National Be Your Best Self Week - Be Studios - a video from Christina

This week, April 22-26, is National Be Your Best Self Week! Christina Maxwell, Distinguished Young Woman of America shares her thoughts on being studious, one of five elements that make up the Be Your Best Self program. Check back throughout the week for more videos from Christina!




Christina Maxwell is a college freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan majoring in Musical Theatre. Originally from Asheville , North Carolina, Christina was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Carolina for 2012 and the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2012. Learn more about Christina here!

The Skinny on Scholarships - by Chloe

As the daughter of a high school guidance counselor, I became very well-versed in the language of scholarships during my senior year. I remember Christmas Break as the weeks of scholarships last year. I hated filling them out, but I learned a few things along the way, so here are a few tips for those of you who are feeling the pressure.

1. Pick similar scholarships: A lot of scholarships use very generic essay prompts, so REUSE YOUR ESSAYS!! Find 5 or 6 scholarships with similar essay questions and then right one all-inclusive essay that will work for all of them! It is a huge time saver.
2. Ask to use a type-writer: Most scholarships can be filled out online or on a computer now, but some still come in paper form and require you to fill them in by hand. Neatness definitely counts when it comes to scholarships, so if you come across a hand-written form ask the guidance department if they have a typewriter you can use. (There are some essays that require the essay to be handwritten. DO NOT use a typewriter for those. This is more referring to the simple questions on the application.) DO NOT FILL THEM OUT IN PENCIL. EVER.
3. No scholarship is not worth your time: APPLY APPLY APPLY!!!!!!! It’s FREE Money!!!!
4. Sometimes one more shot at the SAT/ACT is worth it: I took the SAT one more time my senior year and got the last 20 points that I needed to get $1,000 more a year from my school! If you are within 50 points on the SAT or 3 points on the ACT, take the chance.  It could be worth $4,000+!!
5. Go Local: I got several smaller scholarships from local clubs and organizations because they knew me! The committee knew my character and that helped my chances. There were also fewer applications for those local scholarships because they were not worth as much! They were definitely worth my time!
6. Go Random: Did you know that KFC has a scholarship?  So does McDonalds and Coca-Cola! There are scholarships for people with green eyes, people of Irish descent, vegetarians, middle-children, and only children! People never think to apply for the random scholarships, so the application pool is much smaller!
7. Double and Triple Check EVERYTHING: I cannot stress enough how important it is to fill in the applications completely. Even missing one question can eliminate your application. Grammar and spelling are also very important, so having someone else read your essays and short answer questions is a good choice.

Scholarships are time consuming and monotonous, but totally worth it.  Make the effort. You will never be paid hundreds of dollars per hour ever again! You will never regret having a smaller tuition bill or loan debt.

Chloe McLaughlin is a college freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana majoring in Church Music and Christian Worship. Originally from Frankfort, Indiana, Chloe was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana for 2012. Learn more about Chloe here! 

Top 5 Favorite Things to do for Staying Energized - by Marin

Being a dance major in college is no piece of cake. My first class starts at 8 a.m. everyday, and my last class ends at 4:45 p.m. Not only do I have to stay physically fit for my dance technique classes, but mentally fit for my academic classes as well. Throw in some late night rehearsals, and crewing for shows, and you have yourself one tired college freshman. Having this hectic schedule, I had to learn the hard way that coffee is not always the best source for constant energy. So, here are my top five things that I do throughout the day/week to keep myself (healthily) energized, and ready to take on anything!

1. Drink water. It’s so simple, yet it is neglected all the time. Our bodies are made up of almost 80% water, and when we deprive ourselves from this liquid, we become fatigued! I’ve noticed the more H2O I guzzle, the more aware and awake I feel throughout the day (especially during hard Anatomy exams!)
2. Beware of the Cookie Monster and his sugar. Just kidding about the monster. Sugar is a great source when you feel tired because it will automatically give your body a boost of energy. But, it does not last long, and you will end up having a “sugar crash.” Try natural sugars in foods like apples and oranges! I know when I hit that 2 o’clock slump, I grab an orange for a fresh, sweet boost that definitely gets me through the next three hours of dance classes.
3. Four words: Thirty second dance party.  Whenever I feel like I just can’t make it through the day (and my bed looks so inviting) I stop what I’m doing, and I dance around. No, not “technical” dancing, but fun, “throw your arms all over the place” type of dancing. This burst of energy automatically wakes me up! P.S.- It’s even more fun when you do it with friends!
4. Read a little. It’s important that every night, you get solid sleep. Whether that’s six hours or ten hours, every hour counts! Instead of staring at your phone screen texting, or looking at Facebook on your laptop before bed, grab a book! I’ve found that reading before bed puts me into a more relaxed mood, and I’m able to fall asleep easier!
5. Don’t stress (if only it were that simple!) But seriously. When we stress about the small things, our mind can’t focus on the present and we end up exhausting ourselves without even noticing that it’s happening! When something doesn’t go as planned, just step back, take a deep breath, and continue. I know that when I stress, I begin to feel mentally and even physically drained! But, I have learned to overcome it by counting my blessings, and remembering that everything will work itself out in the end! Plus, it’s more fun to not be stressed out, right?

