Shakira Jackson Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Shakira Jackson is passionate about voting, a talented singer, and the current Miss Steel City. 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 Shakira Jackson visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Steel City crown?

I went to Pittsburgh's best restaurant Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood, and directly after winning, I called my mom, who is one of my biggest cheerleaders, and we screamed and cried because this was such a milestone for my family. My mom got pregnant with me at a young age, so she did not get a chance to pursue pageantry, and she tells me every day I am her second chance.

What part of the upcoming Miss Pennsylvania competition are you most nervous about?

I am most nervous about modeling my gowns. I tend to put a lot of my personality into my stage presence, not that this is a bad thing; I just fear it might be a little too much. That is why I decided to get a pageant coach since I did not have a lot of coaching on my stage presence. With the help of my coach, I will win states!

What is something that Meghan Sinisi is doing as Miss Pennsylvania that you would want to emulate?

Something that Meghan Sinisi is doing as Miss Pennsylvania that I would want to emulate is speaking at local events and implementing my platform in creative ways. I think Meghan does a great job with communication and spreading awareness about her social impact, and just like her, I want to connect with different audiences and make people feel inspired and empowered.

How did you select your social impact initiative?

I have also been politically involved in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia community, so my social impact came from my passion for civic engagement. I have worked as a poll worker and have even had the chance to testify to the Pennsylvania commission about fair redistricting map drawings. I chose my social impact off of what was close to home for me because I have seen people in my community lose hope in our democracy, and I want to change that narrative. Not voting is giving up your voice, and it sucks that people are losing hope in our system. I just want to be the change I want to see, and I want people to see the power voting yields. 

What do you enjoy about performing your talent on stage?

I enjoy storytelling and allowing people to tune into my emotions. Music has always been a source of expression and outlet for me, and I enjoy sharing my talent, which is singing, because it allows people to take a walk through all of my pain and happy moments. Music has also brought people together around me, so that is an element I love to share as well.

You’re currently studying politics at University of Pittsburgh. Where do you see that field taking you?

I see this field leading me to one day be a political representative and, most importantly, guide my work in the lead and serving others. To me, community service and outreach are everything. Someone has to take the initiative. I come from a long line of people who have dropped out of school, become teenage moms very young, and were very limited in opportunity. I take all of my generational stories as motivation because it allows me to create opportunities for the next. I am a first-generation college student graduating a year early, and I will still be twenty years old when I receive my bachelor's degree; I will be attending Georgetown University in the fall, continuing my education in Democracy and Governance and Law.

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

I would be Princess Tiana. I would choose her because, just like her character emphasis, I believe in hard work taking you far. I come from a very impoverished background, but when people look at me, they don't see where I come from but rather where I am going. Also, just like Princess Tiana, I believe I am almost there! I want to one day run for office, and we need more young people who are willing to run, so I've been preparing for my campaigning announcement and more information to come soon about this.

If you had an extra ticket to a Pittsburgh Pirates game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my grandma Sharon. My grandma has been one of my biggest supporters since I started my Miss America journey, and that's a debt I will never be able to repay, but I know she has also never been to a Pirates game but has always wanted to, so if I could make that dream come true for her I would, and I plan to! It will be an experience for the books!

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

I would love to attend a Pittsburgh Pirates game as I have not gotten a chance to, and since the pandemic limited a lot, I am super eager to go to a game in the next month and make an appearance as Miss Steel City and as a super Pirates fan! Also, I am looking forward to trying the stadium food as all of my friends have bragged about it.

---

PNC is absolutely a great place to watch a game! 

As usual, I want to thank Shakira for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss Pennsylvania! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Shakira during her journey as Miss Steel City. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account and her personal Instagram. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on. 

Thanks again Shakira, and good luck!

One Base at a Time by David R. Mellor

Even if they don't know his name, every Red Sox fan is familiar with David Mellor's work. As senior director of grounds for the Red Sox, fans view his amazing work for (at least) 81 games a season.His mowing patterns are legendary, and he makes the field a true focal point of the games.

But, as the cover mentions, this book is about much more than that. Sure, his career as a groundskeeper is chronicled. But it's the personal side of his story that gets the most focus here. A severe car accident changed his life, and led to a constant struggle with PTSD. This book follows that journey as he learned to survive that ordeal.

