Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssia (Aly) Johnston
Hi Alyssia (Aly), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I think everyone has A past that defines who they are today. I think that we go through the traumas and road blocks to get to our final destination. When I was a young girl, I grew up with an abusive biological father. My life was full of ups and downs, but I was happy to have my mom, my stepdad (dad), and my brother, by my side, every step of the way. I may have gone through abuse in all forms, but it made me into the woman that I am today. I would say my ambitions and career jumpstarted when I moved down here to St. George from Pocatello, Idaho. After receiving an academic scholarship from Utah Tech University, I decided to take a leap of faith and move seven hours away from home. If you know me, I love my family and it was really hard to do this, but I knew I had to do it in order to grow for myself. After leaving family, friends, and even pets it was really hard for me to find my voice. When I first moved down to college, I tried out for the Utah Tech blaze Dance team, and sadly did not make it my first year. My family and I have always loved volunteering and I knew that I wanted to incorporate it into my daily life coming down to college. I knew that this was God‘s way of telling me to continue that passion. One night, my dad and I sat down and started brainstorming ideas for a potential nonprofit organization that would jumpstart my career in that field. That is when we came up with The Monthly Move Project, an Athletic sponsorship program for children in poverty. Growing up, I had a lot of trials, dance was my only outlet. I wanted to give children in my community and opportunity to pursue their dreams, no matter what their circumstances. After creating my potential nonprofit organization, I saw a flyer in the hallway of one of the college buildings to participate in the Miss Dixie State pageant, at the time. I decided to take another leap of faith and compete, even though I was very timid and shy. After competing for that competition, I saw a part of myself come out that I didn’t even know that I had. My whole life I was told by a harsh individual that I was never going to make it in this world, that I didn’t have the correct body type to do what I wanted to do with my life, and that I wasn’t smart enough to pursue the career of my dreams. After competing one time in the Miss America organization, I realized that that was my calling. I started competing again a couple months later and ended up winning my first title as Miss Washington county. I served my whole year and ended up going to Miss Utah in June 2023. I then decided to compete for the Greater Zion competition and ended up winning that title and going to miss utah in June 2024. When I first came down to college, I wanted to be a doctor, life took its course and I decided that that was not my passion anymore. The Miss America organization gave me an opportunity to speak my voice, share my stories, and my passions, with not only my community and state, but also my nation, and also allowed me the opportunity to find a voice within myself that I never knew that I had. I ended up pursuing a degree in marketing and I am on my last year at Utah tech university. I ended up pursuing the Dance team the year after I didn’t make it and it was an amazing two years but I decided this year that I need to take some time to really focus on my nonprofit organization. The Monthly Move Project has been going strong for about 2 1/2 three years and we are now going to partner with the Circles program here in St. George. I think in life we take a lot of detours to try and find our final destination, but what we don’t realize is the beauty of it all. I would not be the person or woman that I am today without these trials and that is why when someone asked me if I would change one thing about my life, I always tell them no , I am blessed with an abundance of love all around me and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely growing up with someone in my life that was supposed to be a support system. your parents are there to help you succeed in this life, Not tear you down. Always hearing those negative and demeaning comments really diminished my confidence at a young age and it’s something that I’ve been trying to build up ever since.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the assistant, Director of operations and media coordinator at Be At Home Utah real estate. I am getting my bachelors in marketing and associates degree in management. I hope to pursue my nonprofit organization and I am currently in the process of getting it certified! I am mostly known for volunteering around my community, and participating in pageants. I am definitely most proud of my resilience. Growing up and adulting can be tough as some people may know, but without the love and support from my family, my amazing friends, and my boyfriend it wouldn’t be possible! I would say the thing that sets me apart from other people is my ability to bounce back from any situation. I’ve been put through quite a bit and I would say that I always have a positive outlook on life even if I’m not feeling that way 100%. I’m also the friend that will always be there for you no matter what, and I am on call for anyone who needs me I’m a true believer that kindness will give you anywhere and in the world that we live in that’s really what we need more of.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I would actually say I have pretty good luck when it comes to certain situations. Sometimes I feel like life knocks me down and then a couple days later I will get amazing news which is a really great benefit of just working hard and being myself. I don’t necessarily think that life comes down to luck. I think it is how you portray yourself and how you constantly just keep going no matter what is going on in your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themonthlymoveproject1.godaddysites.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aly.daisy
