Lily Gayle Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Lily Gayle is passionate about mental health, a talented pianist, and the current Miss Southeastern Louisiana University. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let's see what happens when Lily Gayle visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Southeastern crown?
Well, whenever I won I was STARVING (because I hadn't eaten in hours and honestly...too nervous to eat) so I was able to go to a local taco restaurant and eat some amazing street tacos. We talked about everything that happened that evening and just sat there in disbelief that I actually was able to succeed with earning my goal that night. Needless to say, victory is sweet, but tacos at 10:30 at night are sweeter!

You recently finished in the top ten at the Miss Louisiana competition. What was that experience like? 
Yes I did! It's pretty spectacular that making the top ten even happened for me. That was my third ever competition ever and I had just been crowned in January so being in that select few really solidified it for me that God has a purpose in my life and that I was on that state competing during finals for a reason. Before Finals on saturday, I was going through some personal issues such as being afraid of not even being called and I was torn between wanting to make top ten and not having to compete again and I was holding onto that feeling that I would be called no matter what because in every competition I've ever been in I've always placed. Not only in scholarship competitions, but writing, journalism and broadcast competitions as well, so I don't know what it's like to not place. That being said, I knew that I had to do some major soul searching. I went into a little stairwell near my dressing room and I put on my playlist on shuffle and the song "Who am I" by Casting Crowns came on. If  you've never heard that song before, the overview is basically a prayer telling God that He is everything and that all I am is just a vapor in the wind that we know as time. We are here only for a moment and that moment shouldn't be spent worrying about what title or position I may earn next, but it should be spent in gratitude and awe because God is the one who made me who I am and no title or place could ever take that away from me. I prayed to make Top Ten and if I didn't I prayed that I would have peace. When Top Ten was being called, I was totally at peace, my heart wasn't pounding, my hands weren't sweating. I was alright with being who I was at that moment. THEN MY NAME WAS CALLED. I knew at that moment that God had me. He heard me and knew that my heart was in the right place. It was an experience like no other because I had surrendered all to God and He really rewarded me for putting Him first. 

You’re a journalism major, with a sports concentration. What do you see yourself doing in that field? 
Well I am sports reporter as of right now, with a minor in administrative supervision in business. So I am capable of working in any athletic field. At this time, I am also an athletic marketing intern and graphic designer so I build a lot of recruitment graphics and help our creative team with photos, creating videos and setting up photoshoots. What I would like to do is work as a freelance sports reporter for an FCS conference like the Southland, I love the atmosphere of these schools and it's just the right size. But my dream would be a mixture between the late Carley Mccord and Emily Dixon at LSU: where I get the inside scoop on my particular team that I work for and when I don't work with that team, I travel with a sports station and report on live broadcasts at the games that I would be assigned.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Lifter’s Project: Worth Your Heartbeat”? 
So back in high school I suffered from anxiety, anorexia and situational depression. I was the oldest of four children and a very type A personality and perfectionist. I would get anxious about "what if I didn't make a good enough grade, will people hate me?" "What if I'm too much of a nerd?" I was a very awkward person growing up and I began binge eating. This all began after coming off the missionary field with my family back in 2012 after being gone for the entirety of my childhood, so getting back as a thirteen year old girl with no idea how a first world country worked, what the girls were like and moving into high school, I became very depressed. Then I began hating myself for being this way so I began to self mutilate and starve myself. All the weight I had gained from eating American food was gone within 6-9 months and every bone in my body you could basically see. I also attempted suicide three times within that time span. It only began to get better whenever I kicked in my mirror (that was warped, but I didn't know at the time so it had been giving me distorted images of myself to make me look bigger than I was). I told myself I would get better. I did get better, until I relapsed in the winter of December of 2017, I had a mental breakdown and one minute I was crying in the bathroom and the next my legs were so injured that I still have the scars to this day. I use my backstory to teach others how important it is to understand why recovery is so important and why relapse isn't a mistake. I created my SII to help people through their recovery and relapse because there are so many of us who are trying to get better but don't have the support or the resources to do so. I also help friends and loved ones cope and understand what it's like to live with a mental disorder because they need to understand too so that the person who is going through these disorders feel loved, accepted and understood. During this time I also created the "Three Ls": Listen, Learn and Love. So that people know to listen: let the other person speak on why they're feeling this way, don't put in your two cents until they are finished and they ask for advice. Learn: research the reasons for the disorders, ways to help and find resources for that person. Lastly, love: that person may be crying all the time, quiet, irritable and angry, but they aren't angry at you, they need you to love them. So love them unconditionally because in the end, love conquers all things.

As a talented pianist, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage? 

Oh my goodness! I am flattered! Well, I just love the fact thatnot many people know that I am self taught. I've been self teaching myself since I was a teenager. I can shred some keys and people think that I just played a classical piece and I say: " Nope, I just am goofing off and having some fun!" Whenever I competed at Miss Louisiana, that was the first time I had ever done my talent live, for Miss Southeastern we had to record talent so that was a pretty cool experience and I was very comfortable with being on stage, it was an amazing feeling and being able to play the outro that I wrote for that song was an epic feeling and I can't wait to do that again!

What is your personal fitness routine? 
So I am a powerlifter which basically means I lift heavy things VERY slowly! I workout 5 times a week with two days being leg focused, two days being upper body focused and one day more cardio and body weight focused. I've been doing this particular routine for about a year and half now with running on our football field in the afternoons in the fall. Wednesdays are usually my overload days on leg and just this past wednesday I was able to hit a personal record of 145 for two on back squat which is pretty crazy because that's twenty five pounds above my body weight!

