By Madison Zhou
Editor-in-Chief
I would have been incredulous if you told me as a kid that I’d one day join the Boy Scouts of America or compete in the Miss Temple City Ambassador Program. I didn’t fit the usual mold and success felt uncertain in these spaces. Yet stepping into these unfamiliar territories, where judgment awaited me both formally and informally, became one of the most defining experiences of my life.
Entering the Miss Temple City Ambassador Program seemed foreign, and I knew I would face scrutiny from those who might not see me as a natural fit, but I took the risk, determined to try. As I progressed, I discovered my voice for promoting gender equality and de-stigmatizing historically masculine and feminine activities to make our community a more inclusive environment. Emceeing events like the Royal Playdate and Concerts in the Park helped me discover a newfound joy in connecting with others that I hadn’t known before. The Ambassador Program taught me that I didn’t need certainty or a perfect fit to make a genuine impact.
Joining Boy Scouts posed an even greater challenge. In this historically male-dominated activity, I had no guarantee of acceptance or success. My peers often questioned me, and I sensed judgment from the adult committee members. Instead of feeling discouraged, I used their doubt to fuel my goals. I organized over 40 recruitment events and service projects to promote inclusivity in Boy Scouts, proving that I belonged as much as anyone else.
Taking on Boy Scouts and the Miss Temple City pageant pushed me to excel in environments without promised success. I had to prove myself every step of the way—not only in front of formal judges but also among my peers and within my community. The lack of certainty made each achievement feel even more meaningful. In hindsight, I’m thankful for these experiences because embracing the unknown without any guarantees unveils our resilience and true potential.