MISS CAYMAN ISLANDS EARTH 2010 - Samantha Widmer

PERSONAL PARTICULARS

BIOGRAPHY:

Miss Widmer is a senior accountant at Ernst & Young. She earned her undergraduate degree majoring in accounting at Elon University in North Carolina, USA and is making preparations to take the CPA exams. An avid sports woman, Miss Widmer recently won the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships this past July, was a Bronze Medalist at the coveted Island Games in Finland in 2009 as a member of the Cayman National Golf Team, and is a seasoned diver.

INTERVIEW:

I believe that no matter what I decide to pursue in life, I should always give one hundred percent to each decision I make... It is not until we push ourselves beyond what we believe we can achieve that we may find our true potential as human beings. I, therefore, believe in taking chances and seeing where they take me.

Please describe your growing -up years when you were 8 years until the age of 13.

I realized at a young age that I had a special talent for interacting with people and performing on stage. I would relish at the opportunity to organize a birthday party , perform in the school musical or compete in a dance competition. It was a sense of personal satisfaction and inner confidence that naturally came to me. Also many of my evenings were spent joining my brothers in games of squash , softball and golf, hoping that one day I would be as good as them. My experience playing alongside the competitive boys provided me with mental toughness and perseverance that I have used both in my job and amateur golf career.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?

I have realized from these experiences that life is too short to not take chances and begin to explore my inner self. There are opportunities like Miss Earth that have come my way and I am excited to pursue them. One of the main concerns I have with young boys and girls today is a lack of self confidence and belief in themselves. Through my role as a sister and second mother, co-worker, teammate and friend, I have come to see my true potential as a young woman. It is with this inner strength that I hope to continue to grow and reach my goals in the future, while being a role model to the youth of my country.

What is your most memorable moment?

The most memorable time in my life has been my mother's recent diagnosis and recovery from stage four colon cancer. The diagnosis came as a shock to our family after a routine examination discovered three tumors in her colon. The colon cancer also spread to her lungs , liver and various other vital organs. I have witnessed an inner strength in my mum that is rare to find in a cancer survivor of her condition. She has beaten all odds and managed to fight her way to a healthy recovery, with minor complications and side effects from medications. I have spent every day in the hospital since her arrival back to the island in May 2010. I believe her courage has helped me to realize that there is nothing more important in life than happy and healthy family and friends.

What is your environmental advocacy?

Reef cleanups to save aquatic life; Tree planting and creation of composite waste sites; School tours promoting environmental awareness; Waste reduction in office buildings; Electricity reduction through solar panels; Continue to educate and encourage the local and international population about the importance of taking pride in our country's resources and protecting the phenomenal diversity of species that my Cayman Islands holds.


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