Meet Cameo Irons

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cameo Irons a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cameo , thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

I am known for being a very optimistic and smiley person. I like to think that my joy is contagious and helps others smile too. When asked where my optimism comes from, I know I got it from my grandmother Elsie. She taught me from a young age, to look at the world through eyes of gratitude and to appreciate each day. So often the world is negative, we complain about everything and forget to be thankful for life itself. She helped me to see that when we face obstacles we take care of what we can, and keep going because life always goes on. I’ve noticed as I’ve got older my optimistic outlook is inspired by the joy I can supply for other people. Being able to make someone else smile and see the “Bright Side” of life with me, is what brings out my happiness.

We may not have control of all our situations, especially when something really bad happens, but we can affect HOW we react and our attitude along the way. As we go through life we can choose to be unhappy, gloomy and look at all the negative things, or we can learn to think positively and improve our mindset. Not all situations will turn out good but with some optimism, we will learn to be happier and see joy in the future.

One way I have found to remain optimistic is to keep my focus on others. As a mom it is easy to look toward our kids first and then to think of ourselves, but this also works in other situations. If we try to help others remain positive, we will find joy too. People ask the question is the glass empty or full? I believe the answer is, the glass is refillable! It may be half empty right now, but we can find ways to refill it. We will learn to be optimistic if we remember to think on the Bright Side and learn to be thankful for each day!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have the honor of being a teacher, among many other things. I wanted to be a pageant queen my entire life, a country singer when I was young, and news anchor when I started college. I have always felt comfortable on stage, whether during a theater performance, singing in church, during a pageant or teaching for large art classes, so I just always assumed I would do something professionally in the entertainment industry. Teaching never crossed my mind when I was in school or growing up. I was never particularly great with kids or anything. I started my undergrad degree taking my basic classes, preparing for journalism, news and media. 

When I walked into my student counselor’s office in college, I don’t know what came over me, but I told her that I wanted to be a teacher and the next thing I knew I was enrolled in teaching classes and within six months, I was a para at Lincoln Elementary School in Denver. I truly fell in love with the passion of teaching and attended Regis university to complete my degree in teaching. During my Student Teaching, I won the Golden Apple Award, which was awarded to one undergrad student a year.  If someone would’ve told me in high school that I would’ve ended up being a teacher, I would’ve never believed them but when I am in my classroom, it is like home for me . I have been a teacher for about 20 years now in some capacity or another. I am currently teaching in a hybrid homeschool and public school program through the Aurora Public Schools System.  

One of my greatest joys of being in the Educational field is getting to see my kids feel so at home at school. I have a MIddle School daughter and we all remember how hard Junior High was. She loves school and looks forward to going each week for her Enrichment Classes.  We have been a homeschool family with a public school connection for the last 8 years. My students mean the world to me and I am so thankful to be a part of their lives as they grow. I really feel that my optimistic attitude has made a huge difference in the teaching environment of my classroom. Students can really thrive when they are in a fun and positive learning environment where they feel they are uplifted and loved.

I honestly feel like being a teacher is more than a career, it is a way of life. I hope to think wherever I go I am able to spread the joy of learning. The past few years I have reentered the world of pageantry . I have done many pageants over the years and was discouraged with the lack of self esteem I felt after competing in them. I even had one judge’s feedback after a pageant that said my smile was “distracting”. It took me a long time to get over that statement, it hurt me, I remember thinking- ‘next time, I need to remember not to smile as big or as often’. I would practice a “little” smile in the mirror. I almost quit pageantry, but looking in my reflection, I realized that is not who I am. I was born with this big, sometimes silly, but very genuine smile and that statement eventually lit a fire in me!

I decided if I was going to do pageants, I was going to do them differently. I would not change anything that defines who I am. I would be me and be proud. I had a compassion to help others that may have felt hurt in similar ways. I would spend my time showing love, teaching other women and girls to be proud of who they are, helping them gain self esteem and see that they can shine. In 2023 I entered the Ms World America Pageant and was named Ms Colorado World America. I knew this my year- not to win necessarily, but to give it all I’ve got. I was given this title for a reason and took every opportunity to get to know each woman that God put in my path, I spent my energy helping them see their strengths, encouraging them to embrace the beauty within themselves and smiling my biggest smiles. Heading into the Ms Pageant in Florida, I felt extremely confident, not necessarily in myself, but knowing that if I was chosen, it would be because they can see who I am and where I find my joy. I didn’t expect to win, but I walked away with 3 large titles and was runner up for the Grand Title. This was a huge realization for me, that if we focus on who we are, help other people and share our optimism- we shine in a different way- and people notice it.

I would like to think that I am still making a difference even today I stay connected to many woman I have met over the years and help encourage my fellow pageant sisters. I look forward to what the future holds.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

There are a few things that have helped shape who I am in my life so far. Learning to have an optimistic outlook, being hardworking and finding some purpose in life’s journey are some of the things that have helped me along the way.

My Positive Attitude and Optimism is what truly sets me apart and has opened up opportunities for me. I try to let my joy be contagious and encourage people that whatever they do in life, to make it the best it can be, look for the positive in it. It doesn’t mean that each day is perfect, but that you can find joy in each day.

One of the greatest things I was taught was to work hard. I usually have so many projects going at a time, it is hard to keep up. People that know me best will tell you, I am too busy. I fill my schedule to the brim because I try to fit in as many things as I can. A good old fashioned hard work ethic is sometimes hard to find sometimes. I am thankful for those who put up with my crazy schedule!

It is so easy to get discouraged in life. I struggled with the fact that I am not really talented at any particular thing. I don’t have a God given talent as a singer or an artist. I am not a math genius or world famous ice-skater. It is so easy to look at all the things we are not. Finding purpose in life and where you fit in is a hard thing to do. I believe, part of my life, is to help encourage other people in their life journey. I am still growing and always looking to see what is next.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I am in a constant state of being overwhelmed. Most of the time, it is not a negative thing. I am thankful for all the opportunities I am presented with. My mom jokes with me when I finish one project, she will ask “what’s next?” She knows there is always something new coming. I am so thankful she is willing to help me execute some of my crazy ideas. I find that my days are filled with homeschool, teaching enrichment, my kid’s extra curricular activities, church projects, volunteer opportunities and much more. I always have so many things on my mind, that I have ongoing alarm and notes system. Being crazy busy isn’t always fun. I am thankful for all the wonderful things I can accomplish but, it can feel stressful at times. I am learning to compartmentalized my work, so I can be present in the moment. For instance, I will work on the computer for a certain period of time during the day, then I will put it away and spend time with the kids, then I will work on a paper project. I used to do as many activities as possible at the same time. I would the the computer during school time, and papers while doing laundry and watching a movie with the kids. I found this was overstimulating my brain and nothing was getting my proper attention. I was the multi-tasking queen. I was overworked and even made myself sick sometimes. So I am learning to break up my day, take breaks and the hardest part, be ok if I do not get everything done right away. Being present in the moment especially, time with my kids is so important.

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Paige Hackathorn

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