the big screen and small screen. Ms. Ralph is also a HIV/AIDS awareness activist, and promotes the importance of HIV testing to singles and couples. Being that my personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is SHERO, I thought this was a great opportunity to advocate for giving [S]ervice, awareness on [H]ealth, and making use of life's [O]pportunities.

With Ms. Sheryl Lee Ralph

Getting an up close and live view of Ms. Ralph was fantastic because she was just as beautiful in person as on screen. She was also very sweet, and I love how humble she is regardless of her fame. She is a well-spoken woman full of grace and strength. As she spoke and read throughout the evening, I admired her confidence and tranquility. She's also very funny. 

Ms. Ralph reading her book on stage

Ms. Ralph is an American (television, film, and stage) actress, singer, and activist. She began her career on stage as Deena Jones, in the original musical, Dreamgirls. At the event, she proudly said that she was a Jamerican, because of her Jamaican and American parents. Sheryl Lee Ralph is currently touring the one-woman play, "Sometimes I Cry," a production written and performed by Ms. Ralph. This play explores the lives, loves, and losses of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Ms. Ralph reading her book on stage

At this event, Ms. Ralph spoke about what she believes are the many definitions of the word "diva" and what it means to be one. She believes that "A Diva loves the woman she sees in the mirror. A Diva owns her talent and her strength. A Diva knows the first step on the road to fame is respecting herself" (Busboys and Poets). With this and many other things said, I found her talk to be very empowering and inspiring for girls, women, and society as a whole. There are many life lessons she shares in her new book, and I recommend it to all because it's a great read. With some of society's negative connotations of the word "diva," I believe the message of diva being "a person of strength, character, and a beauty that radiates from within" is conveyed in Ms. Ralph's book.

In her new book, one of the many things she discusses is her experience of being the only Black girl in a private school she attended as a little girl, she stated "I was the only Black girl in a sea of white people" and talked lengthily about her experiences and features that made her different from her classmates and teachers. When she was sharing her story, it reminded me of the fact that I am the only Black/African girl in the Mining and Minerals Engineering department at my university and internship, and also part of the small percentage of women in engineering at my university. But just like how I make the best out of my experiences, Ms. Ralph was able to make it through even though she was different! When asked what is her motivation to keep going strong in life, she gave all praises to her parents and family. It was beautiful to hear some of her family stories. It was interesting hearing some similarities with Jamaicans and Sierra Leoneans. We really all are just the same when you think about it, but just scattered in different places.

We were bonding

The moment captured in the pictures above and below is something that I will forever cherish because it shows how excited we both were to see each other for the first time. It was humbling to hear her say she's excited to meet me, even though she had never heard of or seen me in the past. I love when public figures show humility. She also gave me some advice with regards to my reign and life in general. How sweet!

I made Sheryl Lee blush? Mission accomplished!

With Sylvie Bello (Founder/President of Cameroonian American Council) and Ms. Sheryl Lee Ralph

Lola, a beautiful and so sweet lady I met at the event

Another new friend I made, she was very sweet
She's also a pageant girl/titleholder

Fun Fact: The title of this post is related to the fact that me and Sheryl were wearing red lipstick. For those that know me personally know that red is my favorite color, and wearing red lipstick is my signature. Seeing Sheryl with red lipstick made me just love her more. I don't know if this is true, but I think red may be her favorite color as well, because I've seen her wear red in many photos.

Ruby B. Johnson
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA

SOURCE:
Biography of Sheryl Lee Ralph

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