You are more beautiful than you think – by Keyna

As girls, we tend to look at ourselves and notice our flaws. There is no need to be ashamed of our imperfections—it is our imperfections that set us apart and make us beautiful. Be proud of who you are. You are beautiful.

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

Love - by Keyna

It’s that time of year again! The stores are full of reds and pinks and CHOCOLATE! Valentine’s Day is, without a doubt, one of my favorite holidays. It is not just about romance, but all kinds of love. If you find that Valentine’s Day puts in a little bit of a slump, do something kind for someone else! It can be for a friend or someone that you don’t even know. By brightening someone else’s day, you will immediately cheer up so spread some LOVE this Valentine’s Day with Random Acts of Kindness! Here are some ideas to get you started:

•    Hold the door open for someone.
•    Let someone go ahead of you in line.
•    Sit by someone new at lunch…you just might make a new friend!
•    Pay for the person behind you!
•    Write a “Thank you” letter to someone that has made a difference in your life.
•    Have a friend that’s also stuck in a Valentine’s Day slump? Send her flowers.
•    Give someone a hug!
•    Share a compliment.
•    Call a friend that you haven’t seen in a while.
•     Smile at everyone you see!
•    Tape change to vending machines!
 
I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day! How much love will you spread?

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

Keep Dreaming - by Keyna

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

- Walt Disney

This is my absolute favorite quotation. As a girl who dreams of performing on Broadway, I would love to believe Walt Disney and be fully confident that all I have to do in order to achieve my dreams is try. I'm a little skeptical, but I do agree that courage to try is the first step to making our dreams a reality.

Once you have gathered the courage to go for your dreams, it really helps to have a support system: people who love and believe in you enough to support you through all the obstacles on the way to achieving your dreams. I am so lucky to have the support of my family, my friends, my teachers, and countless others. I know that they will be there to encourage me to continue even if it seems impossible.

If you don't have a great support system, don't worry. Your dream can still come true. Believe in yourself, and prove the people in your life that don't believe in you wrong. They are just another obstacle to overcome on your way to success. Don't let them stop you from doing what you love.

You also need to have a purpose for achieving your dream. Know why it is that you want to do what you are devoting your life to. Do not live your life to simply "be happy." Rather, use your gifts, talents, and achieved dreams to make your mark on the world. No one person is too small to make a difference. As a performer, I want to be able to touch the hearts and brighten the lives of audiences that watch me. It seems small, but sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.

Believe in yourself and all you want to be. Don't let what other people do or say take away your smile. Laugh as much as you possibly can. Enjoy your success and learn from your failures. When your journey seems unbearable, smile and push through. You are stronger than you think. The more obstacles you have to overcome, the more sweetly satisfying and exciting your success will be. NEVER GIVE UP. Always chase after your dreams because as Walt Disney says (with just a little addition from me), "all our dreams can come true if we have the courage to RELENTLESSLY pursue them."

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

5 Quick Tips After One Fast Semester - by Keyna

Having just finished my first semester of college, I decided to compile a small list of things that have helped me out!

1. Don't Procrastinate. 

I'm not going to lie, this is definitely advice that I need to take. I have a huge tendency to leave things to the very last minute, and this can get to be very stressful! It is way better to get homework and projects done ahead of time and not pull all-nighters in order to get them done on time. Believe me. It is really difficult to take dance classes after staying up all night! You will thank yourself for all the free time you'll have after doing your work early. 

2. Take time for yourself.

It is so important to make sure to take time to yourself! Take a break from the stress of the day, even if it is just for five minutes, and relax. Listen to music, just breathe, watch a movie, or my personal favorite, take a nap! School can be overwhelming sometimes, so it can be really helpful to just take a step back and relax or treat yourself!

3. Step outside of your comfort zone. Don't be SHY!

Let's face it. We all want to be included and have friends, but sometimes it can be hard to put yourself out there. I am super shy when I am meeting new people, so it can be hard to make new friends. But, when you go to college, everyone is looking to meet people and make new friends so join in! No one wants to be the girl who spends every weekend alone in her dorm room. Introduce yourself to new people, join a club or organization, or audition for a show. You will definitely meet some incredible people!

4. Take weigh-ins seriously...but not TOO seriously. 

Yes, I have to weigh-in for my major. It can be stressful whether or not you're going be at your "recommended" weight, so some people do crazy things to make weight, such as basically starving themselves the week before weigh-ins. Weight is NOT everything! You are beautiful because of who you are on the inside, not because of how much you weigh. Eat in a way to stay healthy--plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, balance, etc..--the whole semester to avoid the need to do crazy things to make weight. 

5. Fro-yo with friends is fantastic!

Even dancers need to treat themselves every now and then! Frozen yogurt restaurants are a great place to hang out while enjoying delicious treats. I have had some of the most fun socializing with new friends at the local frozen yogurt bar! Yum!

I have had a wonderful first semester full of incredible new friends. I am so blessed to be able to go to school for dance and pursue my dreams of performing, all while meeting and working with so many amazing and inspiring people! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

Beauty Tips - by Keyna

How often do you find yourself comparing yourself to the girls around you? If you’re anything like me, the answer is A LOT. 

“She is so much prettier than me.”

“Why can’t I be skinny like her?”

“Ughh. Why is my hair always so frizzy?”

“Why am I so clumsy?!”

“I just want him to think I’m beautiful.”

Sound familiar?

What if I told you that I had the secret to achieving the beauty that we all so desperately desire?

