DYW Chase gives advice to future participants

BONNERS FERRY — Ana Chase, Bonners Ferry’s Distinguished Young Woman, encourages other young women to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the local DYW program.

Chase, who represented Bonners Ferry at the state-level program in Twin Falls in October, said she had an amazing experience being around like-minded and academic girls from across the state. She also grew as a person as she participated in the local and state programs.

Chase was introduced to the local program during an information session last spring. 

At the time she was on the fence about joining the program as she didn’t grow up performing, but she has fond memories of attending past DYW programs. 

“You only get this opportunity once,” she said, and so Chase then applied to the program. 

For months the participants in the local DYW program practice their talents, self-expression and choreography. 

Chase said she was at first hesitant to perform, but once in the program, she realized that 99% of the DYW program is more than the one-night competition. During the months leading up to the evening program, on Fridays, the participants would do community service, such as volunteering for 4H Friends or Hope House of Boundary County. 

Chase said this was to encapsulate the pillars of DYW, be healthy, studious, ambitious, responsible, be your best self and be distinguished. 

The DYW platform is being your best self and empowering young women to reach their full potential by providing scholarship opportunities for college as well as personal development to become confident leaders.

On the day of the program, the DYW participants were interviewed by the judges. Then they went on to perform their talents, self-expression, fitness and choreography. 

Chase said when participating in the local program she did not think she would win. 

“The interview with the judges is important, I did terribly,” she said, noting that she is very critical of herself. 

She didn’t win the other categories of fitness, talent, nor self-expression. 

“I was so overwhelmed and excited when they called my name,” she said. 

When she received the Be Your Best Self Award, she was honored as it meant a lot to her that she encapsulated what it means to be a DYW. 

“I remember when Hannah Sims won and how I looked up to her, now girls are looking up to me,” she said. 

In October, Chase went to Idaho Falls to represent Bonners Ferry at the DYW state program. 

At that time, she stayed with three other participants at a host family.

When she first got to the state contest, she said she was discouraged as the focus of one of the days was on learning choreography. Chase struggled with comparing herself to the other participants, many had done dance and pageants before. 

“It was a long day and I felt defeated,” Chase said.  

As the days progressed, things got better and she bonded with the other girls. Throughout the week the participants listened to motivational speakers. 

When it came to performing on the big stage, Chase was not fazed.

“I am super grateful that the DYW program in Bonners Ferry is at Becker Auditorium as other girls in the competition performed their local program at gyms and were not used to a full auditorium,” she said. 

The week at state flew by and before she knew it, it was Friday and time for the interviews before the program.

Across the state 36 girls advance to the state program. 

Chase said she made great friends at the state contest and that, even after only a week, saying goodbye was hard. 

Chase said the DYW program changed her, helped her come out of her shell, and prepared her to be a grown woman going out into the world. 

Before the program, there were a lot of things she wouldn’t have done, such as public speaking, but through the process, her confidence has grown. 

Now she is student body president and has been involved with leadership class and even went on to the IASC conference and performed in front of a crowd. She’s not that kind of person but now has the confidence.

Chase advises any young woman interested in the program to not focus on the night of the performance but on the experience.

“[The performance] is one small slice of the program," she said. “You prepare for the program for months and make many friends and connections with peers and members of the community. 

Chase said before the program she was not close with the other participants, but now they are close friends. 

She said a key for when competing at the state level is to not compare yourself to the surrounding young women but to think of it as an opportunity to grow. 

She recommended DYWs go into the program not with the expectation of winning, rather focusing on learning, self-development and earning traits of the other accomplished participants. 

Chase said she is excited that the DYW program is available for other local young women. She will be assisting with the program this spring and encourages others to sign up. 

DYW participants are not screened, she said in regard to the application process, rather it is more of a sign-up to see if a young woman wants to participate. 

“I want to encourage young girls to take full advantage of the program, make friends and do volunteer work,” she said. “You only have your junior year once.” 

Chase thanked all who helped her along the way at the state competition. 

Chase will be graduating with her associate's degree and is hoping to continue her education at a four-year university outside the state. She plans to see the world and be present in her senior year of high school. 

At university, she hopes to find a like-minded group of people who are responsible, academic and healthy, much like the girls she met at the DYW state competition. 

Chase thanked her sponsor PEO during the local program, and the community for supporting her.