Looking Back - by Lauren

   

     
     Recently, I passed my title of the Distinguished Young Woman of Colorado off to new aspiring young woman. It’s hard to believe that exactly a year ago, a group of us senior girls walked in to the theater as complete strangers. However, within an hour, an outsider may have thought we had known each other our whole lives. As the day continued with rehearsals, interviews and constant laughter, I realized the unending encouragement, love and support from all the competitors and wonderful staff who helped to put on the program. By the time the night program came along, I saw that anyone of us could easily win. In a way, this put me at ease going into the results. I had gained so much in the short span of 12 hours. Little did I think that I would ever have won because I was surrounded by such incredible women.

     Now, being on the other side of the competition, if officially hit me how much my life as been impacted by the Distinguished Young Women program. I am certainly not the same person I was a year ago at this time. I have grown so much in the past year all thanks to Distinguished Young Women. I feel comfortable in my own shoes taking on interviews, public speaking and any other obstacles that may come my way.
    

     
     People always say to take in every moment before it is gone. I believe that it was in that very moment on stage, as I was giving my farewell speech, that I was so grateful for doing just that. Awhile back, someone once told me to “live in the moment”. Immediately I was overwhelmed with how many wonderful moments that I had experienced within the past year. I am beyond thankful for each moment and how it has been a piece of my life.

     Reflecting back, I’ve realized how important it truly was to “live” in each moment. Before I knew it, my time as the current Distinguished Young Woman of Colorado was up. I think that’s another thing that I have learned this past year. Sometimes I think we spend so much time thinking and waiting for a certain day to come, a certain event to get here faster, for school to finish sooner, for a trip to come faster. Sometimes I think we forget about the other half of the equation—the journey that precedes it. For me, my journey through the Distinguished Young Women program is what I cherish the most. It was so many moments filled with friendship, laughter and tears that led to the final conclusion at Nationals. And I think that’s the greatest gift all. 



Much love,

     Lauren Hoppa


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!

Everyday A to Z - by Lauren

“Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort.”

 - Humphry Davy

It may be an over used saying that “the little things make all the difference.” However, even though each little thing may seem insignificant by itself, the culmination of them all can be incredible. Here is my top A to Z little things to do to make any day or life just a little bit better!

A – accept what you can’t change and focus on what you can

B – be open to new opportunities

C– create a new memory every day

D – determination

E – exercise

F – find a new club/activity/sport to try

G – give a little of your time back to the community

H – have hope

I – invent a new goal for yourself

J – jokes! There’s always a good witty line to make you smile J

K – keep focused on the bigger picture rather than minor set backs

L – laugh….a lot!

M – make connections with all types of people

N – never give up

O – outgoing

P – patience

Q - quit procrastinating

R – recognize the positive things you see in yourself

S – sing

T – take chances

U – use mistakes as ways to grow

V – visit with friends from the past

W – wake up and say “Today will be great!”

X – x-ray through different personalities to see the positive in    everyone

Y – yoga

Z – zumba….because we all have to dance at some point

Much love, 

Lauren Hoppa

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!

Decisions - by Lauren

“The hardest thing in life to learn is what bridge to cross and which bridge to burn” 

– David Russell

    When it comes time to make a decision about anything, I sit there and ponder far too much about what choice to choose. Over the past year, I have experienced many types of decisions such as what college to attend, what to major in and even just small everyday decisions. However, through it all, I have learned a great deal about the importance of all of these decisions.
     
    I think the reason we fear decision-making is the uncertainty of what may happen if we make the wrong one. We second-guess, we doubt, we may start to loose faith in ourselves at times. It seems that the whole world weighs on a single choice. Some say that choosing which college to attend is the most difficult. Our minds are flooded by outsiders saying that our college education determines our job, our income, our life. Such heavy weighing matters that can put so much pressure on just this single decision.
    
    However, what I have failed to realize in the past, but now recognize, is that even though we may close one door, we are just walking through a new one. And once we are through that door, there is a whole new set of doors to conquer. See the thing is, that even though we may be unsure if we choose the right door, there is no telling what may lie down the hall. Isn’t that what we are trying to do in life anyways? Find our OWN journey. Sometimes we may be scared of what may come. But just have faith and trust in yourself. As long as you have an open mind, a clear heart, and body filled with determination, you can truly make the wisest of choices and journeys. If something doesn’t work out the way you originally planned it, have the drive to try a new door. Maybe that will be the one for you.

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!

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!

