Hubbard senior advocates against bullying
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Editor's note: This is part of a series of Saturday profiles of area residents and their stories. To suggest a Trumbull County resident, contact Features Editor Burton Cole at bcole@tribtoday.com.
HUBBARD -- In November 2017, Lillian Kish of Hubbard won the title of "Miss Ohio High School."
This further inspired the already actively involved 18-year-old to develop her passion for promoting women in STEM, as well as to spearhead an anti-bullying campaign at her high school.
As Miss Ohio High School, Kish went on to the national pageant in Arkansas, which featured contestants from all 50 states. At the national level, she was introduced to the concept of BRAVE -- Building Respect and Values for Everyone. Kish said this meant respecting peers, families and other adults.
"I see what people go through every day," said Kish.
When she was younger, Kish didn't have programs about bullying, and because of that she said she didn't understand. It wasn't until middle school that Kish realized what was happening.
Kish took BRAVE back to Hubbard and worked with middle school counselor Maggie Slovesko to create a program for K-6 students about the pitfalls of bullying.
"I was just the vessel for getting her into the school," Slovesko said. "I didn't help Lilly plan it -- she did that on her own."
Kish spent her study hall period three days per week visiting different classrooms and lunch periods to teach younger students about bullying. She sat with first- and second-graders who were alone at lunch and read "The Juice Box Bully," a children's story about standing up to bullies.
For older kids, Kish asked questions about what was or wasn't considered bullying to test the students' knowledge and correct any misconceptions.
She spoke to about 20 classrooms in all.
Slovesko convinced Kish to sometimes wear her Miss Ohio pageant sash and crown when talking to students. "They would get really excited," said Kish. "Some of the little ones thought I was a princess."
Miss Ohio
Kish found out about the Miss Ohio High School Pageant through Henri's Cloud dress shop, where she worked as a model for a summer. Kish applied for the modeling position after seeing it on Instagram, not expecting anything to come of it. "Who doesn't like to play dress-up?" Kish said.
Kish got the gig, which came with access to a lot of dresses. While modeling, she was also encouraged to enter the pageant, which the dress shop sponsors.
Before entering Miss Ohio High School, Kish never had much interest in pageants. Her friends were often surprised to find she didn't even watch Miss America.
"I thought it was just about looking pretty, wearing a bikini, and speaking well, but it's so much more than that," she said.
As titleholder of Miss Ohio High School 2018, Kish received a $1,000 scholarship. She also received free interview training. "I really notice a difference in how I talk," said Kish, who spoke fluidly and never uttered a single 'um.'
Kish said pageant life is the opposite of what most people expect. "It seems like everyone who does pageants wants the best for everyone else," Kish said. She hasn't encountered any "mean girls" at the pageants; instead she's met people who are "passionate, and have a heart."
"It's not about who you are, it's about what you do and where your heart is when you do it," Kish said.
STEM
Even more than raising awareness of bullying, Kish is passionate about encouraging women to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.
In fact, Kish's platform for the Miss Ohio High School Pageant focused on the importance of equality in STEM fields.
Kish realized how imbalanced the gender ratio can be in STEM fields when she went on a college visit to the University of Toledo and saw only two female students in the engineering department during her tour.
Now, it is Kish's mission to show girls they can be feminine and involved in fields that have been traditionally dominated by men.
"She doesn't look like the typical stereotype for an engineer," Slovesko said. "She's a good role model for that."
Kish has always been interested in the sciences. "I went to space camp as a kid and I loved it," Kish said. "I'm such a nerd, but I hate the word."
Someday, Kish would like to combine her passion for STEM with her anti-bullying campaign. "I've never been bullied badly for being interested in STEM, but I know other people have."
Above all, Kish doesn't want girls interested in sciences to feel discouraged. "People shouldn't be telling women no," Kishsaid. "The world needs women."
After winning Miss Ohio, Kish went to Texas to design a dress with trendsetting fashion designer Sherri Hill.
"For a long time I wanted to be a fashion designer," Kish said. "I guess it's every little girl's dream."
She said part of the draw of fashion is problem-solving the designs, which is an aspect that is shared with the engineering field.
Kish is taking Intro to Bioengineering at Hubbard High School. She wants to get a degree in biomedical education, with the intention of designing a knee brace for athletes that allows them to continue to be active while injured. Kish's idea was sparked by her own knee injury, which she sustained while training for track during the offseason.
"I still haven't found a knee brace that works for me," Kish said.
Kish's sister is a nurse, and she said that has inspired her to help people. "I have a weak stomach, so I can't actually be in the field," said Kish, "But I still want to help."
Her sister is not the only one who has helped shape Kish's interests. Kish's uncles played a role in her fascination with STEM fields. One works as an engineer for NASA, while another works for commercial airline Boeing and yet another is a chemical engineer.
Kish described her immediate family as "artsy." Her father sells antiques, which has always set Kish's family apart.
"He does something really different than everyone else," Kish said.
With starry eyes, Kish recalled going with her father to salvage stained glass windows from churches as a child and being struck with their unique beauty. She admitted that at times it was hard to explain her father's job to her peers.
Kish is planning to attend college in the fall, although she hasn't decided which one. Like many high school seniors in her position, Kish is a little wary of the future. "I'm so used to living this life," Kish said, knowing that change is in store. Still, she has high hopes for the future.
When Kish was teaching students about bullying, she gave out bracelets that said, "I am brave." Going forward, she hopes to turn the slogan into a hashtag as part of an an anti-bullying internet campaign. She hopes #Iambrave will be something kids could use when tagging photos with their friends to build an anti-bullying community.
"If they see that other people are standing up to bullying, kids will want to join," she said.