Smeenk credits freedom of speech afford in America that enables her to have a voice online. The nine-year U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan said she wouldn’t trade her military experience that has given her a perspective of pride she wouldn’t have otherwise. Cowley praised Smeenk for her service to the country and expressed her own gratitude.
“I cherish the country we live in and the freedoms it affords us. I feel extremely passionately about this,” Cowley said. “Nowhere else in the world can you dream as big as we can dream and have every opportunity to work hard and bring those dreams to fruition.
“Nothing is handed to us, nor should it be, but if we apply ourselves and think creatively the word ‘impossible’ becomes obsolete,” she added. “I basically woke up one day and said I wanted to be a barrel racer. That is such a crazy idea that could only happen in our great country.”
And the success both women have achieved thus far in their lives they attribute to role models. Cowley emphasized her thankfulness to her mother for her sacrifices, while Smeenk gave accolades to a nationally acclaimed author, philanthropist and life coach.
“My biggest role model is none other than Tony Robbin,” Smeenk said. “He is the kindest human I have ever met and strives to constantly add the most value and impact to more lives than anyone else I know.”
While Robbins inspires Smeenk, she was quick to credit her family for her dreams coming to fruition as Miss Rodeo America in 2013. Her tiara still has special meaning to her, but not as much value as her family who helped her win the coveted title.
“I cherish my family. They have been there for me through everything - even when no one else believed in me,” Smeenk said. “They've always had my back and I know I can count on them no matter what the situation or the circumstance. I think we are all striving for love and human connection in this life, and I had the best foundation and start growing up in the Smeenk household. It made me who I am today and they are constantly pushing me to be the best me that I can be.”
Being your personal best is something Cowley and Smeenk admonish other young women and girls to strive for in achieving their own dreams. They both advocate to set goals and to stick to them no matter what naysayers or challenges present in their journeys.
“I believe in growing the pie and that helping others succeed does not take away from my ability to succeed, in fact the opposite, it adds to it,” Cowley said. “Bullying, hateful speech, and putting others down to lift ourselves up does not bring happiness. When we build a community around us of empowerment, encouragement, and helping others reach their dreams it cultivates a beautiful environment where nothing is impossible.”
Smeenk couldn’t agree with Cowley more: “You better hustle! Don't let anyone outwork you. Nothing worth having comes easy. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the journey. Find fulfillment in the now and realize that you don't need anything to choose happiness, you have it all, already. Constant growth and never-ending improvement is what you should strive for!”
Jennifer Weaver is an award-winning journalist, freelance writer and TV news executive producer. She resides in Orem and is the mother of three children.
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