When Portage junior Mariah Blackwell decided to try something new and enter the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman scholarship contest, the last thing she expected was to win.
But win she did.
"I don't think words can really describe how I felt. First, it was shock. I remember looking at [fellow finalist,] Kassidy [Cherry], who was standing next to me. I looked at her and said, 'Did they just call my name?' My mouth dropped open," Blackwell said. "I don't even remember what happened after that. I walked up to [2014 DYW] Erin [Lichnerowicz], and I think she was laughing at my expression. I went out to the crowd and it hit me. I just started to cry, I could not stop crying. It was probably the only time I'm okay with crying."
Blackwell competed against 38 of her female peers in scholastics, interviewing skills, talent, fitness and self-expression before finally winning the title of Distinguished Young Woman.
"Honestly, I was just hoping to make it to finals and get some type of award, because there's a lot of people in my family, and everything counts towards college," Blackwell said. "If anything, I was just trying to see what I could do by myself, without my mom's influence. This was kind of me challenging myself to see what I would be like by myself. I'm pretty proud of myself."
For winning, Blackwell received a $2,200 scholarship, a year membership to the Portage YMCA and a package from Mary Kay, among other rewards.
Of course, the goodies and college aid were not the only reasons she decided to give DYW a shot. It also provided her with the opportunity to meet new people and strengthen her character.
"It brought me closer [to the other girls] and opened me up a little bit more, so I think it made me a bit more brave and confident," Blackwell said.
Blackwell boost in personality, although present now, was hard for her to find during the contest.
"I do this thing where I psych myself out for everything. Whatever it is, I just put it in my head that I am not good at anything, so I think I was probably my biggest enemy," Blackwell said. "I remember, it was right before the talent part, and I was freaking out. I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I made it to finals and now I have to sing again. I messed up the first time,' and Erin's just trying to calm me down."
Thankfully, Lichnerowicz, who went through the stress of DYW just last May, was able to help.
"I honestly wouldn't have been able to do it without her," Blackwell said. "She was awesome. I just love Erin so much."
Part of her nerves may have stemmed from the fact that the competition is much different than the activities in which Blackwell usually participates.
"I've always been shoved into sports, ever since I was little, and I've always wanted to try to go out on the stage. I've always been drawn to the theater," Blackwell said. "I know this is nothing even close to the play or the musical, but I've always wanted to [try something similar]."
Now that it is all said and done, Blackwell admitted she already misses the practices, and that she is, "kind of going into withdraws now that it's over."
When not at home babysitting her siblings of doing homework, Blackwell stays involved with Health Occupations Students of America, track, cross country, a medical vocational, playing and offering lessons for a variety of instruments, and volunteering at Nativity church.
Because she is so involved, Blackwell almost did not participate in DYW. Between track practices and making it to her students' lessons, Blackwell knew she needed to make a decision about her the end of her junior year.
"My coach was getting mad, so I kind of sat down and thought, 'Well, what do I want to do?'" Blackwell said.
Fortunately for her, she chose DYW.
"I'm really happy with it, win or not. This was probably the best experience I've ever had in my life," Blackwell said. "I really got to meet other people that I never got to talk to, and going backstage, that was the best experience."
All her activities actually helped Blackwell throughout DYW, no matter how unconnected they might seem.
"My vocational really helped me to calm down – this is weird – but I would start reciting the flow of blood through the heart, and it really calmed me down," Blackwell said.
Blackwell's religion also played a large role in her attitude in the competition. Her favorite part of DYW was when her fellow participants would come and share her beliefs with her.
"I didn't want to shove it in people's faces, but I would quietly ask people around me if they wanted to pray with me before the show, and they would come and pray," Blackwell said. "It meant a lot to me that people would actually be willing to do that."
Many of Blackwell's answers to DYW questions came from her beliefs.
"I think you should be true to yourself and honor your morals and who you are and have faith in your life," Blackwell said. "I try to be like that."
Blackwell enjoys showing her ethics through her desire to help people.
"It's like an urge," Blackwell said.
After high school, she plans to attend Indiana University Bloomington to get a degree in either Biology or Psychology. She is unsure exactly what she wants to do with her career, but she has hopes of joining the Peace Corps as a physician. This way she can travel the world as she offers her assistance.
"I want to explore everything, it's a problem," Blackwell said.
Before college, though, she will have a chance to participate in DYW again, when she heads to Kokomo, Indiana for the state level of the contest next February. There, she will compete with other local winners in hopes of winning the state title to move on to nationals. Blackwell will also help plan Distinguished Young Woman for the class of 2016.
"I really think that the younger girls should do this. I think this was a good experience for anybody. You don't have to be in theatre or anything. Just come to it, it's such a good experience," Blackwell said. "The cliques are like nonexistent in this. Everybody gets together. There's really no difference. Everybody's the same, and it's just so much fun."
