Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian StarWest Lauderdale County representative Sarah Pasha plays the piano during the talent portion of the Distinguished Young Women Program Thursday at Evangel Temple Church in Meridian. 

As nearly 30 Distinguished Young Women contenders flock from all over Mississippi to the Queen City this week for the state competition, there are a few who didn’t have to travel too far from home to showcase their talents and forge new friendships.

Lamar School students Taylor Cook and Sarah Pasha and Neshoba Central High School student Abby Seale, who represent East Lauderdale, West Lauderdale and Neshoba County respectively, have spent the latter end of one week together, and each say they are forever changed by the experience.

Since Sunday, the young women, along with 26, others have practiced tirelessly to compete at the state competition, which began Thursday night.

Through the early mornings and late nights, the group has become fast friends, especially the Lauderdale and Neshoba triad, even though they are competing against each other.

However, Pasha explained that their mindset is not focused on winning.

“We are all in the mindset of self-improvement, which is what I love about DYW,” she said. “I’m not in competition with anything of them. I’m in competition with myself, and I’m trying my hardest without comparing myself to the girls around me.”

Therein lies the essence of the motto of Distinguished Young Women, which is “be your best self.” The competition prides itself on being a scholarship program, not a pageant, that emphasizes scholarship, fitness, community involvement, responsibility and ambition.

“I love that it’s not a pageant. We are all talented women, and we all enjoy talking, and we have good scholastic scores,” Seale said. “It makes you a well-rounded person, and you learn so much about yourself and others.”

All three agreed that the competition has pushed them to become better versions of themselves.

“Being your best self is a constant journey, but by going through this experienced, I’ve started that upward journey towards self-improvement,” Pasha said. “The rest of my life, I’ll be working to improve myself.”

Seale shared the same idea of laying a moral foundation through DYW that she will continue to improve on.

“You learn who you are and what you believe in, but it also makes you keep up with things,” she said. “You learn how to laugh at each other and support each other. I think it really sets your morals, and you get to build on that base for the rest of your life.”

In addition to improving as individuals, the young women have gained skills necessary to the years ahead as they apply for college and jobs.

Cook, who is looking to attend Mississippi State University to study elementary education, is especially grateful for the newfound confidence boost she has gained through the program.

“I learned that I can really accomplish anything that I set my mind to, as long as I’m determined,” she said. “There are so many people our age who can’t get in front of a panel or on stage to talk to people, so interview and self-expression really helps with that.”

Pasha, who hopes to attend Dartmouth College to study biomedical engineering, appreciates the networking aspect of the program.

“Not just speaking in front of an audience, but speaking to adults and authority figures, making connections and forging relationships – that’s going to be important in every stage of your life. You always need relationships and connections,” she said. “DYW does a great job of teaching us how to do that.”

If You Go

What: Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi 2019

When: Saturday night finals, 8 p.m.

Where: Evangel Temple Church, 3611 MS-145

Tickets: General admission, $20.

To purchase tickets call or text Kimbo Floyd at 601-480-3438.

The three women have also gained a greater appreciation for Meridian, their own counties and the state of Mississippi.

Haleigh Ritter, Lamar County’s 2009 Distinguished Young Woman, has been the Mississippi DYW choreographer for the past three years and said that she loves seeing the women build new relationships and gain a sense a pride for their state.

“It’s rewarding to see how much they grow in relationships and as individuals. They gain a lot of confidence and you get to see that on stage,” she said. “They’re able to step back and have an outsider’s view of their own county, and it makes them proud to be able to represent it.”

Though Pasha has lived in Meridian her entire life, she has many brand-new memories as a result of this week, which have changed her perspective on her hometown.

“I’ve seen the beauty of Meridian this week. There are so many cool things to do here that I never really looked into,” she said. “I’ve had so much fun this week with these girls. Now I have all of these memories that I’m never going to forget.”

The three girls joked that they “vibe” together, but it’s clear that they do share a special connection after this week. 

“We’ve seen each other in everything from pretty dresses to no makeup,” Seale said. “We’ve been getting emails from past Distinguished Young Women reminding us to cherish every moment. It’s definitely going to be bittersweet when it’s over.”