Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Polchowski
Hi Paige, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started when my Papa George looked at me and said that I was his Sparkles the moment I was born. He always treated everybody that he met in life with an immeasurable amount of kindness and respect. Seeing him treat everyone that way inspired me to live the same lifestyle. He would always say, ‘It doesn’t cost a nickel to be kind!” Several years ago however my family and I had to say goodbye when he lost his battle to Cancer. I wanted to find a way to give back to people who have been in his shoes, I came up with the ideas of Sparkle Bags in honor of him. Essentially they are small self care bags that I have able to donate to my local American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. With my most recent drop off I have reached 350 bags! This past September I competed as Miss New York in the American United Miss Scholarship Pageant and won their 2024 American United Outstanding Miss title! This was such an incredible honor and now with this title I have started making connections to get Sparkle Bags in different states!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In all honesty I can’t remember where I heard this quote from but “If you pray for flowers, don’t be surprised if it starts to rain.” If you have a goal and work towards it there are going to be several people along that way that try to tear you down for a multitude of reasons. If this happens that means you’re doing something right. Change is scary but so is staying in the same place. There have been countless days where my head was going a mile a minute and I felt overwhelmed. Creating a support system of people who care about you is just as important as being there for yourself. Many people come and go in life showing their true colors but there will always be a core group of people who have stayed by your side no matter what you’ve gone through. It’s important to keep those people close. Creating this group of people is the key to achieving any goal you set out to do no matter what life throws at you along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been able to combine my love for giving back to my community and creating art! I have loved art ever since I learned how to hold a pencil. School was something that was a challenge for me yet with art there was never one ‘right’ answer that I had to find. I was able to express myself however I wanted. I was lucky enough to go to a high school where art was celebrated with local artists coming into our classes teaching us their mediums. Through the art classes offered I was able to learn pottery, specifically the art of wheel throwing. I have loved painting and drawing but this opened my eyes to a completely different world. I could get lost over the wheel and would create pieces upon pieces for hours. I was able to put some music on and just be, it allowed me to completely clear my head. Over time I began to fill up my house with so many pieces that I was running out of space. I came up with the idea to auction off my pottery pieces to raise funds for different organizations. It was so wonderful being able to take something I love and help others with it. Being a college student now it has been hard to find time to get back in the studio but I know I’ll be back there soon.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I tend to gravitate towards books, but not the usual storytelling kind. I am a person who loves poetry and meaningful song lyrics. I have a collection of over 100 poetry books and I put a post-it notes on the pages with quotes I really resonate with. This has led me to find amazing advice without having to read one long book about a singular topic. This allows me to read about several different topics and happenstances. When I’m on the go I also use Pinterest for quotes and lyrics that hold meaning. Although these quotes help me navigate life it also helps me learn to put myself in others positions. Being able to show kindness and understanding is something I strive to do everyday because of my Papa. We only see a piece of everyone’s puzzle. We don’t know what others deal with behind closed doors so showing care is something I believe we need to see and do more of.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2024aumoutstandingmiss?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554115916000
Image Credits
for image IMG_0460.jpg – Mark Farmer