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Finals Prep - by Lauren

Top 10 Things to do to Relax During the Weeks Leading Up to Finals

1. Make a list of things to accomplish/goals

If you know that you have a busy week coming up, write a list out of everything you need to accomplish. You will be able to prioritize the most important things and see where you have free time available to relax!

2. Stay organized

Clutter can cause unwanted stress. Keep all of your notes with their books so you will know where to find everything when you are ready to study.

3. Dinner out with friends

Take a quick hour study break away from your books and enjoy a nice meal with friends. Enjoy all the laughter, dig in to some good food and give your mind a rest from studying. Short breaks like these can help you regain your focus. 

4. Snack while you study

Food is our bodies key source of energy. Fuel your brain with the power it needs to absorb all of those vocab words, diagrams and formulas! 

5. Yoga

Yoga allows you to concentrate on yourself, while incorporating relaxing breathing techniques. 

6. Running, dancing, any kind of exercise!

Exercising can boost your energy and make focusing easier. It is also a nice study break.

7. Set aside 30 minutes to do something fun

Another easy break that you can work into your studying.

8. Sleep

Although it may appear difficult to get the recommended hours of sleep while balancing studying, it is important to let your mind and body relax. Cramming the night before the test and getting few hours of sleep can be harmful to your body and your final grade. To avoid this, begin studying 1 – 2 weeks ahead of time.

9. Eat healthy

Eat a solid meal the night before with some good carbohydrates and proteins. Try to avoid sugary candies and sweets to prevent jittery nerves or even sugar crashes later. Be sure to drink plenty of water as well to avoid headaches!

10. Dress for the test

Wear something you love to the test! Being confident in your own skin will allow your confidence level to boost for the test. Whether you’re wearing your favorite shirt and jeans or your most comfortable sweats and hoodie, dress for the test in your own way!

Lauren Hoppa is a college freshman at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma majoring in Athletic Training. Originally from Parker, Colorado, Lauren was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Colorado for 2012. Learn more about Lauren here!

Things I Wish I Could’ve Told Myself In High School - by Ali

1. I wish I could’ve told myself to get more involved. I look back at my high school years and I always wish I had gotten involved in more community service projects. Not only do they look great on scholarship applications or * wink wink * a registration form for Distinguished Young Women, but they make you feel absolutely wonderful inside. Helping your community not only benefits those surrounding you but it benefits the person you’ll become. 

2. I wish I could’ve told myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Seriously, it is the worst. It’s tedious and obnoxious filling out the same information over and over again. Why do you have to fill out the same amount of information for a $500 scholarship versus a $10,000 one? However, every dollar counts. It may not seem like it compared to that big, scary tuition bill but I promise, it’ll help. Someone once told me to think of it this way: It takes anywhere from a half hour to an hour to fill out a scholarship application. Now think about working a job. If you get the scholarship, it’s almost like you received $500 for an hour of work! Yes please! 

3. I wish I could’ve told myself to spend more time with people that loved me. Going to college has made me realize how much I truly miss my friends and family. The first few weeks of college were some of the hardest I’ve ever had to experience. I didn’t like being away from my parents! However, now that I’ve adjusted to the college life (and absolutely love it!), it makes going home so much more exciting. 

4. I wish I could’ve told myself to forget about those silly boys. I remember how exciting it was to be asked out on my first real date during my freshman year of high school! The butterflies I got in my stomach when I passed him in the hallway. The dance I did around my room when I got home. I also remember my first heartbreak and how absolutely awful it felt. 

5. I wish I could’ve told myself that labels don’t matter. I thought it was the most important thing in the world to have the newest clothes with the best brands. But why? Why does it matter if I had a sweater that was $100 versus one that looked identical that was $15? Jessie J sang it best when she sang, “Ain’t about the cha-ching-cha-ching, ain’t about the ba-bling-ba-bling. Just wanna make the world dance, forget about the price tag.” 

6. I wish I could’ve told myself to work harder in my academics. I firmly believe that you can never be “too smart” or “too educated.”  

7. I wish I could’ve told myself that popularity isn’t everything. I went through a phase in which I was obsessed with being “popular.” However, with that popularity I became a mean girl. I was so rude to other people. I’m so happy that I finally realized that there is nothing cool or popular about being mean to others. I broke away from that bad obsession and worked to become the best friend and person that I could be. 

