Students and staff at Phoenix and Buehrle Academies recently welcomed United States of America’s Miss Pennsylvania 2025 Natalie Kling. Crowned in 2024, Kling was on campus to speak with students about her personal journey and the importance of mental health.
A high school senior herself, Kling opened up about the challenges she faced entering ninth grade, including a bipolar diagnosis and ongoing mental health struggles. She candidly shared how she initially approached counseling with resistance – refusing to speak during sessions – until, weeks later, she had a breakthrough that marked her first step in taking control of her story.
Kling also spoke about coping with personal loss and how therapy equipped her with tools to navigate life’s low points. She emphasized the power of journaling as a constructive outlet for emotions and encouraged students to explore it as a way to express themselves.
She plans to study early childhood and special education at Shippensburg University and is passionate about helping others feel heard and find hope.
We wish her the best of luck as she competes for the title of United States of America’s Miss over Memorial Day weekend. Thank you for sharing your message and encouragement with our students!