And the book does an outstanding job of it. I could feel every struggle he was going through. Every instance of "not again!" he went through. Every attempt to lift himself back up. I was deflated with him and I was uplifted with him as every detail was shared along the way. Absolutely magnificent. 

This book should be read by everyone. Whether you're a fan of baseball or the Red Sox. If you're having your own PTSD struggles or know someone who is...or might be. This is an important story that needs to make the rounds.

Go find you own copy and read it now.

Rating: 4 bases

Lindsey Roman Visits Section 36!

Photo Gage Brumbaugh

Section 36 had another visitor! Lindsey Roman is passionate about education, a talented singer, and the current Miss Granite Mountain. 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 Lindsey Roman visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Granite Mountain crown?

I’m a California girl at heart, so I went to In-n-Out! The next day I volunteered at an elementary school for the Flagstaff Literacy Center’s Raising Readers program.

What portion of the Miss Arizona competition are you most nervous about?

It would have to be talent because this will be my first time performing opera. I’ve been singing since the second grade but only practiced opera since October. I love my song choice though and I can’t wait to live in the moment!

What is something that Amber Barto is doing as Miss Arizona that you would want to emulate?

She has been at every event with the titleholders, and as a first-timer, this makes me feel so comfortable. She’s extremely connected with everyone in the organization and wants to make sure we have a great experience too, so I want to emulate that as well!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “L.E.A.R.N with Lindsey”?

My mom was an elementary school teacher and was involved in education throughout my childhood. She taught me the importance of reading and I’m incredibly thankful. My passion came when I found out that only 4 in 10 Arizona students read at grade level, so I wanted to take action. L.E.A.R.N. Stands for literacy education and resource network, and my focus is family literacy!

What do you enjoy most about performing your talent on stage?

I’ve always loved being on stage, and since I gave up performing in high school, MAO has given me that outlet to perform again. So, I will enjoy the opportunity to perform again and with a talent I’ve always dreamed of!

You’re currently studying graphic design and business at Northern Arizona University. What drew you to those fields?

Since learning how to code, I knew I wanted to pursue a

career in tech. I wanted to focus on my front end design skills with my degree, and it opened the door for a job with my university’s mobile app. As for the business side, I want to use these skills to round out my talents in design and give a launching point to a Product Management job. My experience so far has prepared me for incredible jobs after graduation.

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

Rapunzel all the way! Of course, without captivity. She’s a curious, sweet, brave character that I’ve looked up to forever. 

If you had an extra ticket to see a Cardinals - Diamondbacks game, who would you take with you? Why?

It will always be my dad. He gave me the love of the cardinals, taught me how to score, and took me to games whenever he could, so he will forever be my baseball partner.

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

Throwing the first pitch has always been on my bucket list, but I’d also love to see if I could shadow one of the official scorekeepers for a game! I’m so fascinated how everyone scores a game differently, so seeing scoring in its official way would be really neat.

---

Shadowing the scorekeeper would definitely be a unique experience! 

As usual, I want to thank Lindsey for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss Arizona! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Lindsey during her journey as Miss Granite Mountain. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account and her organization's website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on. 

Thanks again Lindsey, and good luck!

2021 Topps Update Blaster!

It's time to open some more cards! Looks like this will be the first 2021 Topps Update blaster I'll open on here? The design's getting old, but hopefully the cards are new!

How did this one turn out? Let's see!

Here's what the box looks like.

And the packs!

A fairly standard card of old friend Hunter Renfroe. 

A rookie card of bullpen ace Hirokazu Sawamura. Not the greatest face on a rookie card. But, it's no Tony Gwynn.

Another rookie of Mr. Dalbec. Hope he lives up to his promise this year!

A throwback design on Rafael Devers. The colors on this card look great with the uniform. I really enjoy it.

And there you have it. Nothing to write home about. A couple decent players, but not the world's best blaster.

How did yours go?

Aly Pratkelis Visits Section 36!

Photo David Schlatter

Section 36 had another visitor! Aly Pratkelis is passionate about giving children their voice, a talented kickboxer, and the current Miss Pikes Peak. 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 Aly Pratkelis visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Pikes Peak crown?

