Elizabeth Pierre Visits Section 36!

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

Section 36 has another visitor! Elizabeth Pierre is an advocate for empowering young voices, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Cambridge. I was glad she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let's see what happens when Elizabeth Pierre visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Cambridge crown?

I celebrated by having the best rest of my life. I hadn't had a full night sleep the few days leading up to the competition, so it felt amazing to lay in my bed and cuddle my new sparkly hat. The following weekend my mom cooked all my favorite foods and my family came over to surprise me with a beautiful cake and the sweetest card. It was totally unexpected and I felt super loved! 

What part of the (eventually) upcoming Miss Massachusetts competition are you most nervous about?

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

On stage question! You never know what to expect, so you really have to get yourself in the zone beforehand. There are so many things that could distract you, like the lights, microphone and audience. It is the first time the crowded theater gets to hear you speak about a pressing issue in society, which causes a ton of pressure. But just like any other phase of competition, you have to shake off those nerves, go with the flow and most importantly, stay true to yourself.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Cambridge?

I would love to co-host a youth leadership conference with Mayor Siddiqui, the mayor of Cambridge. She and I share many similarities ranging from how we grew up, to our passion for youth empowerment. By attending the conference, youth will develop a better understanding of the social issues that are present in their community. Through different workshops, activities, and speakers they will expand their talents and learn skills needed to improve the world around them. With her connection to the Cambridge Youth Council and my connection to The Center for Teen Empowerment, I know we can create an experience that encourages Cambridge youth to be the leaders we know they are.  

How did you select your social impact initiative, “We Hear You: Empowering Youth Voices”?

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

The Center for Teen Empowerment is a nonprofit organization created to support youth-led social change. The TE Model serves as an opportunity for youth to be heard when their voices are often marginalized. My social impact initiative "We Hear You: Empowering Youth Voices" is all about expanding this model to different communities and allowing youth everywhere to envision themselves as leaders. Throughout my years of being a youth worker, I have learned so much about how society functions from their personal experiences and stories. I firmly believe that they should not be discounted because of their age and that as a community, we should remind them of the power they hold.  

As a talented dancer, what do you like most about performing on stage?

When I walk on stage, I am usually a nervous wreck thinking about everything that can go wrong when the spotlight hits me. However, once the music starts playing, the nerves quickly disappear. When I dance, I get to tell a story and become one with both the movement and the music. What I love most is that you can't be anything but yourself when you're dancing. Sure, you can play a character, but the emotion stems from memories only you have experienced. You have to let your guard down and invite your audience on the journey, and the applause you hear at the end, is how you know that being vulnerable was worth it. 

You’ve been able to do quite a bit of traveling. What is your favorite place you’ve visited?

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

Spain! I studied abroad in Madrid for four months with one of my closest friends. We got to stay with the most amazing host mother named Montse who cared for us as if we were her own. While there, I got to to visit all the regions, each so different from the last, but just as beautiful. I found myself overwhelmed with emotion often because I could not believe that I got to experience a country so rich with culture. I had the opportunity to be part of the International Women's March, see the tomb of Queen Isabel de Castilla, live out my childhood dream of being a Cheetah Girl in Barcelona and SO MUCH MORE! The experiences I had in Spain are unlike any other, and for that, the country will always have a special place in my heart. 

Who is your favorite Red Sox player? Why?

Big Papi, David Ortiz! During his 14 seasons with the Red Sox, he was always true to himself. He was so proud of his Dominican culture and never once tried to suppress that to fit in. He is a true testament that being yourself will get you far and because of that he has inspired so many young people in the Caribbean to reach for their goals. Not to mention, he holds the Red Sox record for the number of Home Runs in a season - FIFTY-FOUR! Go Sox!

If you had an extra ticket to a Red Sox game at Fenway, who would you bring with you? Why?

Photo by K. Garcia Productions

My mom because she has sacrificed so much to get me to where I am. My family immigrated to The United States from Haiti and since then, my parents have done nothing but work so hard to make sure my siblings and I have a great life. Since graduating college, I have been doing all I can to help her slow down and take time for herself. Part of that, includes experiencing important parts of Boston culture that she has missed out on. This past fall we took her apple picking for the first time, we're currently planning a future trip to New York City for her and although she doesn't follow baseball, I know she would have a blast at Fenway.

Is there a feature or activity at a Red Sox game that you’d especially like to experience?

I would love to throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. There have been so many notable, respectable, and inspiring people who have gotten the chance to step on the pitcher's mound and throw to home plate. I hope to one day leave a legacy so strong that I get to have that same experience. I don't have the best arm though, so in the meantime, I'll be practicing my pitch!

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That would be an awesome experience!

As always, I want to thank Elizabeth for visiting with us, and for sending along the wonderful pictures.

