An Ode to the Letters “D”, “Y”, and the Legendary “W” – by Sierra

Ever since my junior year of high school, roughly three years ago when I was first introduced to the Distinguished Young Woman Scholarship Program, I randomly find myself feeling proud of belonging to the sisterhood of these three letters. Separately, each letter has its own sound and belongs to many different words – just like each woman that is a part of this encouraging program. Each one of us, we find our own path and belong to many other groups. All of us, uniquely able to have a marvelous impact on our surrounding environment, having great potential. However, when these three letters combine to make the acronym, “DYW”, there becomes an undeniable presence – just like if every member of this program were to unite, the potential would be limitless.


I realized that as much as it is important to shine in our own light and glory, it is just as important to shine with our peers. Throughout my life, I have been a part of numerous clubs and dance teams, but never have I experienced what it means to be a part of a true “sisterhood.” My first mentor when I became a member of this program was Ms. Shannon, an alumna. She was a great help at making me feel comfortable and helping me to realize what a great opportunity I had received. She instantly treated me with love and I admit that at first, I was not sure how to receive it. However, I was fascinated by her stories of her trip to nationals some years ago and the confidence she exuberated. Then, I was introduced to more “has-beens” – some already grown with a career, husband, and children. All of these women had such assurance and respect about them. I thought that maybe I would get intimidated, but instead, I felt nothing besides comfort because they were giving me nothing but love, care, and support. 


I did not see it then, but I do now. All these strong, independent, courageous women that I have met through this program began to gain such qualities back when they were my age and experiencing this program just as I am. Every category I faced, they too faced, and we all have gained personal insight through this process. I look back at my junior year self and realize that I have become more confident, respectable, and courageous. I no longer hesitate to speak my mind or give suggestions if I feel I am in the right place and it is the right thing to do. Whenever I do get nervous about speaking in front of my class or speaking my mind, I think to myself “If you were able to speak in front of hundreds of people that you didn’t know with bright lights shining on your face while also being judged, why would this time be so hard?” And whenever I find myself feeling slightly disappointed or being too hard on myself, I think, “You belong to a group of women that have done so much and will continue to do even more. You earned your spot by being you, so continue to do that and you too shall achieve.”


DYW or Distinguished Young Women, either way you put it, it is not simply a scholarship program…it is an opportunity, experience and a sisterhood.


Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

You Are Your Number One Priority – by Sierra

There is one word that just about everyone on this planet fears being called: selfish. Growing up, we’re taught to do the selfless thing and to share, share, share. We’re always to think of others first and to never do something out of our pure pleaser. Of course there is nothing wrong with this; however, sometimes we are so scared of being selfish, we forget to put our own happiness into the equation.
 
It is so easy to get caught up in the motion of making sure our family is happy, then making sure our friends are happy, and then sometimes even making sure our teachers/professors are happy. By the end of the day, we find ourselves exhausted and indifferent. Overtime, we realize that just about everyone else around us and doing wonderful, and we’re still not truly happy.
 
This usually happens when we overexert ourselves, and to be honest, if this happens to you, there is nothing wrong with that. If more people had the issue of being “too selfless”, the world would be a better place. On the other hand though, you must always remember to only act in what will have the best outcome for you mentally, physically, and emotionally. This means that sometimes we will have to say no to going out with our friends just so we can get some “me time.”
 
Don’t be ashamed to have to tell people that’s what you need. Needing some “me time” is not a sign of weakness or having a nervous breakdown; at some point everyone needs some of it. I will admit, that I find myself wanting to be alone so that I can dance in front of the mirror or so I can belch out every word to my favorite Beyoncé song. Laugh if you want to, I find it very therapeutic.
So find whatever makes you happy and not necessarily what makes everyone else happy. Don’t forget about them, and always be there, but remember: you are your number one priority.

Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

Goals - by Sierra

Where do you plan to be in five years?

What goals do plan to have accomplished in the next ten years?

How old do you plan to be when you join the workforce?

These are just a few of the questions that we have gotten so accustomed to answering. The moment we begin our journey of education, is the moment that we should be thinking of the future. In elementary school, usually your teachers and parents are telling you of how you will go to middle school then high school, and then hopefully, eventually, you will attend college. So starting way back then, we have started carving out our path for the world. At my age of 18 and like most of my peers, goal setting is practically second nature for me. There are the moments of getting overwhelmed, but we don’t even know how to operate without setting some type of goal.

Sometimes we all get so wrapped up in the notion of having a set path of what we plan to accomplish in our lives that we feel like a failure if we do not achieve one or if we are not sure of what our exact plan is. Goal setting has become such a big part of our lives that we even set goals for an everyday schedule. How many times have you caught yourself saying that today you have to go to the grocery store, or you have to study or things of that nature?

Now, I’m not saying there is something wrong with that or with goal setting. On the other hand though, we have to remind ourselves and others around us that it’s okay not to have an exact path or to change your goals. Thinking back to my junior year of high school, I was very focused on college already. I figured that by the time I get into college, I must know my major and what I want to do in graduate school. One of my fears was starting college as “undecided”. I even found other people (and I still do) that slightly cringe when they hear that word.