8. I wish I could’ve told myself to lay off the makeup!! This one just speaks for itself. 

9. I wish I could’ve told myself to step out of my comfort zone. For most of my high school life, I did everything to blend into the crowd. However, when I broke free of that, it was the best feeling in the world. I finally was myself. 

10. But I didn’t tell myself these things. All these things I’ve listed above are things that I wish I had told myself in high school…but I didn’t. I wouldn’t call them regrets because I don’t believe in regretting anything. However, it’s more of a reminder of who I am today. I didn’t do these things in high school and if I had, I possibly may be a different person than I am right here, right now. I have come to love the person I’ve become. I may not be perfect but that’s just who I am. 

Ali Houser is a college freshman at The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in Minneapolis, Minnesota majoring in Dental Hygiene. Originally from Beresford, South Dakota, Ali was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of South Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Ali here!

The Power of Being Able to Laugh at Yourself - by Christina

No one is perfect.  Mistakes are inevitably part of life and no matter how good we are at hiding our flaws, they are still there.  Our quirks and “embarrassing moments” are what make us human.  It’s not something to be ashamed of!  I’ve learned that I am happier, and that the people around me are ultimately more entertained, when I can laugh at myself.  It is empowering to stand at a crossroads and be able to choose to give yourself a break and laugh about your human quirks, rather than be ashamed.  Besides, I hope to someday, a long time from now, be a fun grandmother and I’m going to need to have some outrageous stories to tell my grandkids.  In keeping with this, I’ve decided to share with you a few of my most stellar personal embarrassing moments.  I hope that they will bring you some laughter, as they did me!

My senior year in high school, I performed the role of Sarah Brown in Asheville Community Theater’s production of Guys and Dolls.  During one scene, missionary Sarah Brown is in Havana, Cuba and gets into a heated dance competition with a feisty dancer who is trying to steal her man.  In this scene, I was supposed to meet the other dancer, played by the fabulous Tina Pisano-Foor, at the front of the stage and have a gracefully choreographed fight, complete with lifts.  During one performance, in front of a full audience and unbeknownst to me, there was one tiny, blue, lethal sequin lying on the stage.  Right at the moment when I was supposed to fake punch Tina, the smooth tan toe of my character shoe stepped right on top of that tiny blue sequin.  As I swung at her, my feet flew out from under me and I landed flat on my back.  The audience gasped, not sure how to react.  Tina, thinking quickly and trying to salvage the situation, pretended to be coming over to fight me, but really attempting to pull me up.  However, because she was even more petite than me, as I grabbed her hand, still desperately trying to stay in character as the orchestra played on frantically, I accidentally pulled her down on top of me.  Everyone on the stage was frozen in shock and mild panic at the sight of the two of us sprawled out on the stage, but the audience seemed enthralled by this incredibly realistic choreography.  We finally managed to scramble and get ourselves up off of the floor in time to make the last lift and get carried off stage, doing our very best to stifle the rolling laughter.  Backstage, it was a long time before we could catch our breath, compose ourselves and stop cackling.  A few days later, I got a letter from a kid who had been in the audience that night, writing to Sarah Brown.  He told me how much he loved me and my singing, and then at the very end of the note shared some advice:  “Oh, but you really might want to work some on your crazy dance moves.”

This past year, I auditioned for some of the top Musical Theatre programs across the country.  It was an extremely extensive, stressful and competitive process and the stakes and nerves were always very high.  Although the academic application was very important, the audition was often the basis of whether or not you were accepted to that program.  One particular day in January, I auditioned for my dream school:  The University of Michigan.  I’m not exactly a prima ballerina and was always nervous during the dance auditions.  In this particular dance audition, we were doing the ballet portion in a big rehearsal room, lined with mirrors and ballet barres.  We were each given a number to stick onto the front of our leotards, a number that would identify us and allow the dance faculty to take notes about us as we danced.  As the soft and classical ballet music played in the background, we each watched the teacher demonstrate each exercise and then did our best to complete it as the faculty watched us carefully.  It was silent enough to hear a pin drop.  But it was not silent enough to hear a number drop.  I was having my best audition yet when, halfway through a tendu, I looked down and saw the number on my foot!  I frantically stuck it back onto my leotard and joined back in.  A few exercises later, I looked in the mirror and panicked.  I had on the wrong number!  Someone else’s number had fallen off too, landed on my foot and I had mistakenly stuck it on my own leotard!  I had to tell them that I had had on the wrong number for the last two exercises.  In the middle of the silent and intense audition, I managed to muster up enough courage to get my voice to work, interrupt the whole audition process and frantically explain what had happened as I located my original number across the room.  It certainly made for a memorable audition and I’m just thankful that they were able to look past it!