As Elizabeth continues her time as Miss Cambridge, I encourage you to check out her official Instagram and Facebook Page. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t miss out on anything she’ll have going on. 

I also want to wish her the best of luck whenever she competes for the Miss Massachusetts title. It wouldn’t be the first time someone visited Section 36 as Miss Cambridge and went on to be crowned Miss Massachusetts!

Thanks again Elizabeth, and good luck!

Chelsea Vuong Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has a new visitor! Chelsea Vuong is a talented pianist, a Red Sox fan, and the current Miss Cambridge. I'm so excited she

Photo by Sharon Vuong 

was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. I hope you love what she had to say!

So, lets see what happens when Chelsea Vuong visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Cambridge title? 

With burgers, fries, and Mac n’ Cheese bites of course! Prepping for the swimsuit phase of competition was a journey, as I decided to wait until after the pageant to indulge in my favorite guilty pleasure foods. Right after the pageant, I went straight to Cambridge Commons with my friends to celebrate with delicious food and laughs! 

As a former titleholder in California and Massachusetts, do you think your multi state experience will help you at Miss Massachusetts this summer? 

Definitely, in the sense that every experience is an experience where you can learn and grow from. These past two years competing on the Miss Massachusetts and Miss California stage have been a journey of growth. Through preparing for those few minutes on stage, I have realized more of the individual that I am, the impact I want to create, and the values I will stand by through every decision I make. This summer, I know confidently that with my past experiences and where I am now, I am more than ready to cherish those few minutes on the Miss Massachusetts stage. 

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Cambridge? 

Photo by Version 2.0 Productions 

As Miss Cambridge, my biggest goal is to provide support and inspiration to young individuals. Through sharing my story and being active in the community, I hope to be able to ignite the fire in our youth to pursue any avenue they desire. Youth are the future of tomorrow, so I would love to be able to be a sounding board and mentor towards our future youth leaders. 

How did you select your platform “EducationMap”? 

EducationMap is a nonprofit organization that aims to tackle the nation’s college dropout rate through helping high school students “find their fit” of college. Growing up, my parents emphasized the value of education and persistence, as they learned that these qualities were fundamental to success. This has translated to my everyday life, with a realization that more than ever, college degrees are becoming more of a central part in the workforce. With an increase in income inequality and technical jobs, college degrees will be valuable for all high school graduates. The first step: finding a place where students belong, where students fit, to limit the desire of dropping out of college. “Find your fit” relies on unbiased information provided by current college students to help high school students gain a deeper understanding of a specific college. By seeing the campus and its surrounding areas, hearing student perspectives of the pros and cons, understanding financial aid packages, and recognizing the academic strengths of a college, high school students will become more informed. This will allow them to make a more educated decision of where they want to attend college.

As a talented pianist, how do you select the piece you’ll perform at a competition? 

For competition, I knew that I wanted to play a classical piece.

Photo by Doug Hikawa

Classical music is something that I grew up loving, as not only did my parents play classical music at home, but also my ballet teacher ( I was a pre-professional ballerina!) played collections of classical music at the studio. In a way, I would say that I was destined to be connected to classical music! With the specific composition, when I came across it while listening to some of my favorite composers, I immediately fell in love with it. The composition was intricate, emotional, and best of all, produced an overall feeling of a force to be reckoned with.  

Which Disney character do you think is most like you? 

Mulan :) Besides my obvious facial resemblance to her…. (At least that is what I have been told!), I admire her qualities. Three words I would use to describe Mulan- Strength, discipline, and family-oriented- I would use to describe myself. With strength, not only do I value maintaining an active lifestyle, but I also value a mentality that stays true to myself even if it leads me to a road less traveled. This has allowed me to become very discipline in my everyday life, sticking by routines and staying on track to reach my short term

Photo by Kayla Roche

and long term goals. Lastly, my core is built from my family. They have always shown me their unconditional love and support. I love my family, and have been able to learn so much from them about following values, finding strengths, and building relationships. 

Who is your favorite current Red Sox player? Why? 

Andrew Benintendi- Not only does he have a very cool name, but he also had one of the best catches I have ever seen in the World Series! Andrew is on the rise, an up and coming soon-to-be star! 

You were able to go to Fenway Park to see a football game. What was that experience like? 

My eyes lit up when the Harvard football team stormed Fenway Park during their introduction. Harvard was playing our rival, Yale, in a game called “The Game.” The was one of the biggest events during the fall semester at Harvard, where we bonded together as a school to cheer on our football team. What an experience it was, watching our long standing history with Yale at one of the most historic and legendary fields in the United States. All I can say is do I feel lucky to have experienced that first hand! 

What were you doing when the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series? 

Growing up, I fell in love with sports while sitting side by side, watching each league with my dad. 15 years later, when the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, nothing changed. I saw the amazement in my dad’s eyes, as another Boston sports team won another championship game. 

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What an amazing moment!

