Brianna Drevlow

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Section 8A Speech Meet!

On April 4, 2011 I competed in the Section 8A speech meet in Fosston, MN. Four members of our team qualified for the State A Meet. Pictured here are Brock Drevlow, 7th Grade, Great Speeches; Brett Drevlow, 10th grade, Original Oratory; Elle Gillespie, 10th grade, Dramatic Interpretation, and me, 11th grade, Humorous Interpretation

My event is Humorous Interpretation. In this event a speaker takes a piece of literature, or a play, and interprets the piece in a humorous way. This does not always mean that the humor comes from the words themselves. In fact, most of the humor comes from defining each character in the piece with different personalities, quirks, and such. Each character would have their own voice, stature, movements, etc. Other humor is found in non-verbal parts where the scenary in the story is somehow added to the piece.

I have also included one of my videos I used with my coaches while preparing this piece, "Pippi Goes to School," from Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren. Enjoy!

I'm featured in a Minnesota Public Radio Varsity ad campaign!

Last February I entered into the Minnesota Public Radio Varsity contest which features high school aged musicians. I entered the Prokofiev Piano Concerto #1 and my accompanist was my brother, Brett Drevlow. We were fortunate to be selected as "Featured Artists" and ultimately won $16,000 scholarships to either Concordia College, Luther College, or St. Scholastica. We were also featured as part of the Varsity ad campaign you can view above! For more information on Minnesota Varsity, go to www.classicalmpr.com/varsity!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

5/30/2011 Memorial Day- Let us never forget!

Memorial Day to me is the most bittersweet holiday in our Country. It celebrates the freedoms we have as citizens of the United States, but reminds us of the heavy cost. Today is a day to be thankful for all we have, yet take the time to remember all that was sacrificed to make it all possible. Take time out of your holiday weekend to attend a Memorial Day service. Take time to ponder what blessings freedom has provided you in your life. Take time to find out about some of our veterans that paid the price to provide those freedoms. Find a veteran and thank them! Then, never forget.

I would like to honor all veterans today with one of my favorite poems:

"In Flanders Fields"

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Thank you to all veterans- those with us, and those not, for all you have done to provide freedom to all of us. We will never forget the terrible price you paid to protect us all!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen Pageant, Eden Prairie, MN

On-Stage Interview

Meet the 2011 Contestants- Ellie Bachmann, Frazee; Chandra Dahlke, Mankato; Brianna Drevlow, Thief River Falls; Emily Freeh, Coon Rapids (Lake Park); Katy Hamlin, East Central; Alexis Houle, Duluth; Claire Schiller, Detroit Lakes; Brianna Smith, Minnetonka; Corrina Swiggum, Scott County; and Bailey Wachholz, North Metro (Brainerd).

Wow! I have found myself so busy this spring that I have not even had time to update my blog since the Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen Pageant! I had a great day of competition and couldn't be prouder of myself. At the end of the day, I was named 2nd runner-up and Talent winner. I was especially proud of my win in Talent, but did an outstanding job in all categories. My best wishes go out to Miss Minnesota Oustanding Teen 2011, Alexis Houle. Congratulations!

Here I am being awarded 2nd Runner-Up. Pictured with me are Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen 2010 Katrina Akridge, and Miss Minnesota 2010 Kathryn Knuttila

Royalty in attendance!

Royalty!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

3-31-2011 VIDEO from the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Here is a link to the official video shot by the Minnesota House of Representatives' videographer. Please note that clicking this link will take you to the Minnesota House of Representatives' website, where the video is housed. Please hold your "CTRL" key down while clicking the link to open it in a new window.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/programa.asp?ls_year=87&session_year=2011&session_number=0&event_id=3558

I appear in the video many times as I meet with various legislators, however there are a few moments of significance I'd like to point out:

1) At about 3:40 I open the session by pounding the gavel from the Speaker's desk.

2) At about 5:40 I lead the Chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3) At about 2:02:00 I am recognized by Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) as a Point of Personal Priviledge. At this time I am formally introduced to the entire Chamber and I receive a rousing round of applause and a standing ovation!

It was a tremendous opportunity to witness the budget process and politics at work. I also greatly appreciated the opportunity to explain the importance and significance of my message, "Explore Your Backyard: Visit Your Minnesota State Parks and Trails," to dozens of our state legislators.

Thank you to Rep. Dan Fabian and the Minnesota State House of Representatives!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

3-31-2011 On the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives

About two weeks ago I contacted the office of my State Representative, Mr. Dan Fabian, to discuss the potential of meeting with Rep. Fabian and several other legislators to share my platform message, "Explore Your Backyard: Visit Your Minnesota State Parks and Trails." He was enthusiastic. His office reported that he would arrange a visit to the Floor of the State House of Representatives where he would personally introduce me to many legislators while the House was in session debating various budget bills. This would allow me to have more time with each legislator and share my message with many of them at the same time. The date for my visit was set. March 31, 2011.

While driving to Minneapolis with my family on 3-30-2011, I read the following article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minneapolis Star Tribune 3-30-2011 "GOP plans may mean mothballing some state parks" which discusses potential impacts of budget cuts on our Minnesota State Parks and Trails. What perfect timing for my visit! Of course, I wasn't planning to have any budget talks with legislators. My plans were simply to share my message with them and underscore the importance of getting teens and their families to visit our state parks, cuts or not. After all, Minnesota's state parks offer teens and their families wonderful opportunities for family "staycations" in a tough economy. But even more importantly, the parks teach our State's history, area culture, geology, and more. The parks also offer lots of outdoors recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, geocaching, Junior Naturalist programs, camping, and more! It is also important to note that since there is a Minnesota state park within 50 miles of every Minnesota city, visitors to the parks provide needed tourism dollars for many local economies.

Upon arrival at the Capitol, I was greated by Jordan Hanson, Rep. Fabian's legislative aide. He was our liason for this visit and had arranged the Floor passes with Rep. Fabian for my entourage, which included my father; my brothers Brett, Brayden, Brock, and Brigham; my sister Brielle, and my cousin, Laura Rivera Sierra. Mr. Hanson walked us through the Capitol tunnel to the House chamber. There I met Arlen Restad, one of the House guards. It turns out my dad knew his brother, Clayton, a former school teacher in my home town of Thief River Falls! It is such a small world! Since I had arrived fairly early I was able to greet many of the Representatives as they arrived for the Session. Mr. Restad found Rep. Fabian for us and we were brought to the House floor and seated to the side of the Speaker of the House, Rep. Kurt Zellers. Mr. Fabian arranged for me to open the daily session from the Speaker's podium. I sounded the gavel three times calling the session to order. I then lead the House for the Pledge of Allegiance. What an inspiring experience! But thats just where the fun began. Rep. Fabian had arranged numerous visits with legislators. He skillfully moved around the floor handpicking legislators for me and brough them to the the meeting room behind the Speak'er's Podium which gave me the opportunity to share my message individually and in groups with other legislators who were meeting and eating lunch. After about 4 hours of visits, Rep. Fabian went to the Floor and introduced me to the entire assembly at which point I received a standing ovation and applause from the entire Minnesota House of Representatives! I also found it intriguing on how many things were happening at the same time in the Chamber. While some legislators were on the floor debating, others would be negotiating with each other in the aisles or meeting room. Even more, many Representatives had visitors or family members coming through to experience the Floor of the Chamber, too. I even got to share my platform with one of the Representative's spouse and children! When I was finished with my day on the Floor, I went back to Rep. Fabian's office to get my coat and passed one of the office complex' meeting rooms where I was able to give a brief address to those in attendance! What a neat way to wrap up my visit!

Dan Fabian 1A