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why? 

It's funny you ask that because I am actually three Disney characters!  I worked with Once Upon a Time Parties in Baton Rouge as Cinderella, Rapunzel and Elsa! But my favorite one is Rapunzel, I love her personality and optimistic attitude. She is so spunky and full of life and I relate a lot to her because she had to break away from her past to become her true self and I had to do that in a sense as well. 

If you had an extra ticket to a Astros-Rays baseball game, who would you take with you? Why? 
If I had one ticket to bring someone with me, I'd probably bring my best friend. He experienced all of my competitions with me, so being able to bring him with me to a professional baseball game and enjoy that first time experience with him too would be something for my scrapbook. 

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

Honestly? I'd love to actually sit and enjoy a baseball game with a hot dog with extra cheese and a Dr. Pepper. Being in broadcast, I've worked countless baseball games on campus, but I'd love to just sit and enjoy it with some good food and cheer for my team. 

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That’s definitely the best way to enjoy a game!

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

As Lily continues her time as Miss Southeastern Louisiana University, I encourage you to check out her official Instagram account and her website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

Thanks again Lily, and good luck!

Janine Hatcher Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Janine Hatcher is passionate about the potential in our youth, a talented cellist, and the current Miss Southeastern Louisiana University. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more! 

So, let's see what happens when Janine Hatcher visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Southeastern Louisiana University crown?

I spent the remainder of the evening with my family and friends who came to watch me compete. My parents treated everyone to dinner , and the next day I just enjoyed the town to kind of take everything in and begin thinking about what I wanted my year of service to look like . 

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Southeastern competition that will help you whenever you compete for Miss Louisiana?

I always knew I was a great performer under pressure . During

this experience that was definitely exemplified . The talent portion of the competition I performed an excerpt of the piece John Legend performed at Former President Obama’s inauguration; that phase of competition was the first time out of all the moments I performed during our dress rehearsals , that I completed my piece without stopping. I was so ecstatic and really just learned that my biggest competition in my life is only me...my nervousness , my reluctance, and at times my own doubt are the only things that will ever hinder me from what I want to accomplish . 

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

Yes , I want to leave the crown in a better position than when I found it . I want to secure more sponsors and support for the next young woman that has this job and I am on the road to doing that . 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “R.I.P. – Respect Individual Potential”?

This campaign and cry for our youth originated in Irvington , New Jersey when my father, Dr. John. W. Hatcher III along with  city officials , administrators, teachers , students , and the late Ms. Rita Owens, decided to put a stop to the trajectory that the youth was on in that city. There are many unfortunate roads that led to adolescent youth dropping out of high school, engaging in violence , and commuting child suicide and these were at an all time high.  The community as an entity came together and  decided it was time to alter that trajectory by showing the youth in the community that if we respect one another’s individual potential while we are all here , then we won't have to keep saying “Rest In Peace” prematurely to our children who have such great potential . I chose this initiative because I see the need for this same campaign here in my home in Louisiana, where I want to call out and support the potential I see in our youth , who are the future of our state while they're still yet here and change that notion of Rest In Peace to Respect individual potential . 

As a talented cellist, what do you enjoy most about performing?

I've been performing on classical instruments since the age of

10 and the thing I've always enjoyed most is actually feeling the music and getting to perform with other instrumentalists. You really are in the moment when you get to hear the different pieces of their story coming to life in the selection of music along with the part you're playing , and the feeling is hard to describe but so tangible when I'm performing . My siblings all play classical instruments and I enjoy it most when I'm performing alongside them given how talented and gifted they are. 

What is your personal fitness routine?

My personal fitness routine has been a little more sporadic this summer with the heat and weather . I tend to monitor the weather and alter my workout session to either the morning or evening depending on the weather and what I have on my agenda that day . One thing that stays consistent is the fact that I avoid getting exercise too close to high noon or midday when it tends to be the hottest out. (Haha)

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

If I could be a Disney Character for a week , I think I would probably be Kim Possible. I’ve loved KP since I was a little girl with her fearlessness, strength, all around persona, and just “can do” attitude . I had an entire spy themed birthday party when I was 8 years old and still have her camera and night vision goggles I believe in storage somewhere (lol) . I would be Kim all the way , and spend my time getting my education, kicking bad guy’s butt everyday, and of course  hanging with my girl Monique and Ron! 

If you had an extra ticket to a Astros-Rays baseball game, who would you take with you? Why?

My best friend Wallace most likely. None of the immediate

members of my family are huge baseballs fans, and I know Wallace and I would have a great time shouting the chants , predicting the outcome of the game, groaning over “bad calls” , and grabbing some grub from concessions between innings ! 

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience? Experiencing the roar of the stadium when all the fans are singing the fight song . I think it's a special moment in which people regardless of background , religion , socioeconomic status , ethnicity , etc. are all unified and in great spirits rooting for their favorite team ! It's what I enjoy most about attending baseball games and other sporting events. 

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That’s definitely one of the best parts!!

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

As Janine continues her time as Miss Southeastern Louisiana University, I encourage you to check out her official Instagram account. It’s a great way to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck whenever she competes for the Miss Louisiana title. It would be wonderful to have Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Janine, and good luck!