As always, I want to thank to Chelsea for doing this interview, and for sending along the amazing pictures. I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck as she competes for the Miss Massachusetts crown in a few months. Hopefully another former Section 36 visitor will win that crown!

As Chelsea continues her time as Miss Cambridge, I encourage you to follow her on her official Miss Cambridge Facebook page. It’ll be worth your time! 

Thanks again Chelsea, and good luck!

Emily Thomas Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! You may remember that just over a

Photo by Robby Trottier

year ago, Section 36 was lucky enough to get a visit from Alissa Musto just after she was crowned Miss Cambridge. This year, we get to do it again. It's been just over a month since Emily Thomas was crowned Miss Cambridge herself. She was nice enough to visit with us to discuss her title, the Red Sox, and more.

So, let see what happens when Emily Thomas visits Section 36!

Which part of the Miss Boston/Cambridge competition were you most nervous about?

Probably onstage question. It's the most nerve-wracking because it's the phase that you have the least control over. You know exactly what to expect for every other phase of competition, but with onstage question you don't know what question is going to be asked of you. 

Your platform is “From STEM to STEAM adding arts into Science ED”. Why is adding the arts to science so important?

When we traditionally think of the sciences, we think of them as being separate from creativity and artistry. In reality, those things go hand in hand. We need students to be able to develop hands-on creativity skills because they are so valuable in the work force. It's not enough just to know content and information; you have to be able to apply that information to creatively solve problems and think outside the box. How else can we expect people to engineer the next iPhone or design the next drug to fight cancer?

You’re an avid hiker. What is it about hiking that draws you to it?

For me, hiking is an escape. I live a pretty hectic life, but once I hit the trail it's like I can shut all that off for a few hours. It's also a great way to stay in shape. I hardly ever hit the gym in the summer because I'm able to hike so often during the nice weather and can rely on that for my exercise. 

How did you celebrate being crowned Miss Cambridge?

Well, the Miss Boston/Cambridge competition happened to fall on the same day as the Super Bowl, so I celebrated with a group of friends watching the Super Bowl! 

What are you most looking forward to during your time as Miss Cambridge?

This is the last year that I am eligible based on age to compete in the Miss America system, and so I really want to make the most of this year. Aside from prepping for Miss Massachusetts, I really want to take advantage of the many opportunities to volunteer in the city of Cambridge. I particularly

want to work with the youth and promote my platform. There are a few opportunities for that in the works right now, and I am very excited about it. 

Other than Section 36, where do you (or where would you) like to sit in Fenway?

The few Red Sox games that I've been to, I've sat in the bleachers, but I think it would be great to sit in one of the field boxes right behind the catcher. I'm sure that would be a great experience!

What were you doing when the Red Sox won the 2013 World Series?

I remember this so well! I was living in a dorm at Merrimack College, it was my sophomore year. Right outside my building there was an outdoor basketball court, and when the Red Sox won everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, flooded the basketball court in celebration. It was awesome. 

This will be the first Red Sox season in a while without David Ortiz. What's your favorite Ortiz memory?

I used to watch the Red Sox with my dad all the time as a kid. David Ortiz was always the iconic Red Sox player that I remember. A more specific memory was when I was a little bit older, after the Boston Marathon bombing. I remember the short speech David Ortiz gave reminding everyone to stay strong and how proud he was to wear a uniform that said "Boston". 

How do you think the Red Sox will finish the 2017 season?

I'd like to equate this question to pageant life: I find it extremely important to think positively when it comes time to compete, which means that I need to believe whole-heartedly that I have done my best to prepare and that I'm going to take home the crown whenever I step on stage. If you don't have that kind of confidence, then you won't perform the same. So, with that being said, the Red Sox will obviously make it to the World Series this year! 

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She's obviously right! Although, I'd like to take that optimism one step farther!

As always, a huge thank you to Emily for taking the time to visit. She gave some fantastic answers, and I hope you enjoyed them. And, another big thanks for supplying so many great pictures to go along with the interview. They really make the post much better than it would be otherwise.

If you'd like to keep up with Emily during her time as Miss Cambridge, check out her official Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can also check out the Miss Boston/Cambridge website.

And, of course, I'd like to wish Emily luck at the Miss Massachusetts competition this summer. After all, the last Miss Cambridge to visit Section 36 went on to win the Miss Massachusetts crown too! Good Luck!

Thanks again Emily!

Alissa Musto Visits Section 36!

Section 36 is fortunate enough to have another visitor! This time it's Red Sox fan, musician, and Miss Cambridge 2016 Alissa Musto! Just a couple weeks after winning her crown, she was nice enough to answer some questions for the blog about the Red Sox, her music, and her plans as Miss Cambridge. So, let's see what happens when Alissa Musto visits Section 36! 

Which Red Sox player are you most excited about in 2016?

