Be Distinguished

Fashion: The Greatest Outlet for Self Expression - by Veronica

2012-02-23T20:02:00.000-06:00

Click, click, click, click echo her boots as she walks purposefully towards her next class. She appears to be genuinely happy and confident, growing increasingly so with each step she takes. Clad in bold colors and bright metallic, this girl seems unstoppable, but also approachable, determined – and certainly going places. As obvious by her dazzling and sparkling style, it is evident that her fashion sense is unique and completely her own. However, this style is a true reflection of the incredible individual that this girl is, no one else, just her. By portraying her personality through her clothing choices, we can make an insight into the fabulous person that she is. So the question to ask is this - what does your style say about you?

Fashion is undoubtedly my favorite topic to discuss. As a current fashion merchandising major at the University of Delaware, it truly is something I have a huge passion for and want nothing more than to make a career out of someday. But, contrary to what some may think, I am a firm believer that fashion is something that makes people unique. Just because a certain style may be trending, or all the racks in a store may be stocked with a particular item, fashion is something that you completely can make your own. Who says you can’t shop at thrift stores and turn a tacky old lady sweater into something fresh and fabulous? Fashion has unlimited possibilities and has something for everyone.

I truly believe that fashion has the power to give anyone confidence. But, it’s not the clothing that makes the girl, but the girl that makes the clothing! If you are comfortable in your own shoes and completely love your own style of clothing, then you will rock anything and everything you may wear. In high school, I wrote a fashion column in my local newspaper, where I would take a current trend or style and talk about how it could work for anyone. Each column I would close with my signature phrase, “Fashion is what you make it to be, and dress to be YOU!” Even now as a writer for my college’s fashion magazine, I encourage everyone to never feel like they have to compromise, settle, or fit a certain mold. Some may believe that fashion is society’s way of having everyone conform and to look the same, but I believe the exact opposite. Fashion gives each and every one of us the power to do something bold, beautiful, and brave. With it, we have the opportunity to not follow the crowd, but to be a trendsetter and a trailblazer, embracing who we truly are by the way we dress.

So fear not, whether you are lacking in the cash department, have no time to shop, are afraid of what others might think, any of that – it’s time to focus on you and put your best foot forward, whether it is a stiletto heel or a ballet flat! Distinguished young women aren’t afraid to be confident individuals, not dressing to impress others, but dressing to impress themselves. Be a fearless fashion leader in your own life and watch your confidence level rise through the roof. A wise man once said, “Confidence comes not from always being right, but by not fearing to be wrong.” So what are you waiting for, fabulous fashion divas? Get out there and change the world!

Veronica Townsend is a college freshman at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware majoring in Fashion Merchandising. Originally from Dagsboro, Delaware, Veronica was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Delaware for 2011. Learn more about Veronica here!

Jacky's Tips for Mastering College: Some Random and Some Profound

2012-02-22T13:46:00.000-06:00

Master your Schedule
Master the BUN
Master your goals
Master your resources
Master the laundry
Master your Friendships
Master a dance move
Master your stuff
Master your mind
Master your life

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Blessings and LOVE <3

Jacky

Jacky Arness is a college freshman at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota majoring in Political Science/International Relations with a minor in Theatre Arts. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Jacky was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2011. Learn more about Jacky here!

Bras - by Amanda

2012-02-21T20:44:00.000-06:00

There are two girls that will never leave you no matter how much you complain about them, or wish they would change. They aren't just any girls; they're THE girls. That's right. I went there. With so many girls exposed to negative images of what being a beautiful woman is really about, I believe it's important to emphasize what we as girls love about ourselves. This entry is not to be interpreted as “risque” or “inappropriate” in any way; my intention is simply to be realistic and celebrate just some of the things that make us beautiful. There is a three letter word that can solve 99% of the problems we as girls are faced with today, and no it isn't “man.” It's BRA.

I went shopping the other day with one of my sorority sisters, and we walked into Victoria's Secret; I was immediately reminded of the first time I walked into this iconic store. Simply put, the first trip to VC left me feeling horribly unqualified. Frankly, I was flat. I was not gifted with a chest that left people staring in insane jealousy. I was left thinking I wasn't as beautiful as Miranda Kerr or Giselle Bundchen, (but really who is? They are like freaks of nature, beautiful freaks of nature). Realizing the differences between me and the model in the photo, I started to feel less beautiful, less feminine. I became very insecure about my body. Was I too skinny? Was I too fat? Were my thighs too big? Suddenly I found that every magazine cover, and every TV program that featured people like Kim Kardashian or the hotties from the Hills was leaving me with an unhealthy sense of self pity. I had small boobs, and there was nothing I could do but complain and be patient in hopes that God would eventually give me the same equipment He blessed these models with. Naturally this was all at the tender age of thirteen.

On my seventeenth birthday, I was peering up at Miranda Kerr. Naturally she was modeling some kind of lingerie, which naturally I was not interested in. I was not interested in buying something cute to model to my nonexistent boyfriend; I was not interested in making my boobs each the size of Jupiter; I was not interested in making sure I had the perfect leopard print bra that would make all the girls in gym class jealous. I was on the hunt for self esteem, and there was only one place that could help me. So I took the plunge and opened the glass door rimmed with gold metal that resembled the entrance into some kind of palace. Immediately this experience was different than my first encounter with the undergarment underworld. I was still intimidated by the overwrought sexuality that surrounded me, but I was focused. Nothing could distract me from the quest to conquer my insecurities. I began the hunt. I didn't need anything basic like a white, black, or nude bra (EVERY GIRL SHOULD INVEST IN A WHITE, BLACK, AND A NUDE BRA), but I am also just a teenager who isn't known for being particularly wild or sexy, so there was no need to seek out a lacy, risque bra. After briefly glancing about the store, my confidence started to dwindle. Gradually, I became increasingly discouraged. Then suddenly, in a last ditch effort I opened the only drawer that was labeled with my size that I had not opened. Every bit of my being was praying that this drawer held my sacred holy grail. As I peered into the drawer I heard angels singing a Lady Gaga anthem behind me, and I knew immediately that I had found the bra for me. It was from the Incredible Collection. It was perfect for me, because I live in t-shirts, and this bra is so comfortable and has a playful rainbow animal print pattern. This was my bra. As I walked towards the register, I felt as though the other girls and the employees were applauding me. The pride I felt after that is incomparable.

On this most recent visit that I took accompanied by a sorority sister, I greeted Vickie as an old friend who played an intricate role in me defeating low self esteem. When I was talking about this with a friend, they laughed and inquired why a bra was what I needed to feel beautiful. She added that it was a silly idea because I was the only person who saw my bra. That's true. I don't gallivant around town in just my bra, but the fact was, I see it. I wear it, and it is just something that makes me feel beautiful. So maybe it doesn't solve 99% of girls' problems. That may have been a tad bit far fetched, but I bet that there are just a few problems a girl will face that a trip to Victoria's Secret can fix. It fixed my self esteem, and after I buy a new bra, even though it's not “sexy”, I still feel like a million bucks. Who knows, maybe this is the key to curing female insecurities forever. What's most important to remember, is that everyone needs to find what makes them feel beautiful, no matter what it is.

Amanda Wineman is a college freshman at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama majoring in Political Science with a minor in French. Originally from Cut Bank, Montana, Amanda was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Montana for 2011. Learn more about Amanda here!

Rebecca’s Top 10 Tips for Applying to and Choosing a College

2012-02-17T15:39:00.000-06:00

No matter what stage of your teenage years you are in, it’s never too early to start thinking about colleges! The sooner you start preparing, the easier it will be for you. Hopefully these tips can help you get started and help you in this exciting step in your life!

10. GET EXCITED!!!
This is a HUGE step in your life, and you should be thrilled to dive into it! Have fun exploring colleges and preparing for the next stage—it’s an amazing adventure!!

9. Don’t stress!
If you keep your cool and follow everything that you have to through the application process, things will work out, I promise! It’s not as terrifying as some people work it up to be. Just go in with a positive attitude, and you will be fine!

8. Look for scholarships!!
There are SO many different scholarships available out there, many of which you probably don’t even know you’re qualified for! Always keep your eyes open for opportunities, and work hard in school and extracurricular activities to make even more options available. Of course, if any high school girl is looking for an amazing and fun scholarship opportunity, look into participating in the Distinguished Young Women program! With free participation, it is a fantastic way to earn scholarship money. With the program, I am going to college for free!!!

7. Apply to as many schools as you can.
Only applying to one school and not having a backup is never a good idea, just in case something goes wrong. I would recommend applying to at least four or five. Personally, I applied to seven. It’s always good to lean on the safe side! Applications can be expensive, but in the long run, it is worth it!

6. Grades matter!!
Yes, we’ve all heard this a thousand times. However, I really didn’t appreciate just what it meant until I got to the Distinguished Young Women program and realized just how many amazing, smart young women (and students overall!) are out there. I only got one B in high school, and I was still beaten out scholastically by a number of girls in the program. Even if you don’t have a perfect grade record, keep working! Colleges also look for grade improvement through the years, and how you challenge yourself.

5. Be unique, but not crazy.
Yes, colleges look for students who stand out, and students who can add something unique to their campus. But don’t go crazy and start exploring the meaning of life or telling your birth story to answer a question of “tell us something interesting about you.” In the same way, though, don’t try to over-sell yourself. Don’t turn an essay into just a list of accomplishments. Quality over quantity. Rather than simply naming accomplishment after accomplishment, talk about your involvement in the activities and what they meant to you.