Be YOURSELF, Be COURAGEOUS, Be DISTINGUISHED - by Lauren

“I don’t know where it is you find courage. There isn’t a map. It sort of follows the road of emotion. Sometimes stopping your conviction in anger, other times parking beside fear. Courage plays no favorites, takes no sides. It can be impressive as a walk on Venus or as simple as kiss. And sometimes in our darkest hours, courage is all we have.” -- Unknown

We hear it so repetitively. “Do something good. Have courage to step out and make a difference.” But what does that really mean? How can I be courageous? How can I catch courage? Many of us perform acts of courage everyday. However, we are just unaware of these small victories. Did you wake up this morning and get out of bed, ready for the day? Well, there’s courage right there! Being ready to tackle the day that is before you with whatever obstacle you may face. Sometimes, it’s not always about looking at the puzzle as a whole. Sometimes, it’s about the little pieces, even if there are some jagged edges that don’t seem to work. It is about having the ability to overcome and see past these obstacles. Every time to put a smile on your face and give it your best effort. Maybe you don’t get your dance routine right the first time. Maybe you miss the net for a game winning soccer goal. Maybe you don’t get the grade you were hoping for on a test. You can reminisce over these downers. Or, you can to find that little spark of encouragement deep within you telling you to get back on your feet and try one more time. This is courage. One little step. Knowing that we are capable of accomplishing our dreams. We all have courage. Sometimes, it is just becoming aware of the courage we already have and blossoming from that.

Be yourself

Be courageous

Be distinguished

Much love,

Lauren

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!

Get to Know Lauren Hoppa - Distinguished Young Woman of Colorado for 2012

Name: Lauren Hoppa
Age: 19
Hometown: Grew up in Franklin, Wisconsin but now living in Parker, Colorado
College: Oklahoma State University
Major: Athletic Training

Favorite TV show: Friday Night Lights
Favorite Olympic Sport: Summer – Gymnastics; Winter – Figure Skating
Favorite Time of Year: Fall
Favorite Quote: “I don’t know where it is you find courage. There isn’t a map. It sort of follows the road of emotion. Sometimes stopping your conviction in anger, other times parking beside fear. Courage plays no favorites, takes no sides. It can be as impressive as a walk on Venus or as simple as a kiss. And sometimes, in our darkest hours, courage is all we have.” – Unknown
Current #1 Song Played on Your iPod: Wanted – Hunter Hayes 

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: Plan ahead
Paper OR plastic: Plastic
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

Sum up yourself in three words.
Outgoing, persistent, athletic

What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
When I grow up, I want to be a physical therapist and preferably working in the sports medicine field. Being a dancer my whole life, I had several major injuries that required me to stop dancing for months at a time and to have a great deal of physical therapy. I often times felt that I was never going to recover and would never be able to dance again. However, my physical therapist worked with me not only on gaining strength back in my feet, but also keeping me motivated to recover. I understood how important the relationship was between a physical therapist and their patient. I saw first hand how moving the profession of physical therapy could be and was inspired to help others who were in the same position that I once was.

What is one goal that you have set for yourself and achieved? What is one goal that still remains to be achieved?
One of my greatest goals that I had set for myself was to qualify for the World Championships for Irish dance. Growing up, I had always looked up to the older dancers who had been perfecting their skills for so many years and what grace and poise that they had. Although I had to endure several injuries and surgeries to my feet, I never gave up on trying to obtain this goal. After countless hours of perfecting my skills, stretching, strengthening my muscles, and endless stamina workouts, I was grateful enough to have achieved this goal and represented the United States at the World Championships in 2009 and followed that up with the years after. One goal that I currently have is to make it into the Athletic Training program here at Oklahoma State University. It is a very competitive program and would be an honor to be accepted into during my sophomore year.

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why?
I would be the color pink. Pink has a variety of shades. It can be bright, vibrant and strong. I believe that this resembles one side of me as I am very outgoing and love sharing my positivity with others. However, pink can also be a more subtle and delicate shade as well.  Although I am very outgoing, another side of me shows compassion and how much I value my personal relationships and connections with each and every person that I meet. It is my softer side and that reveals my delicateness as well.

What is one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own?
People had always told me how important time management was. They always said to make sure that you plan out how you are going to spend your day. However, I still felt like I was rushed to get things done—particularly my homework. One thing that I have learned is just how valuable breaks in between classes are. Even if it is only a 15 minute break, they add up. By making use of each of these breaks to get a few problems done for math or a paragraph written for English, I found out that homework and studying becomes much less stressful and rushed.
Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience.
I never would have expected how great of an impact Distinguished Young Women has had on me. I know, that probably sounds cheesy. But this experience has changed my character and motives me for the better. My favorite moment occurred while we were in Mobile, Alabama for the National Finals. On Be Your Best Self Day, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Woody's Song, a school for children all of whom have autism. Until that day, I had never personally worked with those who have autism. To be honest, I was a little worried about what to expect. However, from the moment I walked into that first classroom, I was overwhelmed by the love, compassion, humor and joy that each of these children had. I remember sitting down with a young boy who could not speak because he had missed this learning section in his life due to autism. However, he could still communicate through the use of a program on an iPad. I was astounded by how this simple technology changed this young boy’s life. I also fell in love with their love. All of the students just wanted to be loved – whether that’s through hugs, tickles or just by playing games with them. In return, they gave you that same love back through a smile or giggling laugh. For me, this was as an eye opening experience. The fact the Distinguished Young Women could just spend one day with them shows how much greater this program is. It’s not just about the 2 weeks we spent in Mobile or who one the title of Distinguished Young Woman of America. I believe that it is about what we can take away and give back. It is about every community we can help, every service project we can do and every life we affect. We are 50 young women from the class of 2012 who are just beginning to share all that we have learned.

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