However, I have learned and am still in the process of learning that goal setting isn't the only thing in the world. We need to remember too that there is good in living in the moment and that life is an ever-changing journey. So if you ever find yourself feeling disappointed because you don’t think you have enough “set goals”, remember that there is nothing wrong with that. People change their minds all the time. Just relax and enjoy the moment of right now.

Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU - by Sierra

  Finally, the snow is beginning the melt, the flowers are beginning to sprout and all the butterflies are coming about. These are the few signs of warmer weather; in other words – Spring time! I for one adore the Spring season (whether or not my birthday being in May has something to do with it, I’m not too sure). Since it is getting warmer, that means people are trading in their over-stuffed winter coats for brightly colored t-shirts and tank-tops. Now, as much as I love this time of the year, to be honest, it usually does accompany some anxiety. Many of us have unfortunately fallen victim to this feeling, and that feeling is we over-ate during the winter and now we need to get our beach body back. 

I for one felt extra anxiety this year because the Spring time also means time for my dance team auditions for the upcoming Fall season. At our auditions, we must be weighed and measured so that our body mass index (BMI) may be calculated. Obviously this freaks me out just a bit because no one – especially a female – enjoys stepping on a scale, in front of others. Just when I was preparing myself for this weigh-in, there was another kicker: they lowered the BMI requirement.

Immediately I thought to myself that there was no way I could lose a certain amount of weight in the given time. I was lost about how I should go about starting and what exactly I should do. It did help though, to see my fellow dance mates get the same anxiety but explain to me that it is possible to do it in a healthy manner. 

“Fad diets” seem like the easy way out. They claim to get you to lose a substantial amount of weight in a less than normal amount of time. However, there are tons of side effects. This is especially for the young females of today that are willing to go to the ends of the earth to fit that cookie-cutter “beautiful” type that society wants. The saying that if it is too good to be true, then it probably is, proves extremely true when it comes to “dieting”. 

It’s normal to lose about 1-2 pounds a week. Losing a lot of weight or changing your body type is not an easy task, so it should take a good amount of time if you want it to last. Fad diets just satisfy you at that very moment, but about a month down the road, you will have gained every single pound back plus more.

So please, young ladies, it begins with eating right and exercising. You’d be surprised of how much working out an hour a day and eating more fruit and vegetables and less fast food and chips will do for your health and your body.

With all this being said, being skinny shouldn’t be everyone, if anyone’s, goal. Your body belongs to you and you should love every inch and curve that you have to offer. You shouldn’t aim for a specific number on the scale or not even necessarily a certain number on your waist. Instead, aim for being healthy, being happy, and being you.

 Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

Every Moment is a Present - by Sierra

I recently heard the news of the unfortunate events that are taking place in Midland City, AL; which is not too far from the college I am currently attending. A man got on a school bus full of children with a gun. The bus driver, Charles Poland Jr, tried to stop the man from harming the children but the gunman shot him dead. The gunman, Jimmy Lee Dykes, then was able to grab a 5 year old autistic boy off of the bus and kidnapped him. Dykes took him to his underground bunker and there has now been a stand-off, hostage situation going on for many days. Police are not quite clear of his motive just yet (however, there is a pool of reasons to pull from) but so far they have been able to get medicine into the bunker and are informed that there is weeks’ worth of food/living supplies in the bunker.

This has become big news and a part of many conversations here in Troy, Alabama since it is happening so close to home. When I first heard of it, I was shocked that it was really happening and that it was only about an hour away. Such a sad situation is very hard for many people to cope with; especially since America is still shaken by the massacre that happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

When events such as these occur, people begin to realize the importance of life and not taking things for granted. I have also become one of those people to appreciate more things in life. I know the saying that tomorrow may never come and live your life like today is your last day, but I guess I understand that I haven’t really been applying those ways of thinking.

When I heard that innocent boy who has no relation to this man was taken and has been kidnapped for several days now, without coming out to see daylight, it hit me that there are things beyond our control that may make us regret not truly appreciating certain parts of our life. So I have made it a task for me to begin to appreciate everything, from the small things to the bigger things. Fortunately, my faith in God helps out a lot.

So even when the world becomes dark, we can all remember that we can bring back the light through helpfulness and appreciation. My heart and my prayers go out to the families of Sandy Hook victims, the families of Midland City victims, and all others that have had to go through this horrible grieving and/or coping.

Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

Everlasting Friendships - by Sierra

For the past few weeks, I have been enjoying my return home from college for the holidays. This break has been truly a wonderful experience. However, I encountered a few unexpected emotions once I got back. I realized that I have been away in college, but life here in my hometown in Maryland was not put on pause. So I wondered if the friends that have stayed here would be as excited to see me as I was to see them and Maryland once again. Also, I wondered if the strong bond I had with my friends that too had left for college might have weakened.

The friendships that I have been blessed with throughout my life, especially high school, have always brought me happiness. However, my friends and I have never spent so much time apart; and I constantly hear how once you attend college, you lose a lot of friends from back home. So how could I not worry about whether or not my friends and I would still ‘click’ like we use to?