4. Pay attention to deadlines!!!
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” I think we can all relate to this Douglas Adams quote in one way or another. However, when it comes to college applications, DO NOT WAIT! A lot of schools actually have scholarship deadlines. These scholarship deadlines tend to be listed as one of the school’s earliest deadlines, so if you just assume that you’ll have time to make one of their following application dates, you may miss out on getting any scholarships there.

3. VISIT. Visit, visit, visit, visit, visit.
If at all possible, visit the schools you’re looking at. It’s amazing how much the “feel” of a school can affect your decision. I walked onto a few campuses that I was seriously considering and immediately said “I could not imagine going here.” On the other hand, I looked at South Alabama online and said “There’s no way I want to go here,” and after taking a tour, turned to my mom and said, “I don’t want to leave.” Virtual tours, pictures, and facts are great, but there’s no way of telling how you’ll really like a school until you get your own first-hand account.

2. Explore all the options.
Make sure you know what is being offered to you, especially when it comes to scholarships. Research schools online to see what kind of options are available to you. There’s more than you know! Also, don’t underestimate yourself—you never know what you’re capable of until you try!

1. Keep your mind open!
I cannot stress this one enough. I wish I had a flashing neon sign that I could send through the computer to emphasize this. From the time I was in sixth grade, I knew that I was going to attend a college within a two-hour radius of home, so I could drive home any time that I wanted. I would never go to a school that I would have to fly home from. Now here I am, attending the University of South Alabama (roughly an 18-hour drive home so I have to fly home for holidays, and the last school on my list), and I am loving it! I could not imagine a better match for me. So when you’re looking, don’t limit yourself! You know the expression “beyond your wildest dreams”? It’s true—expect the unexpected!

Rebecca Mitchell is a college freshman at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama majoring in Elementary Education. Originally from Ijamsville, Maryland, Rebecca was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2011. Learn more about Rebecca here!

Katye on Being Distinguished

2012-02-16T11:32:00.000-06:00

Let’s face it, ladies. Society wants us to be perfect. I am completely guilty of falling into that pit of pressure that we all get from magazines, TV shows, movies—it’s everywhere. Now, I’m not saying I have low self-confidence or anything, but sometimes I feel like I don’t live up to the expectations that society places on women. Who’s with me? Instead of encouraging us to be strong, smart, humble, generous, beautiful, DISTINGUISHED young women, we are pushed to be sexy, materialistic, submissive, and selfish. It is up to us to decide which of these paths we want to take. It’s up to us to live up to the Distinguished Young Women name. Good ole’ Webster defines distinguished as: “marked by eminence, distinction, or excellence.” It’s our turn to be excellent, girls. Do something great this week: volunteer at a local charity, talk to someone you’ve never talked to before, read something that will broaden your understanding of the world. It’s these little things that make your life BIG. Don’t waste your time wishing you were skinnier, had better hair or whiter teeth—in 30 years, will those things even matter? You should all be proud of your accomplishments, but don’t stop now. You have so much left to do, such an impact to make on this world. Don’t let society bring you down.

I know I shared this quote in my first blog post, but it is so prevalent, here it is again:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
1 Peter 3: 3-4

Stay distinguished, and much love to you all,
Katye

Katye Brock is a college freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee majoring in International Studies. Originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee, Katye was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee for 2011 and the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2011. Learn more about Katye here!

9 Things About College I Didn't Know in High School - by Devin

2012-02-15T09:57:00.000-06:00

Devin Kerns is a college freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas majoring in Communications Studies with a minor in Italian. Originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma, Devin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Oklahoma for 2011. Learn more about Devin here!

Keeping Abreast - by Sydney

2012-02-14T12:45:00.000-06:00

In colleges and universities nationwide, basketball teams are promoting and supporting breast cancer awareness during the month of February. This Valentine's Day my college basketball team (Go Nyack!) is wearing Pink in support of all the women out there fighting cancer during our game. It's close to home for my team, as one of our mothers was recently diagnosed. We aren't the only ones, turn on ESPN this month and you'll be seeing Pink, and lots of it.

We wear Pink in our game as a sign of our support, with Pink shoelaces, headbands, socks and T-shirts. I personally am a huge fan of lipstick, and will be wearing some bubble gum tinted cosmetics as well. Nothing too girly of course- I am a basketball player after all :-).

There are some awesome ways you can raise awareness too! Maybe you're like me and play a sport, or participate on a team - encourage your teammates to set a date and wear Pink. You can sign petitions, buy Pink merchandise, or even "like" Breast Cancer Awareness on Facebook! My college is holding a 5K race for donations, a fun idea for you guys who like planning events! Do you make a killer red (or Pink) velvet cupcake? Hold a bake sale! There are so many things you can do, I'm sure if all of the bright, driven, women get together we can do anything! I've listed a link below so you can get involved!

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

I'd love to see pictures of your Pink-ness, so take a picture and send it to me! If you get really creative, I'll post your picture on my Facebook.

Can't wait to read your comments!

xoxo Sydney

Sydney McIntosh is a college freshman at Nyack College in Nyack, New York. Originally from North Pole, Alaska, Sydney was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska for 2011. Learn more about Sydney here!

Ann's Tips on Boys

2012-02-10T12:50:00.000-06:00

Ann Clancy is a college freshman at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama majoring in Political Science with a minor in Psychology. Originally from Ferrisburgh, Vermont, Ann was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Vermont for 2011. Learn more about Ann here!

Be Number One…and Number Two - by Rachel

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

I was very actively involved in student council when I was in high school, and we frequently took trips to State Conferences around the state. At the State Conference my senior year there was a guest speaker that had a very powerful message.

He told a story about a time when he made a button with the words “I am number two” written on it. He went about his day with this bright yellow button pinned to his shirt. Many people just gave him strange looks, but one woman asked him, very seriously, “all right, if you are number two, then who is number one?” He beamed at her and answered with a wink, “You are.” All of us student council kids went wild. It was such a brilliant idea that pushed the concept of putting others before yourself.

After some thought on this topic, though, I’ve decided it is a wonderful concept for teenagers that are confident and sure of themselves, but to tell every teen and preteen to wear a button blatantly stating that they are number two, could be a major blow to their self-esteem. So, I’ve come up with a slight modification:

Be number one in your head and number two in your heart.

Being Number One in Your Head
Self-confidence is absolutely important for people of every age, but I’ve found that it is critically important during tween and teenage years. Without self-confidence success in school, making friends, and (probably most importantly) having a boyfriend/girlfriend is difficult. I cannot express how critically important it is for you to love yourself for who you are. You were made perfect the way you are for the specific purpose for which you were put on this Earth. Inside that little mind of yours think to yourself that you are number one, but please don’t get me wrong. I’m not asking you to be massively cocky; I’m encouraging you to be positively confident.

“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”
–Malcolm S. Forbes

Being Number Two in Your Heart
True selflessness can come only after you have accepted to love yourself. How can you expect to pour love into other people if you don’t know what love is within yourself? Anyways, if you have accepted yourself, find your heart (it’s that organ that you know, keeps you alive, located in the left side of your chest) and metaphorically pin a little button labeled “I am number two” on it. Just like self-confidence is important, “loving thy neighbor as thyself” is also tremendously serious business.

So whether you plan on making a bright yellow button and wearing it around, or if you just plan to metaphorically wear it on your heart and mind, always remember to be number one in your mind and number two in your heart.

Rachel Williams is a college freshman at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico majoring in International Studies. Originally from Kirtland, New Mexico, Rachel was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of New Mexico for 2011. Learn more about Rachel here!

Hannah's Tips for "Facebooking" Safely

2012-02-08T08:44:00.000-06:00

Facebook.

Almost all of us have one. You probably log on multiple times a day and stay on for hours at the time—or even have it on your cell phone and use the mobile app. I know that I use facebook all the time and almost always have instant access to the site—whether through the computer or my cell phone.

Facebook can be a great tool for keeping up with friends, especially after high school! I belong to multiple groups, everything from my sorority, Kappa Delta, to the Distinguished Young Women facebook group. However, if used in the wrong way facebook can ruin college and employment aspirations.

I have always been really careful about the pictures and statuses I post on facebook, and you should too! Employers and even college scouts are now using facebook to get the scoop on applicants. One bad picture could seriously damper your chances at earning a scholarship, internship, or job. Listed below are the do’s and don’ts of facebook:

•    Don’t post pictures while holding a cup (even if the cup is just for water!!)
•    Don’t EVER post pictures where alcohol is involved
•    Don’t post bikini photos or revealing photos
•    Don’t post really negative statuses
•    Don’t reply to messages from people you do not know
•    Do set your profile to private
•    Do watch who you friend or accept
•    Do keep your “about you” section updated
•    Do keep a close watch on what others are posting on your wall
•    Do use facebook for relationship building and FUN

Facebook can really be a wonderful thing—when it is used safely and carefully!
Check out this link for more facebook tips and tricks: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/03/spring-clean-your-facebook-account

What could you do to clean up your profile or friends list?

Hannah Roberts is a college freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi majoring in Biochemistry with a Pre-medical emphasis. Originally from Mount Olive, Mississippi, Hannah was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi for 2011. Learn more about Hannah here!