Guess what…

I do.

1. Forget the lipgloss.

FOR ATTRACTIVE LIPS, SPEAK WORDS OF KINDNESS.

2. Eye shadow? Mascara?  You don’t need it.

FOR LOVELY EYES, SEEK OUT THE GOOD IN PEOPLE.

3. STOP DIETING!!!! Seriously.

FOR A SLIM FIGURE, SHARE YOUR FOOD WITH THE HUNGRY.

4. You know you’re just damaging your hair with that straightener right?

FOR BEAUTIFUL HAIR, LET A CHILD RUN HIS OR HER HAIR THROUGH IT ONCE A DAY.

5. Tired of tripping up the stairs? Worry no more.

FOR POISE, WALK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.

THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN IS NOT IN THE CLOTHES SHE WEARS, THE FIGURE THAT SHE CARRIES, OR THE WAY SHE COMBS HER HAIR. THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN MUST BE SEEN FROM IN HER EYES, BECAUSE THAT IS THE DOORWAY TO HER HEART, THE PLACE WHERE LOVE RESIDES.

THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN IS NOT IN A FACIAL MOLE, BUT THE TRUE BEAUTY IN A WOMAN IS REFLECTED IN HER SOUL. IT IS THE CARING THAT SHE LOVING GIVES, THE PASSION THAT SHE SHOWS, AND THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN WITH PASSING YEARS ONLY GROWS!

by Sam Levenson

made famous by Audrey Hepburn

Being a girl in today’s world is hard. We are expected to be “cookie-cutter beautiful,” but you need to remember that your beauty comes from the inside! It’s not about how you look, but rather how you act and treat the people around you.  It doesn’t matter if you have blue eyes or brown, if you weigh 90 pounds or 200, whether your hair is straight or curly. The only thing that matters is that you are the best YOU that you can be! You don’t need to change who you are or the way you look to fit in with a certain group of people or to get that guy you’re crushing on to like you. You are beautiful just way you are!

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

Get to Know Keyna Hoselton - Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012

Hi! I’m Keyna Hoselton from Fargo, North Dakota! I am 18 years old, and I am currently attending Oklahoma City University, majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History.

Some of my favorite things:
Food—ICE CREAM!
Olympic Sport—Gymnastics in the summer and Figure Skating in the winter
Movie—Tangled!  …or Sherlock Holmes. Depends on what mood I’m in!
Time of Day—Night! I am most definitely a night owl.
Quote—“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” –Walt Disney
   
Plan ahead OR procrastinate?
Most of the time I procrastinate, but if it’s something I really love or am interested in, I will definitely plan ahead.
 
Paper OR plastic? 
Grocery bags? Plastic.
Money? I usually use my debit card, so once again, plastic.
 
Glass half-full OR glass half-empty?
The glass is definitely half-FULL! Life is so much more enjoyable when you have a positive outlook…even in tough situations.
 
Introvert OR extrovert?
Introvert. I like to spend time by myself relaxing, listening to music, and reflecting. However, I do also love hanging out with friends and being social, so I could also say extrovert!
 
Cats OR Dogs? 
DOGS! They are so much more cuddly!
 
Morning person OR night person? 
I am most definitely a night person! Getting out of bed is easily the hardest part of my day.

Some more random facts about me: 

• If I could be any color crayon, I would be “tickle me pink” because I love pink, and the name makes me smile! 
• If you were to look in my refrigerator right now, you would find Greek yogurt, original V8 juice, almond milk, and fruit! I am doing everything I possibly can to eat healthy and not gain the dreaded “Freshman 15!” 
• Something I wish someone would have told me about college life that I had to find out for myself is to use your spare time throughout the day to work on homework rather than waiting to do it at night. Then, by the time the evening rolls around, you have half as much work to and it’s possible to RELAX and unwind from the day! 
• Me in 3 words=Bubbly, Determined, Curious 
• When I grow up, I want to perform on Broadway! What could possibly be better than having a career where I get to sing and dance and make people happy?!

The Distinguished Young Women program had a huge impact on my life, and I absolutely loved every second of it. However, if I had to pick one moment that stood out as being my favorite, I would have to say the time we spent at Camp Grace: both the ropes course and our campfire time. It was a great way to build our relationships with each other and to help us see each other less as competitors and more like team mates. It was an incredible way to get to know each other and help each other. We truly became best friends, even sisters, within the first few days of knowing each other because of the time we spent at Camp Grace.

New Contributors to the Be Distinguished Blog!

We are thrilled to announce a new year of exciting posts on the Be Distinguished blog from our newest batch of contributors! These young women were all members of the Distinguished Young Women Class of 2012 and represented their state at the 55th National Finals in Mobile, Alabama this past June. Throughout the rest of October, each contributor will introduce themselves in a "get to know you" post. Stay tuned and check back often!!

Stephanie Brady

Distinguished Young Woman of New Hampshire for 2012

Carly Henry

Distinguished Young Woman of Pennsylvania for 2012

Lauren Hoppa

Distinguished Young Woman of Colorado for 2012

Keyna Hoselton

Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012

Ali Houser

Distinguished Young Woman of South Dakota for 2012

Christina Maxwell

Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2012

Chloe McLaughlin

Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana for 2012

Jordan Orris

Distinguished Young Woman of Nevada for 2012

Ankhita Samuel

Distinguished Young Woman of Kansas for 2012

Sierra Terrell

Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012

Emily Thomas

Distinguished Young Woman of Massachusetts for 2012