Kelly Roche
Sports Reporter

The Hawks’ varsity season is over and Semica Pascal faces the challenges of completing her schoolwork, working with at-risk teenagers to improve their self esteem, and preparing for a national beauty pageant.

“Now that basketball is done, I can focus on school,” the 19-year-old Grenada native said.

The 5-11 basketball rookie is vying for the title of Miss Canada Globe in August after being crowned Miss Pickering.

“When school’s done, it’s 100 per cent pageant.”

Pascal, who is returning to the team in the fall, moved to Canada when she was five and is enrolled in the child and youth worker program at Lakeshore.

She began competing in pageants after her aunt heard an advertisement on the radio and encouraged her to audition.

Next month, Pascal will lead self-esteem clinics for 12 to 18- year-old girls at Driftwood Community Centre.
She said she is nervous, but thinks it will go well.

“Kids may seem one way, but when you really get to sit down and talk to them, they’re the complete opposite,” she said about the stigma attached to such neighbourhoods.

Pascal said she does not support black-focused schools because the idea draws back to segregation.

“If there were more black teachers in schools, that could be a positive,” she said.

Instead of isolating black students, Pascal said the school board should implement more black history into the curriculum and make it optional for everyone.

A receent Grade 11 co-operative education placement at an elementary school resonated with her and showed her that she has a special connection with children.

“There were certain kids that I worked with that had behaviour problems and didn’t listen to teachers,” she said.
“When my placement was done, teachers were like, ‘okay, how’d you get those kids to listen?’”

Another challenge for Pascal is dealing with the catfights that are synonymous with the pageant scene.

She has heard horror stories about girls cutting up dresses backstage.

“Girls are stealing makeup bags, shoes, and at this level, it can get really bad,” she said.

Nine months ago, Pascal did not even wear makeup, but she remains optimistic about her chances in the national pageant.

The Miss Canada Globe is in August.