On April 7, 2018, Olivia Arave won Distinguished Young Women’s. Through many weeks of practice and dedication Arave and the other girls performed for the night to show what it means to ‘Be Your Best Self’. Arave won several awards and earned $3,700.

“[I’m] still processing it,” Olivia Arave (11) said.

“I was so happy [she won],” Lauren Anderson (11) said. “I had a little hunch that whole time she would win.”

Starting in January, the girls had their first meeting of the program. Later, starting in February, they started their 5 a.m. practices. They would do this for many weeks to learn their the routine for the program.

“[My favorite part was] definitely the girls,” Arave said. “We got really close getting ready in the mornings…[we also] had inside jokes.”

“Even in early mornings, she [showed me] your personality still shines through,” Anderson said.

Whenever asked to describe Arave, everyone sees the same thing in her: kindness, friendship and selflessness.

“[Olivia’s] always kind and outgoing,” Maycie McBride (11) said. “An awesome person.”

“[She is] full of energy and she has a light about her and uplifts others around her,” Anderson.

This program is meant to help Junior girls find out who they are and who they can become. Arave learned “how to be your best self” while participating. This program is to help boost confidence in yourself as you go out in the world.

“Each one of the girls achieved that and so did I,” Arave said.

“[I’ve learned from Olivia] to always not be afraid of what people think..be yourself,” McBride said.

Many of the girls won scholarships that night. First Runner up is Maycie McBride with Second Runner up as Katie Jensen. Other scholarship winners are: Scholastic- Overall Laureen Preece with Breanna Beck and Olivia Arave. Talent- Overall Lauren Anderson with Olivia Arave and Olivia Drake.

Fitness- Overall is Olivia Arave with Maycie McBride and Katie Jensen. Self Expression- Overall is Katie Jensen with Miranda Gillins and Olivia Arave. Be Your Best Self awards go to Breanna Beck, Sydney Saline, Lauren Preece and Miranda Gillins. The Spirit of DYW award went to Mitzy Ruiz. Local businesses contributed to make a total of $12,400 in scholarships this year.

“DYW has shown me that every girl who participated are [winners],” Anderson said. “Olivia is a representative of all of us.”

Two people who have made a big impact in Arave’s life is her mom and dad. Her mom was her biggest motivator through DYW, helping her with everything she needed to do. Her dad is also someone who she looks up to a lot.

“I think he is a calm person and I hope to become like him,” Arave said, “especially when I make decisions.”

Arave likes to hang out with family, friends or sleep in her spare time. She has been friends with McBride since the second grade.

“We carry water balloons in our cars wherever we go just in case we need them,” McBride said, “and we have used them several times.”

After high school, Arave hopes to go play basketball somewhere or go to college to be a registered nurse.