Mission害羞草研究所檚 Christine Jamieson runs her own marketing company, works full-time for a construction company, founded a not-for-profit organization, helped create the High Five program at Simon Fraser University and volunteers for the Center for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in BC.
She害羞草研究所檚 also a contestant in the Miss BC Competition.
The irony is, she isn害羞草研究所檛 that concerned about winning.
I害羞草研究所檓 going into it without any expectations except to learn and to grow,害羞草研究所� she said.
In fact, the competition is really just a great opportunity for Jamieson to 害羞草研究所渟hare her story.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he most important message I want to send is that you can do whatever you want.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 been a long journey to this point for Jamieson.
When she was 16, she was diagnosed with epilepsy.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e apparently had it my entire life. I was walking home one day and it hit me like a brick wall. I didn害羞草研究所檛 know what was happening. It was a full seizure. Pain all up and down and I don害羞草研究所檛 remember a thing,害羞草研究所� she said.
After the incident, it took a long time to get a proper diagnosis.
害羞草研究所淭hey told me I was just being a moody teenager and there was nothing wrong with me.害羞草研究所�
But after going through a series of treatments, she was properly diagnosed and given medication to help control her condition.
Despite the medicine, she still experiences some form of seizure about once a week.
害羞草研究所淭hey are not grand mal seizures they just, for a second, you turn into a zombie.害羞草研究所�
It was a difficult time for Jamieson who began to suffer from depression. She didn害羞草研究所檛 have any hope and thought she could never be successful in her life.
害羞草研究所淭he biggest thing for me is when I was going through everything, I didn害羞草研究所檛 know anyone who had gone through a chronic illness. It害羞草研究所檚 something you are going to have to deal with the rest of your life. People don害羞草研究所檛 talk about it.害羞草研究所�
When she finished high school, Jamieson decided to take part in the Miss BC competition in 2011.
害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 really have a voice and didn害羞草研究所檛 know what I wanted to say. I was lost.害羞草研究所�
But as she talked to the other women involved in the event, they helped her find her voice.
害羞草研究所淚t was right after that that I founded my not-for-profit organization, FOMI (Faces of Mental Illness).害羞草研究所�
Then she began to visit different schools and universities, talking about mental health and sharing her story.
害羞草研究所淲e need to focus on having a healthy body and a healthy mind.害羞草研究所�
She attended Simon Fraser University and helped to create a program called High Five to help shorten the wait time for therapists at SFU.
After graduating from SFU, with a double bachelor害羞草研究所檚 degree in English and Communications and a minor in Political Science, Jamieson continued to evolve.
She volunteers with epilepsy centre and has a goal to put on two different fundraisers in the next year. She wants to raise at least $15,000 for epilepsy awareness education.
She is also trying to grow her own marketing company, Push 25 Creative Solutions.
And she wants to continue to raise awareness about mental health and epilepsy.
害羞草研究所淢y goal is to inspire young adults to following their dreams and giving hope to those who need it.害羞草研究所�
Recently, Jamieson welcomed a new resident into her Mission home, Eva her service dog.
Only nine months old, the chihuahua plays an important role in Jamieson害羞草研究所檚 life, although many people don害羞草研究所檛 believe it.
害羞草研究所淣obody would guess it was a service dog because she is so tiny and so small, but she knows how to call 911 for me.害羞草研究所�
Eva is trained to alert Jamieson if she is going to have a seizure and will stay with her.
The house phone is set up that the dog can hit one button and it will call 911 and immediately goes to speaker phone. Eva then begins to bark, alerting the operator.
害羞草研究所淧eople really misunderstand service dogs. Everyone wants to talk to her, they want to pet her. Others say your just putting a vest on her because it害羞草研究所檚 cute and want to take her with you. Nope, I have too.害羞草研究所�
Jamieson is comfortable talking about her epilepsy and her efforts to promote mental health awareness.
She said her favourite motto is 害羞草研究所淒o not be ashamed of your story as it will inspire others.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 strongly believe every person follows a unique journey and tells a unique story, each of which we can learn from. I am thrilled to be involved in Miss BC as it focuses on inner beauty and is inclusive of all women.
The Miss, Miss Teen, Jr. Miss, and Mrs BC Pageant runs June 30 to July 2 in Fort Langley. The pageant finale is on Monday, July 2 at 6:30 p.m at Chief Sepass Theatre.
Each contestant will be evaluated in the following categories:
Personal expression in sports wear of their choosing;
Personal expression in an evening gown of their choosing;
Private interview with the judging panel;
Public on-stage interview in the final showcase.
For more visit .