Alissa in a fantastic shirt

David Price; I think he could be the pitcher the Red Sox need to take it to the next level this season---at least I hope so, with his $217 million price tag. 

What is your favorite David Ortiz memory?

This is an easy one! In the 2004 American League series, the Red Sox lost the first three games to the Yankees (after losing to them in the same series the year before), but came back to win the next four games. That 4th game was nerve wrecking, but in extra innings, Big Papi hit the winning home run, leading the Red Sox to the World Series. I actually dressed up as David Ortiz for Halloween that year.  

What went through your mind after you were crowned Miss Cambridge?

I was definitely excited, but it quickly set in that the next few months are going to entail a lot of hard work. I am thrilled to represent the city of Cambridge as I finish up my last few months of school there and I want to represent the community well at the Miss Massachusetts competition in July. I also quickly realized that this title will definitely serve as a 'megaphone' for me to promote my non-profit organization, Changing Keys, as well as my own career as a musician and songwriter. 

What do you remember about your first trip to Fenway?

I was very excited! I went to school in Providence, Rhode Island in grade school so I had gone to several Paw Sox games and was expecting Fenway to just be a huge version of McCoy Stadium. It wasn't as big as I expected, but I loved being able to actually see all the players that I had watched on TV. Unfortunately, the Red Sox got crushed in that game and I think I spent most of the time complaining how hot it was outside. 

Alissa and Paws

You play piano on stages all over New England. How is competing on stage in a pageant different than performing?

For starters, it is certainly shorter; I perform about 3 hours of music in my average show, but on the Miss America stage you only have 90 seconds to display your talent! Most people are also surprised to learn that I perform classical piano for my pageant talent. In my typical performances, I play piano and sing and my repertoire consists of everything from Frank Sinatra to Billy Joel to Lady Gaga. My typical performances are filled with a lot of sing-a-longs, requests, throwbacks and upbeat music. I perform every Saturday night at Jacob With in Boston, from 8-11. You should definitely check it out some time---it's a lot of fun! 

What are you most looking forward to doing during your time as Miss Cambridge?

I am looking forward to all the amazing appearances and opportunities I will have as Miss Cambridge. However, I cannot wait to wear my Miss Cambridge crown along with my commencement gown when I graduate from Harvard in May. 

What lessons from the Miss Cambridge competition can you take with you to Miss Massachusetts?

The competition at the Miss Boston & Miss Cambridge pageant was incredibly tough and I realize it will be even harder at the state-level. The most important thing I've learned from pageants, and other talent competitions, is to only focus on your own performance and be yourself. There are always going to be competitors that are smarter, prettier, more talented and more experienced than you. Therefore, you need to focus on being the best version of you. In my interview, I gave my honest opinions, stood by my beliefs and showed the judges my natural personality, rather than just saying what I thought they would want to hear or avoiding controversial topics. Every judge may not have agreed with my opinions, but I still won interview. I know I'll carry this lesson with me to Miss Massachusetts, as well as other life situations. 

Tell me about Changing Keys.

Changing Keys is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that I started to connect unused pianos with schools and students in at-risk communities, creating music education opportunities for all children. So far, we have connected several keyboards with local students and schools, were selected for the Harvard Legal Entrepreneurship Project and received an Iguana Music Fund grant from Club Passim. I'm excited to use my year as Miss Cambridge to promote Changing Keys and advocate music education in general. For more information, you can visit www.changingkeys.org

What is your prediction for the 2016 Red Sox season?

According to my brother and Red Sox enthusiast, William, the Red Sox will be a non-playoff team, but still be a 50%+ winning club. But I say, they're going all the way! :)

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I bet that was one amazing Halloween costume! And, I definitely like her prediction better than her brother's!


As always, I'd like to give a huge thank you to Alissa for taking the time to do this interview. I couldn't be more pleased with the result. Another thank you to her for sending the great picture wearing Section 36 gear!

If you want to learn even more about Alissa, check out her facebook page and follow her on twitter. You can also check out the Miss Boston/Miss Cambridge website.

Of course, I also want to wish Alissa good luck when she competes for the Miss Massachusetts crown this summer. We'll be pulling for her.

Thanks again Alissa!

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Exciting Update!

Alissa's time as Miss Cambridge was shortened by the fact that she was crowned Miss Massachusetts 2016! She then went on to finish in the top 15 at Miss America! Congratulations to her!

Because of the promotion, you can now follow her in a few new places via official Miss Massachusetts accounts on twitter, instagram, and facebook. MissAmericaMA is even on snapchat! So, please follow Alissa on those accounts until her term expires. Of course, her personal accounts are still a great way to keep up with her. She's still on facebook, twitter, and instagram. She even has her own website! So, it should be easy to follow her time as Miss Massachusetts as well as her wonderful music career.

Congrats again to Alissa, and thanks for the visit!