Kelsey's 40 Quotes to Live By - Part 2

2012-02-07T12:00:00.003-06:00

See Kelsey's first 20 Quotes to Live By HERE!!

21. People change and grow. Do not let something you did in your past define your future. Decide every day to be a better person than you were yesterday.

22. It’s an interesting concept to think about, isn’t it?

23. So go out on the dance floor and do the hokey pokey, even if it makes you look ridiculous. It’ll be much more memorable than sitting down and being bored while watching everyone else.

24. You shouldn’t live with God just during prayer time; God should be with you in everything you do.

25. It’s the truth.

26. Prince Charming will love you for your laugh, personality, smile, and sense of humor. Not for your shade of lipstick.

27. Every moment, event, and day happens for a reason.

28. God knows what he’s doing, just have faith and keep living your life.

29. Forgiveness is SO hard sometimes, but it is ALWAYS worth it.

30. As my best friend always says, everything happens for a reason.

31. Everything is beautiful; everyone is beautiful. You just have to look for it.

32. Not every day is easy. But take each morning as a new beginning.

33. This is a great quote for people who are trying to eat/live healthy, or for people who are trying to save money, etc.

34. If you believe it you can achieve it!

35. Do you get on Facebook to read all of the gossip and drama? Or do you spend your time reading encouraging notes? Just stop and think, right now. What do you read, and what does that say about you?

36. Exactly.

37. Always keep an open mind and take the time to listen to others. Some day, you’ll learn something of value. I promise.

38. What a brilliant quote. Whether you do the wrong thing or the right thing, someone is always going to say something bad about your choices. Always make the right choices so you can at least be happy with yourself.

39. I’ve found myself asking God, “Why?” before. Just remember, God always has a plan and a reason.

40. Self-explanatory.

It’d be great if you guys could tell me your favorite 6 quotes, or 6 things you found helpful/really liked!

Kelsey Quin is a college freshman at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana majoring in General Health with a Pre-medicine concentration. Originally from Peru, Indiana, Kelsey was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana for 2011. Learn more about Kelsey here!

Kelsey's 40 Quotes to Live By - Part 1

2012-02-07T09:00:00.001-06:00

So, as I’m sure everyone knows, Super Bowl 46 just happened in my state capitol, Indianapolis, Indiana. In keeping with the theme, I’m going to give you guys 40 “Super” Quotes to remember everyday to make sure you’re always being your best self. I’m offering a little bit of my input under each quote. Go through one quote a day, a few each week, or read them all at once! They all have something different but important to say! It’d be great if you guys could tell me your favorite 6 quotes, or 6 things you found helpful/really liked! (Get it? 40 from me + 6 from you =46!)

1. My favorite quote! This is because I love fairytales, but I also love the idea behind the quote. It means that these huge, clawed, fire-breathing problems that we have in life, that seem too big to tackle, can be beaten. Just like in all the good fairytales where the prince slays the dragon. But remember, if you can’t “slay” the problem, in Shrek, they befriend the dragon. So when beating the problem isn’t an option, make peace with it.

2. God has given you many talents and blessings! Use them and find what truly makes you happy in life and pursue it! There is no better life than a life in which you are happy!

3. No matter what kind of day you’re having, remember you are beautiful, and you have something to offer in life. Don’t ever let anyone or anything bring you down. People say mean things to try to make themselves feel better; lead by example and choose to ignore the mean comments, and offer that person a smile or a compliment in return. Not only will they be confused, you’ll feel better about yourself. It’s a win-win!

4. If it’s important to you, make it happen. NEVER give up.

5. Be nice, always. Maybe (s)he only said something that hurt your feelings because they’re going through something really difficult and painful, and they don’t know how to deal with it. Everyone has a story. It may be hard, but try to always remember that.

6. Always stay positive and look at the bright side.

7. You don’t have to save a baby from a burning building to be courageous. Sometimes courage is simply being able to admit you were wrong and deciding to do better.

8. Life is kind of funny. You can be the best planner in the world, but eventually, something is going to happen to throw everything off track. Don’t panic! Remember, there is more than one way to bake a potato.

9. In case you can’t read it, it says, “Never forget who you are.” Don’t let someone change you into someone you don’t want to be. Know your morals, know what you believe in, and stay true to yourself.

10. This is a great quote for a lot of reasons, but what it reminds me of is to stay classy.

11. EVERYONE is a princess. If no one has ever told you you’re a princess, I’m telling you now. You’re a princess. Princesses have responsibilities though, so always wear your invisible crown and make sure you’re doing as a princess should.

12. You don’t have to follow the crowd. Do what you know is right, even when it is hard- ESPECIALLY when it is hard.

13. This blew my mind when I read it. Think about it, God gives us so many gifts and blessings, and sometimes we don’t even think to take one second a day to thank him.

14. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people tell other people they can’t do something. YOU CAN. It may be hard, it may take years and years of work, but you can do anything.

15. ALWAYS.

16. Use your talents and your intelligence and live whole-heartedly.

17. Remember each day to stop and smell the roses. Life is beautiful, and so are you.

18. We all go through rough times. Don’t give up. Always look at the positive in all negatives.

19. You might be the best natural athlete in the world, but if you don’t make the right choices on when to pass the ball or when to shoot, you won’t be known as the best athlete in the world.

20. Yes, there is a lot that is wrong in our world today. Don’t lose faith! You have the opportunity to change the world.

Check back later today for Kelsey's 40 Quotes to Live By - Part 2!!

Gabrielle on New Beginnings

2012-02-06T17:33:00.000-06:00

New beginnings...

    I have never been a New Year’s Resolution girl, but this year I decided I would make a list. I see the resolutions as goals for myself. The New Year is a new beginning. If you keep your life the way it is and do not change anything about it, you are not bettering yourself. You are in that same stagnant cycle. The New Year is celebrating what is to come and forgetting the past, whether it is good or bad. The new year holds hope for the future. The only way the future is going to change is if you change yourself. Goals to change yourself improve this New Year and this new you. It is the hope for the beginning to start and become a journey. Hopefully when the next New Year’s Eve comes, maybe the past one was of sadness or disappointment, but this next New Year’s Eve is one of celebration and one of more resolutions.

    So, I have been writing goals for myself. I even looked up statistics on what are some of the top New Year’s resolutions. Not surprisingly losing weight was number one, but following were things like saving money and traveling. I saw people have some really interesting goals for themselves. Little resolutions lead to big things. If I work on little things now, I will be able to accomplish something great in the end. For someone who has never done it, you cannot wake up one day and run a mile, it takes time. Right now, I am working on running a 5k. I take a couple days out of my busy schedule to go running with my roommate at the gym and on Friday’s we even run outside in the park to get a change in scenery. Although I am not out of shape, it is hard for me to get the breathing pattern down and have the stamina to keep going. The first time we walked into the gym, our goal was three miles no matter what, even if we had to walk the last half. Sure enough, that three miles turned into three and a half, and now we can push for four miles as the weeks go on. After the New Year, I could not stop thinking this may not be the thing for me, but I cannot be an expert the first time. It takes time to gain those skills. I have learned to be patient because in the past I have had frustration with waiting to become better and wanting to move on, I could not wait, it had to be now. But if I make my now each step, each goal, each little flag in the race, then eventually I’ll win.

    “Plan difficult things while they are easy. Accomplish great things while they are small.” - Laozi

What is going to be your new beginning coming from 2011? What are you going to change in your daily life to better yourself? It may overwhelm you to take the first step if it is not something you are comfortable with, but I promise after that you will feel better about the journey you are about to take. Each day we are learning about ourselves and the world around us. Take a step back to get away from the rush of life and make that first step for yourself in this year’s race. I challenge you to meet me at the finish line. So walk up to the starting point, take a breath, and open your eyes to life’s course of better change, better you.

Gabrielle Walter is a college freshman at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York majoring in Biology/Pre-medicine. Originally from East Amherst, New York, Gabrielle was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of New York for 2011. Learn more about Gabrielle here!

Kinsey's Super Yummy Top 10 - Healthy Eating

2012-02-03T15:29:00.002-06:00

Hey ladies!

So. We have embarked deep into the 2012 calendar year, which means… some of us have already cheated a little on our New Year’s Resolutions. I know that one of my resolutions was to be healthier in 2012, and what with beginning-of-the-year festivities, my obsession with frozen yogurt, etc., it’s sometimes hard to keep focused on eating healthily and staying active! Well...To combat this mid-winter lack of focus, I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favorite healthy foods, which not only taste super yummy, but are good for us too :)

10. Celery and peanut butter: Celery provides our bodies with fiber and vitamin C, and when paired with peanut butter (crunchy all the way) it’s a great snack!

9. Dried apricots: Apricots are a great source of vitamin A!

8. Fresh edamame: Ok, stay with me on this one. Edamame is soybeans, picked before they’re mature so they’re bright green and soft. They’re a great source of protein and (in my opinion) really tasty. Try it, and if you don’t like it… you can send your leftovers my way ;)

7. Pears: I always used to be afraid of eating the skin, but as long as you wash them, you can eat pears just like an apple!

