Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 28, 1990 TAG: 9007280225
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By NEAL THOMPSON NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
But she didn't read Shakespeare. She brought a message of hope.
The Detroit native made a tearful plea to the few dozen youths being held at the detention home on various criminal charges, asking them to make the most of life while they're still young.
"Go for it. It's there for the taking," she said.
It seemed to work.
"She made sense. Some of what she said made sense," said one youth standing in line for an autograph after Gist's talk.
Another youth admitted: "She had some good things to say. But I really just liked looking at her."
Gist spoke to more than 100 people - detained youths, their families and members of local volunteer organizations - who crowded into the home's cafeteria.
She began by telling the story of a little girl. "She grew up really fast, you know?" she said to the boys sitting in front, chins in their hands and elbows on their knees.
The girl grew up in a broken home and a neighborhood infested with drugs, Gist said.
"She made a decision early on to avoid that. But she saw it destroy others," she said.
The girl's mother eventually saved enough money to send her to dance school. That led her to a career in modeling and the girl eventually became Miss Michigan and then Miss U.S.A.
The girl, of course, was Gist.
Gist said she's thankful for her good fortune, but wants to finish school so she can return to her hometown of Detroit and help young people "such as myself" in her old neighborhoods.
Since being named Miss U.S.A., the 20-year-old student has been touring hospitals and detention homes across the country.
"You guys are the future," Gist said, breaking into tears. "I love you all, because you're my brothers and sisters."
by CNB