Hi ! I ’ m Avery Berlowski the Distinguished Young Woman of Minnesota for 2021 , let me share some insight on what a Distinguished Young Women representative entails .
From my experience , my comfort zone was inevitably challenged . I ’ ve stressed , worried , feared , but aside from that , I ’ ve learned . A difficult experience can initiate growth , especially in a virtual format which summarized my DYW journey from the start a little less than a year ago . I met Janessa Palmer for the first time on a zoom call late one night to gain some familiarity with interview questions . She was my first DYW role model . I still remember how timid I was during my interview at the At-Large program in October 2020 . I had absolutely no clue what I got myself into . As I proceeded to the state program I realized this was getting serious . The expectations gradually increased . What I think is amazing about this program is that although everyone is competing , we aren ’ t “ competitors ,” instead we build a community that allows us to create friendships . Now talk about the vast networking around Minnesota , nationals allowed me to meet amazing young women from all around the country ! I gained profound connections with DYW members that will expand so many opportunities in the future .
I ’ ve learned a variety of skills in all the workshops I ’ ve attended . At state , the ten of us did activities to not only absorb information for ourselves but make an impact on others . From constructing and presenting a thoughtful slide show of the five BYBS elements to girl scouts , to listening to the powerful women of Burnsville who showed us how anyone can be a leader . My favorite workshop from the state program was the tour of the Minneapolis Institute of Art as it was an ambiguous experience . I loved examining the artwork , each piece had its unique purpose . The serene ambiance created a safe space for us to share our own out of the box thinking .