Connecting with your princess and building a relationship is vital to help your princess realize her strengths, set personal goals, and have the self-confidence to pursue and achieve her goals. I learned this lesson very early, most likely earlier than most. I remember being in the 3rd Grade when my mother told me I was FINALLY old enough to be a peer mentor in her Kindergarten class. My earliest memories are of reading with students, practicing their sight words, and helping them finish their homework. I was always so eager to be a "helper" and at that time all I knew was I wanted to help them learn.

I spent a great deal of time watching my Mom work with her students and even more time watching her work at home so she could meet the needs of every type of learner in her room. I remember asking her "how" she always knew exactly what they needed. My brother and I were always helping her color and create examples for her "Kinders" as she called them. I'll never forget her response, it had a much greater impact on me than she or I realized at the time. She told me that she got to know them. It was that simple. She sat with them at lunch and talked to them. She asked them questions at recess, while they were going down the hallway, and her favorite way to get to know them was to have them respond to a sentence in the morning in their Morning Journal. She loved reading their responses and getting insight into what made them happy, made them sad, and ultimately made them want to learn. While I was too young at the time to truly know how to implement these strategies when working with children, what I did do was make sure that every time I worked with a student I asked them questions. Since that day this is the approach I always strive to take when mentoring and working with students.

Not only was I fortunate to be a mentor in my Mom's classroom, but I was also fortunate enough to be named a "Peer Mentor" my 5th Grade year. Then in Middle School, I mentored students at our sister elementary school as well as at my dance studio where I am still mentoring today. In all honesty mentoring has always just been part of my life. Some children grow up in a gym with the parent who is a coach, some grow up working behind the counter at their families business, I've grown up helping and mentoring students....and loving every minute of it.

During the initial stages of the Pandemic, I offered virtual "Homework Help Sessions" and worked with students one-on-one. This is definitely one of my most favorite and memorable periods of time mentoring. I not only got to know the students but I learned so much about how they learned and what did and didn't work.

When it came time to mentor my sweet princess Juliette I was beyond excited. I had spent many years as a princess myself growing up in the MAO system. I have so many fond memories of the Teen and Miss queens who not only served as my "Big Sister," but also taught me so very much. I also learned from watching their success as well as their failures. It was HOW they handled themselves that has helped shape me into the competitor I am today.

I hope that these few tips can help every "Big Sister" connect with their little as I have been so fortunate to connect with Juliette. From volunteering to photoshoots, to sleepovers, to watching my sweet princess compete herself....this is a journey and connection that will remain many years after my Miss SC Teen Volunteer crown and banner are retired. What she has taught me honestly is just as valuable as what I have taught her.

So here are my 5 tips and tricks to build a positive relationship with YOUR princess. So "Give me 5", and let's get to it.