That was the message for candidates for Little Miss Vision, the long-time pageant that honors girls ages 5 to 12 in the Riverview Community.
MORE PICTURES OF THE GIRLS AND THE TEA IN THE PHOTO GALLERY
Mrs. Jill Ellis, who has mentored young ladies during the years, and a revered teacher at Douglass and Dobyns-Bennett spoke to the young ladies at their annual Kickoff Tea in the Fellowship Hall at the Central Baptist Church. The tea was a social, that leads to the pageant to be held next Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 7 PM at the Kingsport Renaissance Center.
"We emphasized the 3 A's--Attitude, Appearance and Ability, in that order," says Mrs. Ellis. "The 3 A's really have strong meaning for shaping the people that we want to become," she told the girls.
"Attitude shows outwardly to people immediately," the girls were told. "You can walk into a room and not even open your mouth, and people will immediately notice by your body actions, what your attitude is. People will make a judgement about you in less than 30 seconds, and you haven't even given them your name yet. Attitude is the first element that shapes good manners and good personalities," says Mrs. Ellis.
"Appearance doesn't necessarily mean expensive, fine clothes," she told the girls. "Any clothes that are neat, well pressed, hair groomed, nails that are clean, will give a positive impression. And let's not forget shoes..when people notice your feet with shoes polished and shining, together with nice clothes determine good character and style."
"Ability comes into play," the girls were told, "when you tell young adults that are looking for a job, who already have the thinking 'well I have the credentials, I have everything they want..good grades, intelligence..I know they will hire me. But notice.. of the 3 A's, ability is really the last item. If people like the way you present yourself, the first 'A' is attitude. If you look good, the second 'A' which is appearance, then and only then will they ask you want you can do. And that's the third 'A'.. ability."
"The girls listened attentively," Mrs. Ellis said. "Their eyes were wide open as they took everything in. Even their parents seemed to be paying close attention. I think the adults had just as much fun wih the exercises than the girls did."
The talk by Mrs. Ellis then took a different turn, with some interactive attention.
"ATTITUDE was proven by having the girls walk with a book on their heads," she says. "The poise and grace, along with proper table manners are most important in life."
"For APPEARANCE, I had several cards with action words written on them," says Mrs. Ellis. "Words like 'wink,' 'frown,' 'be surprised,''look pretty.' Each girl stood in front of the group, repeat the words on the cards, and then do what the card indicated. The audience applauded when they got it right. That little exercise showed how important APPEARANCE is."
"To increase their ABILITY," she says, "I did a little game with them, showing them 10 items. They looked at them closely, I held them up, and the girls named them. We used a feather, marker, clothes pin and a ballpoint, among other things. Then I took them off the table, and each girl named as many of them as they could. It was just a little exercise that helps them relate to their surroundings, because being observant is very important."
"One little girl remembered nine of the 10 items."
"Some of the girls may only remember one thing they heard," Mrs. Ellis says, but hopefully that one thing could be the turning point in doing well in class, doing well in society, and doing well in their careers."
Does Mrs. Ellis miss mentoring young girls in life?
"Oh yes, Calvin," she said. "At times, talking to them, I felt like I could get up and walk to demonstrate things. Children energize me.. I just absorb their energy. They were all dressed up in their cute little dresses, patten-leather shoes and their hair-do's. Sometimes I think we need a class like that for the boys, to teach them respect, even if it's showing them how to escort the girls through the pageant."
"It reminded me of the old days, when our elders taught us that MANNERS REALLY DO MATTER."
PLEASE DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE MISS VISION PAGEANT ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008 AT 7 PM IN THE KINGSPORT RENAISSANCE CENTER ON EAST CENTER STREET. PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR GIRLS!
