“Be Your Best Self” is the driving force behind Distinguished Young Women, and Clarke County Distinguished Young Woman 2023 Calen Richardson proudly portrayed that sentiment while holding the prestigious title.
After Calen won at the county level, she continued on to compete for the state title. She had fun while proudly representing Clarke County in July.
“When I went to state, it was such an experience that was so unique and so fun,” proclaimed Calen. “You’re thrown into this group of 50 something girls that you’ve never seen before in your life, and you all end up being best friends by the end of the week. We got the opportunity to do so many things while we were there. We got to go to Hype and hang out and do things there. We had like a prom, which was super fun. We got to put on our big dresses and get our hair and makeup done. Throughout the week, we didn’t really have our phones. The only time we got to have our phones was in the car or at night when we were going to bed. It was nice to really have time with the girls and not have to worry about our phones or what we look like when a picture was being taken. You’re just in the moment, and that made it 10 times better, and I really loved that.”
Attending the state competition wasn’t the only responsibility that she had once she was named DYW 2023. It didn’t take long after attaining the title that she started participating with different things in the community.
“One of my main goals going into this was to be as involved as I could because I knew that I would only have a short amount of time to hold the title. I wanted to make the best of it that I could while I had it,” stated Calen. “About a month after I had gotten my title, I was able to be in the Mardi Gras parade. That was my first out in the community thing I got to do, and it was so much fun. That was the first parade I’d ever gotten to be in where I got to be on the float and throw beads and wasn’t in a school parade in my cheer uniform with 100 other kids. That kind of kick started a fun year by getting to do something fun.”
Over the last year, Calen has taken part in various projects and volunteer events; in fact, one of the first things she did was work with the students at the elementary schools in the area.
“I love being involved in my school and other schools because I really love kids, and I love working with kids,” expressed Calen. “During Dr. Seuss week, I got to go and read to the kids. That was the first volunteering thing that I got to do. I got to go to three classrooms in three different grades. It was super fun getting to read Dr. Seuss books. They were super excited to see me, and that just made it 10 times better. A little while later, I got to go back to those classrooms and get to teach them about how to be your best self because that’s the motto of DYW, and that was really sweet. I made a little poster for them to make it visual, and because they’re young, it kind of just helps them grasp it a little. The best way to remember it is by H.A.I.R.S.—healthy, ambitious, involved, responsible, studious—and they liked it and thought it was really silly. It was just sweet to get to speak to them and teach them about something the program stands for and that I’m passionate about.”
Although she didn’t go in the classrooms again, she continued to work to assist with education in some way through a drive that she started.
“A big thing I’ve noticed since 2020 is that our younger kids are struggling so much because they were so disconnected from the world for so long at such a young age. That’s what kind of motivated me to do a book drive and focus on the younger kids,” proclaimed Calen. “I love to read, and I think that a lot of kids miss out on that today because you can just hand them a phone and they’re good to go. If they have the means to go and get a book and it’s handed to them, they have the ability to experience that instead of watching YouTube or something. While it wasn’t specific to younger kids, I encouraged it for younger kids.”
The book drive was a bigger success than she anticipated, and she was thrilled with the results.
“It was one big book drive, but I got to donate to two different places,” declared Calen. “My original intentions were to give all of them to the Wesley House because I know that it covers a wide range of people because it’s in Meridian. Before I went to state, I gave the first donation of books to the Wesley House. Then, because Clarke County gave us so many books the first time, they didn’t need any more books the second time I went in to give them more. I was able to go to Hope Village and give the rest of them to Hope Village. That really warms my heart because such a small community was able to give so many books that they had to turn us away and I had to go somewhere else to give the rest of them away.”
She also got involved with some different community events.
“I was able to help the Stuff the Bus drive and be the ambassador for not only DYW but also for Enterprise because we were able to have an Enterprise and a Quitman bus. It was really great to come and see how many people really care about our schools,” informed Calen. “I was able to help with Clarke Fest. I did some face painting, which was super fun. I was kind of nervous because I’m not a super artistic person, but just going and hanging out with kids and painting their faces was really fun. I also got to do face painting for Stand Together Against Cancer (S.T.A.C.). I was so thankful that I got to do that.”
Clarke County isn’t the only place she has done volunteer work. Calen has represented Clarke County as she volunteered with different organizations in Lauderdale County as well.
“We helped one time at the Wesley House by bagging up groceries and handing it out to people who can’t afford groceries,” said Calen. “Then, we went to the Care Lodge and helped wrap Christmas presents, and that was really fun.”
She was able to work through the school to help Creature Comforts as well.
“I got together with one of my friends at school, and we helped set up a drive for the animal shelter in Clarke County. We got stuff like food, puppy pads, and just things for the shelter,” expressed Calen. “We got to do that through my school, so it helped people at the school get Beta hours and National Honor Society Hours and helped the community by providing for the shelter. I was really glad to do that because it helps the school and shelter at the same time.”
When it started getting closer to time for the next DYW competition, Calen assisted in getting the girls ready to compete.
“I was there to help and give tips,” explained Calen. “There were times where I would kind of pull them aside and work with them personally. It was just amazing to see the girls from the first practice to the stage. Every single one of them made progress. That was just so fun to watch and see their hard work really pay off. It was just such an amazing experience. They’re all just so sweet, and I had the best time getting to know them.”
She has officially passed on the title to Clarke County Distinguished Young Woman 2024 Ava Parker, and she is confident that Ava will represent the county well and will be there to assist her as needed along the way.
“That was such a bittersweet moment because I love Ava. I’m very thankful that I’m able to still work with her because she was my little sister when I performed,” declared Calen. “I have a little relationship with her, and she goes to Enterprise so I’m able to talk with her and help her. She’s already asked me a few questions, and I’m able to be there and work with her. I’m super thankful she got it. She’s so deserving.”
Calen represented Clarke County well the year that she was the active DYW, and she will continue to represent her county and cheer along Ava as she starts her journey as Clarke County.