During my junior year at A.C. Reynolds High School, our football team won an epic game.  It was such a nail-biting final minute and a huge win.  Everyone went crazy and decided to rush the field.  I thought to myself, “Christina, you never live on the edge.  (Yes, I do oftentimes talk to myself).  You’re not supposed to rush the field, but you need to live a little.” So, I rushed the field like a crazed football fan.  Before the game, I had sung the National Anthem, wearing the same bright green pea coat that I was now still wearing as I ran onto the field.  With my adrenaline rushing, running alongside all of my friends and feeling like a legit football fan, I felt pretty great.  That is, until I encountered the fence.   The first half went well and I pushed myself up and threw my leg over the tall fence.  But then, something went wrong and I got stuck.  I couldn’t get my other leg over.  So I was helpless, caught right on top of the fence so that everyone could recognize me in my bright green coat and laugh as they watched one of our principals come over and tell me to get off of the fence.  I was practically escorted off of the field while all of my friends reveled in the middle of the field where they had made it safely.  My embarrassing streak of rebellion was somewhat humiliating, but more than anything, hysterical.

There is a lot of pressure these days.  Sometimes, our family, teachers or friends can accidentally put this pressure on us, and sometimes, we put this pressure on ourselves.  In a time when the standards seem to constantly get higher and higher and the ideal of perfection more and more unreal, it can be refreshing to just give ourselves a break.  We should all try to take a moment to step back in the face of a potentially embarrassing moment and instead of being hard on ourselves, choose laughter, forgiveness and joy.  I think we will find that we are much happier. 

Christina Maxwell is a college freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan majoring in Musical Theatre. Originally from Asheville , North Carolina, Christina was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Carolina for 2012 and the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2012. Learn more about Christina here!

Sweet 15: Food, boys and music - by Nora Ali

"Sweet 15" is a series of posts written by past participants of the Distinguished Young Women/Junior Miss program reflecting on their 15-year-old selves. Get ready for some wise, witty and seasoned advice from women of all ages and backgrounds. They have gained perspective on their teenage years from diverse life experiences and will share with you through this fun new series!

Interestingly enough, one of my high school teachers had his students write letters to their future selves, and I just received mine in the mail. Literally, a letter straight from the source: 15-year-old Nora, commenting on her current situation and her hopes for future Nora. From my 2-page hand-written note, I've come to the conclusion that my cares as a teenager were pretty similar to my cares now... food, boys, and music. Typical of a teenager, and typical of Nora Ali. Let's explore these further:

1. Food. My very first sentence of this well thought-out letter to myself was "I'm full of Chinese food." Apparently, I didn't care so much for "first impressions" on my future self. I also didn't care whether or not I offended future Nora: in the middle of my note, a snippy "I hope you don't get fat" rang loud and accusatory. Thank you, past Nora for this sensitive insight! Past Nora used to be able to eat whatever she wanted, but now I have to think "is this brownie really worth it?" "Will my pants fit today?" There are those skinny girls who say "it's never worth it," but I thought this back then, and I still think this now: a brownie, mac and cheese, a juicy steak... it's ALWAYS worth it. The only difference now is that the brownie will go straight to my love handles. Past Nora, I hope you appreciated the food you could eat whilst remaining so tiny!
2. Boys. In my note, I immediately transitioned from pondering whether or not my older sister would be married in 5 years, to wondering if I would have a date to prom. Seriously, past Nora? You're reflecting on your family's life changes and then you wonder who you're going to prom with? Back then it was "Omg will someone ask me to prom???" and now it's "Omg will someone ask me to marry them???" Past Nora, I hope you realized that none of the boys from high school ever mattered, and any stress you encountered as a result of them was utterly pointless and totally pathetic!
3. Music. According to my note, my mid-teens were defined by songs with names like "Miss New Booty" and "Get Low"... seemingly fluffy, empty "music" which lacked any real content. Thankfully in our current times, we've progressed to more meaningful hits with true artists like Miley Cyrus and Rebecca Black. Right. Past Nora, I hope you realized how pure and un-autotuned music was back in your day... and how "normal" pop artists were in the pre-Gaga era! 

While the world has changed since I was 15 and my concerns back then were far less significant than they are now, it seems as though I myself have not changed very much.  I still love food, I still concern myself with boys (well, "men" now I suppose), and music is still a big part of my life. The one thing I did learn from my past self was that I really knew how to enjoy life - I ended my note with "Don't get too stressed out, and just be happy. Everything happens for a reason, and everything will be taken care of." Sure, I fretted over who my prom date would be, but at least I had this little twinkle of wisdom to offer my future self. Thank you, past Nora, for keeping it real.

Nora Ali is a graduate of Harvard University with a BA in Statistics and Quantitative Finance. She is currently working in New York City as a Pan-Asian Equities Financial Analyst. Originally from Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Nora represented her state at the 2007 America’s Junior Miss National Finals and was selected as America’s Junior Miss that year. The program is now known as Distinguished Young Women.