In Colorado, we do not have local competitions. Instead, it is a first-come, first-serve, and choosing a local title since the Miss Colorado Scholarship Organization is still growing! But I chose my local title as Pikes Peak because Pikes Peak is known as America’s mountain. Not only is this America’s mountain, but it is my favorite mountain and the reason I moved to Colorado Springs! We have the best views of Pikes Peak on my college campus, and when I was on the college tour, I fell in love with that view. This mountain has so much history and many different underlying themes that relate to my story. 

What portion of the Miss Colorado competition are you most nervous about?

I am the most nervous about performing my talent on stage. My talent is very unconventional, and I perform a routine that combines kickboxing and a monologue. I am nervous because this is a sport that I love and have learned so much from, and I want to make sure I emulate the values of the sport on stage. 

What is something that Maura Aisling is doing as Miss Colorado that you would want to emulate? 

Maura Aisling is nothing short of unapologetically authentic! She holds true to herself 100% of the time, which is so needed in the world, and I want to emulate that same thing inside and outside of competition. Maura also is a fantastic advocate for creating change in the political sector regarding mental health in the military. She inspires me every day to continue working to be an advocate for survivors of sexual assault. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Voice for the Voiceless”?

At 11 years old, I was sexually assaulted by a teacher at my middle school. I did not know what to do at that age. But when I did at the age of 14, I took my voice back. I can attribute my healing to the support system that equipped me with the necessary resources, compassion, and unconditional love that allowed me to heal and recover. Not everyone is this lucky regarding their support system at home. That is what sparked my idea to be an advocate for better education and legislative change surrounding child sexual abuse and sexual assault. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes, that person is a child. So many of these survivors are left without a voice, and legislation and education are failing them. After learning from my own story and healing journey, I felt like it was the perfect way to use my experience to lead the effort in child sexual abuse and sexual assault prevention. Voice for the Voiceless is about empowering people to use their voices to speak up while also giving survivors a voice in education and at the legislative level. 

What do you enjoy most about performing your kickboxing talent on stage?

I have not performed this on stage, but I spend countless hours rehearsing this in the gym, in my apartment, in the dance room at the gym, and pretty much everywhere I can. But my favorite thing about performing this talent is how strong and at peace I am when I do it. There is a very calming aspect to it for me. I choose this talent because I have fallen in love with the sport, but I also want to show little girls that they are not limited to ballet, gymnastics, or cheerleading. Instead, they can kickbox or do any martial arts. I also want to show that while I love traditional talents, there are so many unconventional talents that can be showcased on stage. Finally, kickboxing is what makes me feel strong and confident in my own body. I want to show survivors that this is an avenue that may help them in their healing journey. 

You are studying Criminal Justice and Psychology. Where do you hope those fields will take you?

I started college to go to law school and then pursue a criminal law career. This goal has not wavered. Instead, I have just added some more career pieces to my life. I ultimately want to use what I have learned in these fields to be a better advocate for survivors in the courtroom. But I am also pursuing avenues to create legislative change regarding child sexual abuse and sexual assault. Both Criminal Justice and Psychology play a significant role in these issues. They both increase my understanding of these challenging topics and make me a better advocate! 

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

I would choose Moana! I have always had this love for sailboats, and I have no idea where it comes from, but I love them, and I would love to spend every second I could sail across the ocean! I may love my mountains first and foremost, but the ocean is a close second. But after all, who doesn’t love the ocean? 

If you had an extra ticket to a Colorado Rockies game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my roommate and best friend, Danielle. She and I have spent so much time going to the baseball games at UCCS, and we always have so much fun! We are graduating just in time for baseball season. Our next baseball game will undoubtedly be a Colorado Rockies game. Ideally, this would be the Colorado Rockies versus the Washington Nationals game! After spending a summer watching the Nationals play in Washington DC, I may have developed a second favorite team. Despite both being baseball teams with little success, both teams represent the two places I call home. Danielle shares my love for watching a good baseball game in the summer. That is why she would always be my first call if I had an extra Rockies (or Nationals) ticket! 

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

One day I want to be able to throw the first pitch. This may seem cliche, but it looks so fun, and my throwing is so terrible that I think this would be quite comical for the audience to watch!

---

I think it only seems cliche because it would be an incredible experience that everyone wants to try! 

As usual, I want to thank Aly for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss Colorado! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Aly during her journey as Miss Pikes Peak. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on. 

Thanks again Aly, and good luck!