6. Beef jerky: Not only is jerky high in protein, but it has a relatively low fat content as well. And it just makes you feel super rustic while you’re eating it ;)

5. String cheese: my favorite brand is Frigo Cheese Heads. Try them. Your life will be changed. (well, maybe it’s not that drastic, but they’re pretty awesome)

4. Hummus and carrot sticks: I never thought of using carrots as a vehicle for hummus until recently, but they are so yummy together!

3. Blueberries: these have tons of antioxidants, which function to help our bodies in many ways including improving the health of our digestive tracts and nervous systems!

2. Low-fat Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is so rich and creamy! Fage makes some good stuff, and if you’re feeling really scandalous, The Greek Gods Honey Strawberry is FABULOUS. Pretty sure they don’t make a low-fat variety, though, so be prepared for calorie shock!

1. Stacy’s pita chips: I AM OBSESSED. My favorite flavor is Cinnamon Sugar, but the Simply Naked ones are delicious as well. Don’t go too overboard and eat half the bag… that’s not conducive to healthy eating ;)

Well, that’s all for now! I’d love some feedback to hear about some of your favorite healthy foods. Happy snacking!

Kinsey Crow is a college freshman at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama majoring in Nursing. Originally from Mount Vernon, Ohio, Kinsey was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Ohio for 2011. Learn more about Kinsey here!

Alessa's Words to Live By

2012-02-02T11:38:00.001-06:00

I attended a leadership conference this weekend and we all received a pen. Written on the pen were these words of wisdom that I think we all should live by…

Take Responsibility.

Preserve your options.

Never stop learning.

Be persistent.

Be Honest and Dependable.

Love Unconditionally.

Don’t you agree?

Hugs,

Alessa

Alessa Strelecki is a college freshman at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa majoring in Secondary Education and Mathematics. Originally from West Des Moines, Iowa, Alessa was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Iowa for 2011. Learn more about Alessa here!

Allii's "Top 10 tips to Highschool"

2012-02-01T10:30:00.005-06:00

Hi y'all! Hope you enjoy my tips! In the mean time, I need to learn how to write backwards so you guys can read my signs :)

Love always, and in the Spirit,

Allii Fontaine

Distinguished Young Woman of Rhode Island for 2011

Allii Fontaine is a college freshman at Elmira College in Elmira, New York majoring in Nursing with a Pediatric tract. Originally from Burrillville, Rhode Island, Allii was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Rhode Island for 2011. Learn more about Allii here!

Get to Know Jacky Arness - Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2011

2012-01-31T12:30:00.000-06:00

Name: Jacky Arness
Age: 19
Hometown: Fargo, ND
College: Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
Major: Double Major: Political Science/International Relations; Minor: Theatre Arts (and maybe a 2nd?! The possibilities are endless!!!)

Favorite food: SUSHI
Favorite TV show: The Walking Dead!!! It’s helping me prepare for the zombie apocalypse.
Current #1 most played song on your iPod: (it’s a tie)… What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger): by Kelly Clarkson, and Domino: by Jessie J
Favorite quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Gandhi
Favorite time of year: CHRISTMAS!!!!! But I also love early August. Perfect summer weather!

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I plan ahead with life-related issues, but procrastinate on things like homework. I’m trying to get better about that though!
Paper OR plastic: PAPER. Keeps me conscious and responsible for what I’m spending. It’s a lot harder to hand over cash than to just swipe a card, so it helps me decide what I really need to buy! Wait…this question is about money….right?!
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Half-full kiddos. Always.
Introvert OR extrovert: Ambivert. I love to be with my friends and go out. I love trying new things and going new places. That being said, there aren’t many things that can beat a good book and a cup of tea for hours on end. You just have to find the balance and know that it’s OK to take time for yourself. It makes being social that much more fun!
Cats OR Dogs: Dogs. I will be a dog-person forever. They are always happy to see you and don’t care what you look like or how your test went! They are just full of kisses and love <3
Morning person OR night person: Definitely a night-person!!! I sleep all day and stay up all night no problem.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you absolutely need for survival?
OK. Fact about me, I LOVE the wilderness and the outdoors. Camping? Sign me up. So, practically, I would bring a knife, a magnesium block, and a solar-charged flashlight. The knife has numerous practical uses, not only for protection, but for building shelter, securing food etc. The magnesium block would be used to create a fire, perhaps one of the most important survival tools. By striking the blade of your knife against the magnesium block, you can create a rather substantial spark. With practice, you can use this numerous times to procure a flame. Lastly, although there are MANY items that would be useful for survival, I would bring a flashlight. Because being able to see at night would be a good thing on a deserted island.

What is your biggest fear?
Failure. I hold myself to really high standards, and when I don’t succeed, or if I feel like I don’t get out of something what I put into it I get really upset with myself. I’m always pushing myself to do my best and to be my best (to BE MY BEST SELF!!!) but I have to remember that sometimes even when I’m doing my best, things aren’t meant to be! So I continue to push myself and give my all because I think that is where success comes from.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own?
DO NOT OVERCOMMIT YOURSELF! In high school I was in a ton of activities so naturally when I got to college I wanted to be involved in as many things as I could! There was so much variety and so many different clubs and activities to get involved with that before I knew it, I was in way over my head. If I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would be to take it slow. You can always add more activities, but right away at the beginning I had bitten off more than I could chew. So when you get to college, take your time and figure out what feels right. Then when you have your bearings you can always join a club, or maybe even wait until the next year to join! There is so much you can get involved with, just make sure you know what you’re getting into so you can fully invest and truly enjoy what it is you decide to be a part of in college.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved?
I really wanted to be accepted into the Honors Program at Bethel. It was a big goal of mine and something I felt really passionate about. I got accepted and I was SO pumped! So far the program has been awesome and has really challenged me in a lot of ways. A goal I have yet to achieve is to graduate summa cum laude. Summa cum laude is the highest academic honor classification you can receive upon graduation from college. That’s what I’ve got my sights on now!

Sum yourself up in three words.
Passionate, loving, and blessed.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience.
I could easily write a novel on Nationals. I know that the term “the best” gets applied to a lot of things in our lives, but I really mean it when I say that Distinguished Young Women National Finals was the best two weeks of my life. I wouldn’t trade the time I spent there, the things I learned, or the friendships I made for anything. I was part of an incredible group of beautiful, talented, intelligent, funny, and caring girls who inspired me to be better and who taught me to love myself. Did I mention that I made 49 new best friends? The day that truly summed up the Nationals experience for me was definitely Finals Night. My situation with Distinguished Young Women was different from most other girls as I came into it very last minute. But from the very first day I have never felt so welcomed and accepted by a group of people as I did by my host family, the staff, the volunteers, and particularly the other girls. For two weeks we worked hard, sweated hard, laughed hard, and played hard. I remember the first time after we ran through the fitness routine together and we all just looked at each other in shock, then by the prelims we were looking like we’d been doing that routine our whole lives! On Finals Night I was so lucky to be standing next to the girl who’d become my closest friend at Nationals, Devin Kearns from Oklahoma. Right before we had gone onstage for the Finals Night opening number we had been joking about how there was no way out of all these AMAZING girls we would make top ten. Then, right away, Devin was called and right after her they called my name. I couldn’t believe it. I was so blessed to meet her and become so close with her. We were laughing so hard after they called our names, and when I re-watch the Finals Night DVD I can still see how red I was and remember exactly what we were saying. I don’t remember too much of Finals very clearly after that, because it was such an adrenaline rush, until the very end after they’d announced Katye as Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2011 and all 50 of us rushed in for a giant group hug onstage. Because that’s what it was all about. Of course it was a competition, but the most important thing was the people. Something they always said to us was that there was no winner from the representatives, but a representative of the winners. And I believe that wholeheartedly, because knowing these girls and the memories I have with them are something I can’t imagine my life without now.

Get to Know Veronica Townsend - Distinguished Young Woman of Delaware for 2011

2012-01-31T11:45:00.001-06:00

Name: Veronica Townsend
Age: 18
Hometown: Dagsboro, Delaware
College: University of Delaware
Major: Fashion Merchandising (Honors)

Favorite food: Spaghetti (with meatballs of COURSE!)
Favorite TV show: American Idol
Favorite movie: Legally Blonde
Favorite Olympic sport: Can we PLEASE bring back baseball/softball? If not, curling, it’s just such a weird concept yet so entertaining!
Favorite Christmas/holiday tradition: Baking Christmas cookies with my grandma
Current #1 most played song on your iPod: Sweet Thing by Keith Urban
Favorite quote: To wish you were someone else is to waste the person that you are.
Most hated household chore: Cleaning my room...being able to see the carpet amidst all of the clothes is soooo overrated.
Favorite time of day: Mealtime…duh.
Favorite time of year: Spring (My birthday is in April!)

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I like to plan ahead when it comes to things I enjoy, but when it comes to those I don’t? Last minute ALL the way. I’m actually currently procrastinating studying, and that’s why I’m doing this!
Paper OR plastic: It’s fantastic to be plastic!
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Half-full; I’m an extremely optimistic person!
Introvert OR extrovert: Extrovert, I tend to be very outgoing and loud!
Cats OR Dogs: Team Canine baby!
Morning person OR night person: Morning person, especially when I have coffee!

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why?

A crayon combining all the glitter in existence – I’m a HUGE fan of anything sparkly!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you absolutely need for survival?

Taylor Lautner, a fabulous pair of shoes, and a boat to leave! Why does no one ever think of that?