Then the moment came. All my close friends and I got together to meet up and hang out, just like we use to. I’m not sure if anyone was as anxious as me because I was the only one of the group who hadn’t been home since August. Everyone else had the opportunity to see each other over the Thanksgiving break – unfortunately, I was not able to come home.

After sitting around laughing, talking, and joking just like we use to, it hit me. The bond I have with my close friends is a true, loving bond. Yes, it is true that I don’t talk to as many people from high school, as much as I use to. The friends that have always been close to me though, are just as close to me as they used to be.

A true friendship is not easily broken. Neither time nor distance can bring it to an end. So leaving helped me to value the individual relationships that I have with my friends and everyone that is involved in my life. Now I understand that I don’t have to worry or be anxious anymore. My friends and I truly care about each other and our well-being. So it seems as though our friendships shall be everlasting.

Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

There’s No Place like Home…Except for The Other One - by Sierra

One of the definitions for ‘home’ is a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household. There has always been and probably always will be an on-going debate of where home truly lays. There’s the literal opinion of what a home is and then there’s the opinion of the emotional connection that we have with a certain place and/or shelter. Recently, I have found myself straddling the fence of this debate.

As my wonderful, memorable first semester here at Troy University is coming to an end, I begin the struggle of packing nearly all of my things to board a plane to return back home. I am overjoyed to be able to go home since I have not been back to Maryland since August. However, I find myself also saddened by the thought of leaving. Yes, I am returning to family and friends, but I am also leaving a close group of friends that I can call family. So now I am trying to decipher what most far-from-home college students go through: Which one can I call home?

Of course I feel at home in Maryland, but over these past five months, I have grown more and more comfortable with my environment here in Troy, Alabama. At first, I figured I would just be a college student in Troy that is from Maryland. Now though, I see myself becoming an involved citizen in Troy that once lived in Maryland; which is completely okay with me, but I don’t want to leave Maryland behind.

Here at school, I proudly represent Maryland, but anywhere outside of Troy, I proudly represent Troy. When I went with the marching band to Nashville, Tennessee, I did not hesitate to say that I was from Troy. I practically forgot that just a few months ago, Maryland was all I knew. At first, I felt as though there was something wrong with me. Thoughts like, “Oh really, you don’t remember all those years you lived in Maryland? Five months in Alabama and you forgot all about home”kept filling my head.

Then, I found another definition of home: an environment offering security and happiness in which one’s domestic affections are centered. This helped me to realize that home is not black and white or something that can be wrong or right. Home is simply where I feel at home, and I don’t have to have just one. Both my home in Maryland and my home here in college give me comfort and happiness.

So I have finally made my decision. Instead of trying to resolve my internal fight of where to call home, I accept the blessing of being able to call two different places that are far from each other, home. I just have to remember, home is where you want it to be, not where everyone tells you it is.

Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!

Oh, the Places You'll Go! - by Sierra

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

When reading this quote, one can’t help but to recall their childhood where they once read Dr. Seuss’ book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go. We remember the big, colorful pictures fueling our imagination as the story was read aloud to us. Then, eventually the proud moment when we realized that we were capable of reading it all on our own. However, after stumbling upon this book this past summer, I realized this book goes further than just relating to our childhood-selves.

It was one of those nights that I found myself worrying if my past accomplishments were enough for what was to come ahead. I knew my anxiety was only so intense since I was about to leave for college all the way down in Alabama in less than a month. So I tried to calm myself down and just go to sleep, but I found myself tossing and turning. Once I got up, it was then that I saw the book staring at me from a book shelf.

Page after page, sentence after sentence; each word jumped out at me. Those words, those simple words, made all my “complicated” situations seem easy-going. My worries about leaving my family and friends behind in Maryland and attending Troy University were eased by another quote from this emotive book, “Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away…It’s opener, out there, in the wide, open air.”

Immediately, this quote made a big impact on me. It helped me to understand that there are so many opportunities to be grasped beyond my backyard. Sometimes we get so hung up on the fear of change and the fear of leaving what we have known all our life, that we forget that there’s an entire world out there waiting for us to leave our mark. Don’t get me wrong, change is definitely scary; especially when just about everything in your life is changing. However, if we focus on our goals and always remember to just be our best self (thanks to Distinguished Young Women, I truly understand what that means now), then change will be a wonderful, new journey.

The message I received from the story was simple. In life, no matter who you are, there will be ups and there will be downs, but the downs should never deter you from the fact that what makes you, you and remembering to think before you step will get you far. I realized that life really is just a series of choices and only I have control over what I do and what is to come.

At the end of the day, it is important to always remember the previous lessons that were taught to us. It is the simple messages we were given when we were young that we must keep with us throughout this journey known as ‘life’ in order to keep our spirits high and our ambition strong. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! may be a children’s book, but it contains key values to success and true happiness:

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.”

Sierra Terrell is a college freshman at Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in Psychology. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Sierra was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Maryland for 2012. Learn more about Sierra here!