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

Selena Gomez! Not only is she gorgeous (and the girlfriend of Justin Bieber) and has a fabulous Disney lifestyle, but she is a truly remarkable girl who is involved with charity work and firmly believes in putting others first.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved?

Ever since I started cheerleading as a young girl, I aspired to take it to the collegiate level. I currently am a member of the first ever All Girl cheerleading squad at the University of Delaware and I love every minute! The next goal I would love to achieve is to be Miss America – dream big, right?

What do you want to be when you grow up and why?

I would love nothing more than to work in the fashion industry when I grow older. My current goal is to attend law school after receiving my undergraduate degree in fashion merchandising, where I plan on one day representing a fashion company in their legal department. What could be better than making money doing what I love in a fabulous setting?

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience.
For starters, picking just one moment from my experience in the Distinguished Young Women program is possibly one of the hardest things in the world. Every single aspect of representing my state both locally and at the national level, from appearances all over the place to meeting some truly remarkable people, are memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. However, if I absolutely had to choose just one, attending the Mardi Gras ball while in Mobile, Alabama was incredibly memorable! Dancing the night away with my newfound distinguished best friends (and handsome southern boys!) after a long week of rehearsal is something I will never forget.

Get to Know Megan Jack - Distinguished Young Woman of West Virginia for 2011

2012-01-31T11:10:00.000-06:00

Name: Megan Jack
Age: 18
Hometown: Moundsville, West Virginia
College: Belmont University – Nashville, TN
Major: Entertainment Industry Studies with a Mathematics minor, although next semester my minor will change to either film, broadcasting, or theatre.

Favorite food: Noodles!
Favorite TV show: My newest obsession is Pretty Little Liars, but I’m still on Season 1.
Current #1 most played song on your iPod: “Doing It Wrong” -Drake
Favorite quote: “Don’t think, just do.” –John Hennen (Director from WV Governor’s School)
Favorite time of day: Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Really anytime I can eat.

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I procrastinate, but take it from someone who knows… PLAN AHEAD!
Paper OR plastic: Paper… you can use them as book covers and wrapping paper later.
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Oh, all the way full.
Introvert OR extrovert: Extrovert
Cats OR Dogs: Kittens>Puppies. Dogs>Cats.
Morning person OR night person: Night. Night. Night.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment would probably have to be during orientation of freshman year here at Belmont. While the rest of my class was entering the auditorium/student life center for a traditional, prestigious ceremony, I was outside on the stairs with leaders surrounding me because I passed out. I think it was just because I hadn’t had much food the previous day and all the excitement, but while the rest of the class got inducted, I got inspected…

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)?
An almost empty bottle of Diet Coke, Simply-To-Go fruit cup, frozen apple pie, frozen chicken pot pie, natural peanut butter, and Ghiradelli caramel squares.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own?
It’s hard to pick one… so I’ll go with three. 1. Don’t bring your entire wardrobe and don’t bring really nice clothes. The dryers in dorms have one setting: SHRINK. 2. You can’t procrastinate or slack off like you might have been able to in high school. Everything counts now and you have to remember you are now PAYING for this education. Take courses in things you WANT to learn about. If you can’t get in them, don’t be afraid to go to the department head. 3. Making friends with your professors will really be your best bet. There are no “teacher’s pets” in college, just as there’s no pressure to drink or do drugs like people say. High school and college are two different environments.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved?
At the beginning of the year I made a “101 Things in 1001 Days” list and “Get an A in Religion” was on it. Pulled off an A- for the first semester! One that still remains is to write five songs and publish them. Nashville is the perfect place for it.

What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
I want to be someone who makes a difference. I’m still all over the place within my major right now - I know I want to end up in the entertainment industry; however, I don’t know exactly where. I’m hoping internships and more classes will help. I just know I want to make a difference in at least one person’s life - a significant difference.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience.

My favorite moment of Distinguished Young Women was the moment the finalists were called and I wasn’t one. Now, that may sound silly, but let me explain. After the finalists were announced, the remaining 40 went back to the dressing rooms to just “hang out” and Indiana, Hawaii, Colorado, and I made friendship bracelets as we waited. In that moment we could feel the connections we had made in the last two weeks. Ironically, my bracelet fell off the day after Christmas- it was made of simple white and blue thread, so I was surprised it lasted that long. Making bracelets with Kelsey, Aspen, and Calla was just one of those moments I’ll remember in thirty years. I still have that bracelet and the sister ones my host sister, Illinois, and I bought as well.

Get to Know Amanda Wineman - Distinguished Young Woman of Montana for 2011

2012-01-30T16:00:00.001-06:00

Name: Amanda Wineman

Age: 17

Hometown: Cut Bank, Montana

College: Huntingdon College

Major: Political Science

Minor: French

Favorite Food: SPAM fried in RedHot hot sauce

Favorite Movie: The Fighter; The Last King of Scotland

Favorite Quote: “Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did.”- George Carlin

Favorite TV Show: House M.D.

Current #1 most played song on your iPod: Who Want's to Live Forever by Queen

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I PROCRASTINATE instead of planning ahead.

Paper OR plastic: PLASTIC instead of paper. (I'm not a big environmentalist.)

Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: The glass is always full! If it's half full of water, there is still another half full of air!

Introvert OR extrovert: I am an INTROVERT, but I still enjoy hanging out with my friends occasionally.

Cats OR dogs: DOGS are soooooooooooo much better than cats. Cats are the devil.

Morning person OR night person: I'm definitely a NIGHT PERSON!

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? If I was a crayon I would be white, because I'm the palest person that isn't an albino.

Sum yourself up in three words. In three words I am funny, hilarious, and comical.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? If I could trade places with anyone dead, alive, or fictional I would trade places with Hermione Granger, because who doesn't want magic?!?! Being Harry would be too much pressure, and Hermione has great hair!

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? If you looked in my fridge right now you would find two jugs of cranberry juice. My roommate and I drink it so much. It's good for your colon.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. There are so many things about the Distinguished Young Women program. I have been truly blessed by being a part of this program. I don't know how to choose one favorite moment, but one of the many wonderful parts of the program was all the backstage moments that happened like Krispy Kreme eating contests, silly photographs, crazy dancing, laughing, and being just goofy in general. It was great seeing that even the most distinguished girls were crazy.

Get to Know Rebecca Mitchell - Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2011

2012-01-30T15:30:00.000-06:00

Name: Rebecca Mitchell
Age: 18
Hometown: Ijamsville, Maryland
College: University of South Alabama
Major: Elementary Education

Favorite TV show: Four Weddings
Favorite movie: Miss Congeniality
Favorite Olympic sport: Ice Skating
Current #1 most played song on your iPod: Dirt Road Anthem
Favorite quote: Philippians 4:13

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: Procrastinate!
Paper OR plastic: Paper
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Always half-full!!
Introvert OR extrovert: Extrovert
Cats OR Dogs: Dogs—they always know how to make your day!
Morning person OR night person: Morning person, once I can get myself out of bed.

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? Razzmatazz, partly because it’s a really pretty pink and it was created the year I was born, but mostly because it’s so fun to say and it almost requires you to do jazz hands every time you say it!

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? Cinderella! She has the perfect fairy tale!

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own? Really look for friends who share the same values you have, because they will make your college experience better than you ever thought! Also, free time goes by much faster than you realize-don’t waste it!

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved? Thanks to Distinguished Young Women, I have achieved my goal of getting a scholarship! My next goal is to find out exactly what my passion in life is, and find a career that I love.

What do you want to be when you grow up and why? I would love to take over my aunt and uncle’s ice cream shop on our family farm in Delaware. I go up there every summer. The farm is one of my favorite places in the world, and who doesn’t love ice cream? I would also love to write novels and teach violin lessons, because I can make my own schedule and do things that I love.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. It is almost impossible to pick just one moment that was my favorite, but one that’s at the top of my list was performing our final night number at Nationals, “Born This Way.” The energy among all the girls was unbelievable. It was so much fun to get on stage and have a blast on our last night in Mobile. I actually started tearing up at the end of the number because I knew that our performance and that song truly represented the culmination of all our hard work and effort. We were born the way we are, and we were proud of everything we had accomplished by just being ourselves!

Get to Know Sydney McIntosh - Distinguished Young Woman of Alaska for 2011

2012-01-30T14:42:00.000-06:00

First EVER Be Distinguished Giveaway!!

2012-01-27T16:51:00.012-06:00

*Winner Announced!!!

Thanks so much for taking part in the first EVER Be Distinguished giveaway!! The winner of the Distinguished Young Women t-shirt is Missy. Send us an email at bedistinguished@distinguishedyw.org to pick your size and color.

In honor of the Be Distinguished blog's first week, we want to reward our new friends and followers with a GIVEAWAY! What is up for grabs, you might ask? None other than an official Distinguished Young Women T-shirt in the size and color of your choice.*

Here is how it works:

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One comment will be chosen at random using Random.org.

Commenting will remain open until Monday, January 30 at 12pm CST.

Shipping to US residents only.

*Colors and sizes available:

Pink (Youth S, M, L, XL; Adult S, M, L, XL)

Teal (Youth S, M, L, XL; Adult S, M, L, XL)

White (Youth S, M, L, XL; Adult S, M, L, XL, XXL)

Black (Adult S, M, L, XL, XXL)

Get to Know Devin Kerns - Distinguished Young Woman of Oklahoma for 2011

2012-01-27T12:30:00.001-06:00

Name: Devin
Age: 19
Hometown: Stillwater, OK
College: Southern Methodist University
Major: Communication Studies Major, Italian Minor

Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls
Favorite movie: Grease
Favorite Olympic sport: Figure Skating
Favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky
Favorite time of day: Sunset

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: Depends on how important it is.
Paper OR plastic: Paper so I can recycle it!
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Hopefully my waitress keeps the glass topped off so it’s always full to the brim.
Introvert OR extrovert: Extrovert
Cats OR Dogs: Cats…My family has five.
Morning person OR night person: Night person

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? Turquoise. It’s my favorite color, the color of the beach, and of course the prettiest jewelry!

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? Taylor Swift

What is your biggest fear? Letting people down. I’m a perfectionist to the core and sometimes I need to be reminded that it’s okay to fail, as long as I did my best. For me, failing is simply not an option and I’m not very good at dealing with it.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own? Well, my mom told me this repeatedly but I never gave it much thought: College goes by EXTREMELY fast, so enjoy every minute of it. I’ve only completed one semester, but it feels like one huge blur of excitement, frustration, and coffee. But looking back, I’ve completed 1/8 of my college experience. That’s crazy!

Sum yourself up in three words. This is a Distinguished Young Women interview question if I ever saw one! Ambitious, outgoing, and adventurous.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. My favorite moment occurred during Nationals. On Finals Night, we had all just completed our opening number to Adele’s fabulously jazzy piece “Rolling in the Deep” for the last time, ever. All fifty of us lined up in our places for the moment we had all been waiting for: the announcement of the top ten. I was shaking. All of a sudden, the MC announced my name, first! I was in absolute shock, but somehow made it downstage. To top it off, the girl whom I became closest to (North Dakota’s Jacky Arness) throughout the two weeks of Nationals was called as the second girl to be in the ten with me! My mouth dropped open in shock. We laughed and sweated our way through the entire process together, and now she would perform right next to me on the very last night of competition. Running backstage in order to change, I remember hugging and laughing and saying how we no longer cared about the outcome of the night, this moment of victory was enough. Standing next to her in the top ten is really what Distinguished Young Women is all about—rewarding girls for their hard work while bringing them together to form close friendships. While Jacky and I go to college thousands of miles away from each other, we keep in touch and I still consider her one of my dearest friends!

Get to Know Rachel Williams - Distinguished Young Woman of New Mexico for 2011

2012-01-27T10:36:00.000-06:00

Name: Rachel Marie Williams
Age: 18
Hometown: Kirtland, New Mexico
College: University of New Mexico
Major: (undeclared) International Studies

Current #1 most played song on your iPod: Requiem on Water by Imperial Mammoth
Favorite quote: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13
Most hated household chore: Cleaning the dishes, especially cleaning peanut butter off dishes.
Favorite time of day: A few hours before the sun sets.
Favorite time of year: Spring-just as everything is blooming with color.

Plan ahead OR procrastinate? Procrastinate.
Paper OR plastic? Paper.
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty? Glass half-full.
Introvert OR extrovert? Extrovert.
Cats OR dogs? Dogs.
Morning person OR night person? Night person.

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? If I could be any color crayon I would be sunset orange. Orange is my favorite color, but to be just plain “orange” would be boring and I would like to think I’m far from boring. Also, it should be mentioned that orange is the loudest color and the perfect mixture of love (red) and happiness (yellow).

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? If I could trade places with anyone it would be Selena Gomez. No, not because she is dating Justin Beiber, but because nearly every girl (even some boys!) in the world calls her their role model. To be able to positively influence so many girls is my dream. What an amazing blessing it would be.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own? I wish someone had told me how easy it is for a person to change when they go to college. College is so morally diverse. You have to pack your values and integrity in your suitcase because it’s imperative that you maintain who you are as a young lady.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved? When I was younger I promised myself I would be Valedictorian, now the most important goal is to get into law school and earn a law degree.

What do you want to be when you grow up and why? When I grow up I want to be happy. No matter what occupation I choose or how many kids I have; I just want to be happy.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. The most incredible moment I’ve experienced because of Distinguished Young Women is one that doesn’t last just a few seconds, but for a lifetime. Knowing that I will have a bond with 49 other girls for the rest of my life is such an amazing feeling. I feel a bond with these girls that is unbreakable.

Get to Know Hannah Roberts - Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi for 2011

2012-01-26T16:07:00.000-06:00

Name: Hannah Camille Roberts
Age: 18
Hometown: Mount Olive, MS
College: University of Southern Mississippi
Major: Biochemistry Pre-Medical Emphasis

Favorite food: Sushi—especially crab or shrimp sushi.
Favorite movie: I see far too many movies, right now it’s the new Sherlock Holmes movie!
Favorite Christmas/holiday tradition: Every December, Santa visits my house to bring the first gift of the season—always pajamas—and also to check in on my brother and me.
Current #1 most played song on your iPod: I love all kinds of music! Right now my most played song is The Lime Tree by Trevor Hall—he isn’t a very well-known artist, but you should check him out!
Favorite time of day: Lunch time! My college has a great cafeteria and I always get to sit and chat with my sorority sisters and friends.

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: Plan-ahead always! My planner even includes lunch and dinner times.
Paper OR plastic: No preference, here in South Mississippi there is usually no option to get paper so it is most always plastic.
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Definitely half-full!
Introvert OR extrovert: I am very extroverted.
Cats OR Dogs: I’m semi-allergic to both, but I prefer dogs. My dog is a Scottish Terrier and this breed doesn’t shed so she is hypoallergenic!
Morning person OR night person: In high school I was always a morning person, but in college I have turned into a night owl—especially during finals week!

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? College necessities: Capri Sun drink pouches, jello-pudding snack-packs, and probably some McDonald’s leftovers!

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be? Elizabeth Bennet, the main character from the movie Pride and Prejudice so I could marry the handsome Mr. Darcy!

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own? I never thought that I would miss my parents so much—in high school I could not wait to move to college! I was homesick a lot during my first fall semester and had to learn how to “move away” from my mom and dad.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved? I wanted to get a full ride scholarship to college, I am on Presidential Scholarship at USM so I haven’t paid a dime for anything in college yet! I really want to have a 4.0 GPA when I graduate from college. I had a 4.0 my first semester, so I’m on my way to accomplishing that goal.

What do you want to be when you grow up and why? I want to be a pediatric oncologist surgeon—which is basically a childhood cancer doctor. I really want to work at St. Jude Children’s Hospital one day and be able to help children battle cancer and succeed to go on and live happy, healthy lives.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. My favorite moment from my entire Distinguished Young Women experience would have to be playing my violin piece for the last time at the Mississippi program as the new winner was about to be announced. I was accompanied by a live pianist who was my County’s Junior Miss a few years before I won. She had always been a role model of mine and is also a friend of my family. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that my Distinguished Young Woman experience had come full-circle and I had successfully represented my state at nationals and was now about to give a new girl that wonderful role and opportunity. As I played the song for the last time, I thought of all the work I had put in during my two years as Covington County’s Junior Miss and then as the Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi. I went on to become 2nd alternate at the national program and won talent, scholastic, and community service awards. This song was basically my last moment as the Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi and I will remember my years and memories from the program always.

Get to Know Ann Clancy - Distinguished Young Woman of Vermont for 2011

2012-01-26T14:20:00.000-06:00

Get to Know Kelsey Quin - Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana for 2011

2012-01-25T15:30:00.000-06:00

Name: Kelsey Quin
Age: 19
Hometown: Peru, Indiana (parents house) /West Lafayette, Indiana (apartment)
College: Purdue University
Major: General Health, Pre-med concentration

Favorite TV show: GLEE!
Favorite movie: Tie between Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Despicable Me, and Tangled
Favorite Christmas/holiday tradition: My mom has this story that we’re related to elves, so every Christmas Eve when we come home from Christmas mass, the elves have left us a pair of Christmas pajamas that we all wear and take a picture in the next morning (with Christmas music blaring).
Favorite quote: “Fairytales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” G.K. Chesterton
Most hated household chore: Dishes... so gross.

Plan ahead OR procrastinate? I like to plan ahead, but on homework, I am the biggest procrastinator.

Paper OR plastic
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty
Introvert OR extrovert
Cats OR Dogs (Why are these so hard?)
Morning person OR night person

What is your most embarrassing moment? Well, once upon a time two of my good friends had a bad day. We went to the one friend’s house, but they were both still acting grumpy. I wasn’t grumpy and said, let’s sing and dance to cheer you guys up! So we put on ridiculous outfits of cowboy hats, matching black shirts, crazy colored shorts, and her mom’s too-big, high-heeled boots. Guitar Hero had just came out, so we grabbed the guitar and two microphones from her karaoke machine. We turned “I Love Rocking Roll” up as loud as possible, and sang and danced to the whole thing; at the end we struck a pose and threw our cowboy hats. Then we heard the doorbell. So we quickly shimmied out of the boots and hid the microphones and cowboy hats. When we answered the door, it was my boyfriend and about 8 of his friends. We tried to play it off like we were just playing some guitar hero, but they all just burst out laughing and said they had watched the whole thing through her front window! The end.

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? Dandelion yellow! It’s my favorite color, and it reminds me of the sun, sunflowers, and happiness. If happy had a color, it would be Dandelion yellow.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? Water in a Brita water filter pitcher, skim milk, shredded lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese, chicken, turkey, eggs, butter, my mom’s homemade pizza sauce, and Dove dark chocolate promises.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? Eve. I would go back in time, NOT eat the apple, and viola- world peace.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved? I wanted to graduate valedictorian of my class, which I officially accomplished a day before leaving for Mobile, Alabama! One goal I still have is to get into medical school, complete all of my schooling and training, and become a pediatric psychiatrist.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. My state program was the first program I went to; the other girls at my local dropped out, so we didn’t get to have a program. My state program was the highlight of my senior year; it was better than soccer sectionals, senior prom - even better than graduation. For a week, I lived with an amazing family (who I still see at least once a week, and who went all the way to Mobile, Alabama, to cheer me on during Nationals!) and my roommate (who happened to be a lot like me!). There were fun activities, practices, talks, lunches, free goodies, but the best part was bonding with all of the other girls. EVERYONE was so nice, and we all got along. I even met my best friend there, and now her and two other girls from my state program are going to be rooming together at Purdue next year!

Get to Know Kinsey Crow - Distinguished Young Woman of Ohio for 2011

2012-01-25T13:00:00.000-06:00

Name: Kinsey Love Crow
Age: 18
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Ohio
College: Auburn University
Major: Nursing

Favorite Food: Oh my, there are too many. However, one of my absolute favorites is key lime pie!
Favorite Movie: I absolutely LOVE Ever After. I’m a hopeless romantic.
Favorite Olympic sport: Swimming and diving!
Favorite Christmas tradition: Every year, a member of my family hides a pickle ornament on our Christmas tree. The first person to find it wins the pickle prize, usually consisting of something pickle-flavored. This year it was dill pickle sunflower seeds… lol. I’m never the one to find the pickle, but it’s pretty fun :)
Most hated household chore: I hate cleaning the shower!

Plan ahead OR procrastinate? I’m definitely a planner!
Paper OR plastic? Plastic.

Glass half-full OR Glass half-empty? Glass half-full :)
Introvert OR extrovert? EXTROVERT.
Cats OR dogs? Cats all the way!!
Morning OR night person? Ummm.. neither?

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you absolutely need for survival? I would absolutely need my Bible (since I’m a voracious reader and I can read the Bible for hours), some XXX Vitamin Water, and my Eos chapstick.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? I would be Elastigirl from the Incredibles… I could fit ANYWHERE!

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is not making an impact for Christ in the world.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved? One of my goals during my Senior year of high school was to become the next Distinguished Young Woman of Ohio, and I did it! A goal I still have yet to achieve is to travel to Egypt (with Ann Clancy of Vermont) and discover something super rare and exciting.

What do you want to be when you grow up and why? I want to be a Nurse Practitioner in a foreign country, meeting the physical needs of my patients, and also meeting their spiritual needs by sharing the love of Christ with them!

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. My all-time favorite Distinguished Young Women moment was when I won the Spirit award at Nationals. I immediately started crying when they called my name! I’m surprised my makeup wasn’t running everywhere in the picture of me receiving the award!! Having all my girls vote for me to get the Spirit award was one of the highest honors I have ever experienced.

Get to Know Gabrielle Walter - Distinguished Young Woman of New York for 2011

2012-01-25T10:52:00.000-06:00

Name: Gabrielle Walter
Age: 18
Hometown: East Amherst, New York
College: Canisius College
Major: Biology/Pre-medicine

My favorite food is by far peanut butter. I love to dip pretzels in peanut butter, cookies, and make sandwiches with peanut butter and bananas. I even put it on pitas sometimes too. But most of all I will just eat it out of the jar with a spoon.

My favorite time of year is spring when there starts to be color outside again. We are on the upswing to longer days with light and on our way to warmth. Being from the Buffalo area, after a long winter with snow you cannot wait to see green on the ground. The flowers bloom, the trees grow leaves, and people come outside due to the nice weather.

My favorite quote is “never give up on something you cannot go a day without thinking about.”

My favorite Polish Christmas tradition is on every Christmas Eve, the whole family hands out slices of oplatek, and we wish each other good health and happiness for the year to come.

The number one, most played song on my iPod right now is “Turning Tables” by Adele. I go through phases of artists and she just happens to be the one at the moment I am writing this.

Plan ahead OR procrastinate - As much as I do try to plan ahead, I am a bit of a procrastinator. I work better under pressure and because my schedule is busy, it often times comes down to a day or two before.

Paper OR plastic - Paper, I am all for helping the environment and it is something that can be recycled and reused.

Glass half-full OR glass half-empty - Glass half-full. It is always important to look at things in life in a positive way rather than see the negative side of things. I think in today’s world it is harder to look at the glass half-full, but if people look for the positives each day at a time, it will become easier to see over time.

Introvert OR extrovert - Ever since I was little my parents say I could not stop singing and talking all day long. I have a personality that definitely gets people out of their shells and loosen up.

Cats OR Dogs- I am a dog person. I have never owned cats, but the puppy I do own is named Siena and she is just the most energetic thing ever. I especially love when she sleeps and gives you that cute innocent face after she has done something wrong.

Morning OR night person - I can be both depending on the day’s events and whether or not I got a good night’s rest the night before.

If I was stranded on a deserted island, provided there was cell service, I would need my iPhone to call for someone to come rescue me. Second, I would need a survival kit which would include everything from directions and supplements for food, first-aid things, and even clothes. Third, I would want someone close to me to be stranded with me so I was not alone. Anyone from family to friends I would enjoy being stranded with as long as they keep me company.

If I could trade places with someone for a week, I would choose Kate Middleton. I would like to get her perspective on what it is like to have a real Cinderella story. I would want to experience the reality of someone who goes from a life just like anyone else to someone who obtains a title that makes them an icon in the world with the power to change things for the better.

My biggest fear is failure. I am and have always been a perfectionist. Failure is something that does not live up to the standards that I hold myself to.

It is hard for me to sum myself up in three words, so I asked some of my close friends. They agreed and I approved that I am poised, confident, and goal oriented.

When I grow up I plan on becoming a pediatrician. Ever since about seventh grade I had been set on being some kind of doctor. I am really good with children, and once I did an internship in my junior year of high school, it seemed like a great fit. My family and friends have always seen me as a performer, so we always joke that when I come to visit the children for their appointments I will start singing and tap dancing, it will be the “Dr. Gabi” show.

It is very difficult to pick my most favorite moment from my Distinguished Young Women experience because I honestly loved every part. The girls were great at every level from local to state to nationals. The volunteers are so kind, and helpful and the program directors at each level have their heart and soul in this program. I would have to say my favorite part was performing on stage with all of the other Distinguished Young Women each night at Nationals. It did not feel like a competition; we were celebrating all of our great accomplishments together in front of the city who supports all of us, Mobile, Alabama.

Get to Know Alessa Strelecki - Distinguished Young Woman of Iowa for 2011

2012-01-24T16:00:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! My name is Alessa Strelecki and I am 18 years old. I am from West Des Moines, IA and right now I am attending Drake University where I am studying secondary education and mathematics (that may change though, who knows!).

I am filling out this questionnaire so you all can get to know me a little bit better!

My favorite food is anything Italian. Pasta, pizza, you name it. I am sure I will love it!
My favorite Olympic sport to watch is figure skating, especially doubles. Can you imagine being thrown in the air like that and landing perfectly?!
My favorite quote is by Dr. Suess. “Be who you are because those who matter, don’t mind. And those who mind, don’t matter.”
My most hated household chore is cleaning the bathroom. Yuck!
My favorite time of the year is Christmas time. Even if you do not celebrate the holiday, I think the time brings out a true spirit of giving and love, which we can all appreciate.

If I had to pick one…

Plan ahead OR procrastinate
Paper OR plastic
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty
Introvert OR extrovert
Cats OR Dogs
Morning person OR night person

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why?
I would be yellow. It is my favorite color. I love it because it is bright and happy!

What is your biggest fear?
Definitely heights. My knees start to tremble and I get light headed. I just cannot handle them. However, I don’t really like blood or snakes too much either!

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own?
There isn’t anything that I wish someone would have told me. I think that college is a fantastic learning experience. By discovering things on your own, you are able to learn so much about yourself. That’s something that I have really enjoyed doing.

Sum yourself up in three words:
Hmmm…This is a tough one. Blessed. Silly. Determined.

What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
This is actually one of my least favorite questions, but I’ll answer it anyway. For me, this has changed a million times since the thought first popped into my mind. In fourth grade, I wrote a paper about how I wanted to be an actress. In middle school I thought I wanted to be a psychologist. In high school, the thought of a being a pediatric dentist intrigued me. Now, after my first semester of college, I have stumbled upon education. If you couldn’t tell, I am a little bit indecisive. One thing I do know, I want to find something I absolutely love to do and most importantly be happy.

The last thing I want to share with you all is my favorite memory from my Distinguished Young Women experience A.K.A. the hardest question of them all! One of the memories that sticks out in my head would be after the national finals were over and all 50 of us shared a group hug on stage. There were tears flying, laughter, literally every emotion I could have imagined. It was in that moment that I realized how near and dear to my heart this program truly is. Distinguished Young Women is more that just a title, it is a sisterhood and a family. The girls that I met throughout my entire journey are all extremely special to me. They have helped me become who I truly want to be and for that I will always be thankful!

Get to Know Allii Fontaine - Distinguished Young Woman of Rhode Island for 2011

2012-01-24T12:55:00.000-06:00

Name: Allii Fontaine
Age: 18
Hometown: Burrillville, Rhode Island
College: Elmira College, Elmira New York
Major: Nursing, Pediatric Tract

Favorite TV show: Anything on ABC Family
Favorite movie: Cartoon - Finding Nemo; Non Cartoon - Mighty Ducks Series
Favorite Olympic sport: Figure Skating, solo and duet
Current #1 most played song on your iPod: When Will My Life Begin- Tangled, Mandy Moore
Favorite quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I tend to procrastinate because I work best under pressure. Although, I do not recommend it, it does work extremely well for me
Paper OR plastic: I prefer paper because plastic can sometimes take years to break down, or emit harmful chemicals if burned. Paper products can easily be made into other products and be burned for fires to warm homes, or create a little ambiance
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Glass half full! Heck, as long as the glass has something in it, it means we’re getting somewhere! But I try to always be positive!
Introvert OR extrovert: Definitely extrovert, but in the most positive meaning of the word. I like to be sociable and involved. I enjoy making new friends and being positive with everyone I meet.
Cats OR Dogs: Fish actually. I enjoy watching them swim because when I was little I used to wish I were a mermaid But if I had to choose, I’d say dogs because they are so much more personable.
Morning person OR night person: I am definitely a night owl. I could sleep all day and stay up all night. Sometimes I do I just enjoy the different things that happen at night. There are so many different sounds and animals. And it is just so much more peaceful.

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? Well…all of my friends could probably answer this for me. I would be purple. I have loved purple since I knew what the color was. Growing up, pink was always the color associated with girls; bathroom stall colors, dresses, bedrooms, everything was pink. I always saw and still see myself as a unique girl who likes to do her own thing. I decided at a very young age that purple was my way of straying from the pink trend. Ever since then, I’ve loved purple…I even go to Elmira College, the PURPLE bubble

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? Lots of water and a micro bead potpourri eye thing that helps me sleep.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be? I would trade places with Queen Elizabeth I. She is perhaps my most favorite heroine to study. She ruled a country all on her own without the assistance of a King. She knew that if she were to marry, she would lose her power. She was one of the first females to really prove that a woman could successfully rule a country on her own. Flirtation Diplomacy turned her empire from one country to many.

Sum yourself up in three words: Funny, Bubbly, Loud (but only in the most awesome way)

What do you want to be when you grow up and why? I want to become a pediatric nurse. I have always loved helping kids. When I was younger, I played “house” like it was my job. Even in high school, I was the “mom” of my friends. I watched Patch Adams everyday for a week and fell in love with the idea of laughter as the best medicine. I want to help terminally ill children make it through knowing that they are loved and that laughter really can be the best remedy.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. I remember winning the program in my home state of Rhode Island and thinking “What did I just get myself into?” I had no idea what people were going to think of me when I got down to Mobile, Alabama. I was seriously scared that no one from the other states was going to like me. I mean, I had best friends that really understood me in Rhode Island. Maybe someone from Missouri or Arizona wouldn’t think I was funny. Well golly gee, was I wrong! I got off that plane on June 12th, 2011 in the Mobile, Alabama Airport and found out that every single girl was just like me. We all had our unique twists, but every single one of us was there with the same goal, to find 49 new friends and join the best sisterhood in the world. I met almost every girl at the airport that day and found out that I had nothing to be scared of. I made so many girls laugh and other girls made me giggle as well. Perhaps the most amazing thing was, however, that I cried at the end of those two weeks. I cried so hard that I was terrified to leave the next morning for home. I had only known these girls for two weeks and yet I felt like I was never going to see them again. But the absolute best and favorite thing about Distinguished Young Women is that I was wrong…I do get to see them again! The best thing is that my favorite moments are probably not over yet…because I have another week to spend with these girls…Has-Beens…HERE WE COME!

Get to Know Katye Brock - Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2011

2012-01-23T17:12:00.000-06:00

Name: Katye Brock

Age: 18

Hometown: Tullahoma, TN

College: University of Tennessee (GO VOLS!)

Major: International Studies

Favorite food: Peanut butter. I am addicted to peanut butter.

Favorite TV show: The Office…or Food Network…Or One Tree Hill.

Favorite movie: The Little Mermaid

Favorite Olympic sport: Ice Skating

Favorite Christmas/holiday tradition: I’ll do a birthday tradition. Every year, my mom makes each of her children chocolate waffles—with ice cream and all the toppings—for breakfast on our birthdays. Chocolate waffles are a Brock family staple.

Current #1 most played song on your iPod: I’ve been rocking a lot of Phil Wickham lately.

Favorite quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

Most hated household chore: I really hate doing the dishes. I am OCD about how my hands feel, and I can’t stand having them pruny.

Favorite time of day: I love crisp mornings and sunsets.

Favorite time of year: This one is hard. I kind of love something about every season, but if I have to choose, I guess summer. Or Christmastime!

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I used to procrastinate, but believe me, in college, you plan ahead, or you don’t get it done!
Paper OR plastic: Paper. It’s more rustic.
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Half-full! Being positive can prevent a lot of unhappiness.
Introvert OR extrovert: Extrovert, definitely. I love meeting new people and being loud.
Cats OR Dogs: Dogs. My current number one desire is a puppy.
Morning person OR night person: Morning person.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? My fridge is always stocked with the following: hummus, carrot sticks, Laughing Cow cheese wheels, milk, orange juice, grapes, hot sauce, mustard, turkey, and ginger ale.

What is your biggest fear? I have some irrational fears. I have a fear of getting locked in the garbage room on my floor at school. I also have a fear that my wedding (whenever that happens) will be a disaster. Oh, and I HATE spiders.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own? Do NOT be afraid to leave your high school life behind. All of my friends rushed a sorority, and there is nothing wrong with that! However, I just didn’t feel right there and wanted to get involved with the Baptist ministry on campus. It was just really hard to leave my old friends and that old life behind.

What is one goal you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved? It sounds silly, but I REALLY wanted to win a Fitness award at Nationals. I worked myself insanely hard all year to prepare. It was just something a lot of people didn’t think I could do, so I wanted to prove people (and myself) wrong. As for something that has yet to be achieved, I want to perform as a princess at Disney World before I get too old. I am going to do my best to make that happen!

What do you want to be when you grow up and why? Besides a Disney Princess? Well, I have always had a heart for children in 3rd world countries…Well, really anyone who doesn’t have the same opportunities as we do in the United States. So, I decided a long time ago that I wanted to do something that works internationally. It was a year or so ago that my brother talked to me about International Law. I was hooked from there. With an International Law degree, I will be able to work in all sorts of places where I can serve my global community.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience.

This is a really difficult question. Girls who have yet to go through the program probably will not understand why. See, ALL of the moments of my time with Distinguished Young Women have been priceless. From the amazing to the amazingly frustrating, when I look back, I see that each moment helped me grow and mold me into the woman I am now. I look back on who I was during the local competition, and it is seriously incredible to see how much this program has encouraged me. It has given me confidence I NEVER had before, friends from all across the country, discipline to reach my goals, and an understanding of the world around me. This program has enriched my life, and I constantly see it doing the same for other girls. I have so many favorite memories from my two years with the program. My Nationals roommate, Rianne Jones—possibly the sweetest girl I have EVER met—and our host parents, the Fespermans; Be Your Best Self day in Mobile; my AMAZING state chairs, Charles and Traci; the Veteran’s Day parade in Mobile; beach tennis with Allii (Rhode Island) at Orange Beach; my first Oyster with Danielle’s (Alabama) instructions; elbow licking; back scratches with Kasey (Missouri)…This list could go on and on. However, I think my favorite memory of this program doesn’t come from a time when I was participating. When I was giving away my local title, I had to pretty much create the program. I did the choreography, created the theme, helped get sponsors…It was extremely stressful. However, I really wanted to make the EXPERIENCE the priority, instead of the show. So, I had all the participants over to my house for a sleepover. Now, these girls weren’t enemies or anything, but they definitely were not all best friends. That night, I got to watch 14 girls develop a bond that they will never share with anyone else. That is what this program does. One of the winners of that program (We have two.) began her experience as a shy, nervous competitor. She gained the confidence to stand on stage and present herself like everyone else saw her. Distinguished Young Women does that for girls all the time; it did it to me. It was just this time that I sat back and noticed. This program will change your life. Whether you walk away with the National title or no title at all, you will discover things about yourself that you never knew. It’s amazing, really.

Distinguished Young Women Launches New Blog

2012-01-23T16:58:00.001-06:00

New for 2012!! Distinguished Young Women is excited to announce the launch of "Be Distinguished," a blog FOR young women BY young women. Get ready to meet some of the country's most dynamic, motivated and all-around stellar girls. Contributors to the blog for the upcoming year will include past participants of Distinguished Young Women programs across the country. These young women are attending colleges and universities throughout the US and will provide timely commentary on issues facing young women today. This is a place for young women to join together to learn about one another, laugh together and see what it means to "be distinguished!"

Over the next week, we will feature a series of "Get to Know You" posts introducing our new contributors.

We hope you will join us for this exciting new journey!