Charger Spotlight: Arshia Parashar
Photo submitted by Parashar.
Lari Li
Welcome to Charger Spotlight! This is a series where we celebrate students’ excellence inside and outside of school and bring awareness to their passions and initiatives.
Arshia Parashar – Distinguished Young Woman, Third-Degree Black Belt, Tennis Star
Distinguished Young Women is a national scholarship program for high school junior girls. It focuses on academics, talent, fitness, an interview, and self-expression. They have the goal of encouraging confidence and leadership. Participants compete at local, state, and national levels for college scholarships under the program’s motto, “Be Your Best Self.”
Arshia is a senior at Hamilton. She won the prestigious DYW scholarship, earning a title as the Distinguished Young Woman of Menomonee Falls and advanced to the state competition, where she was the third runner-up. In school, she’s active in DECA, Leo’s Club, and German Club. When she’s not teaching karate classes as a third-degree black belt, she’s volunteering with Sewa and playing tennis.
What inspired you to compete in DYW?
“A close friend of mine competed the year before I did and she expressed how amazing it was to meet the girls competing. She enjoyed growing and learning with these girls who had similar passions and drive. It inspired her to encourage others to join the program and compete, me being one of them!”
Describe the levels of competition for DYW.
“For competition, girls are placed into a local program based on the city they live in. Each city hosts a local program where a representative is chosen to move onto the state level. At the state level, there is a 4 day program where all the girls will work on their competition pieces and meet sponsors! At the end of the program, there is a show put together for the audience and judges, who choose the person who they feel will best represent the state at the national level. At nationals, one girl from all 50 states will compete to be the national Distinguished Young Woman.”
Describe what you had to do in DYW to earn your placements and points.
“The aspects of DYW include scholastics, talent, interview, fitness, and self expression. In order to have the most points, competitors must excel in these categories. For me, I had to practice a fitness routine to ensure that on stage, my moves were precise. I also had to come up with an answer to a community based question without external resources for self-expression. I had to use my personal knowledge and experiences to shape a well rounded answer. Using my presentation skills from DECA, I was able to excel in the interview section which made up a high percentage of the program. Talent was unique to the individual and judges ranked based on the person's ability to excel at their talent. Lastly, academics was based on a person’s transcript and their involvement in school.”
What was your special talent for the competition?
“I performed a martial arts form. which included punches, chops, blocks, and kicks. There are a large variety of moves that can be created into martial arts forms that flow well together. I was able to create a unique form that I presented to the judges!”
What is your favorite memory from the regional competition?
“During the regional competition, I enjoyed working with the other girls for the fitness routine. We often got together and practiced for the final show and during these practices, we made many jokes and had an enjoyable time.”
What is your favorite memory from the state competition?
“At the state competition, on the first day all the girls had a team bonding activity at Bear Paw Adventure Park which was a waterpark on a lake. It was amazing to see us all working together on obstacle courses and laughing with each other the whole time.”
How did you balance your junior year with preparing for this competition?
“During the local level competition, I was in my first semester of junior year. I was able to create time blocks throughout the week to practice the fitness routine and my talent. The state level competition was during the summer so I had more time to commit to the competition.”
What have you learned throughout this process?
“I’ve learned the importance of confidence, discipline, and staying true to myself while balancing academics. The program taught me how to present myself and connect with others!”
What did you learn about yourself throughout this process?
“I learned that I am more capable and resilient than I thought, and that when I push myself out of my comfort zone, I can grow in confidence and leadership.”
If DYW gave out “Just For Fun” awards, what would you have won?
“I believe I would have won the funniest dad jokes because throughout the whole program, my roommate and I would tell the best dad jokes that everyone couldn’t stop laughing at.”
How would your family and friends describe you in three words outside of “Distinguished?”
“Outgoing, dedicated, and fun!”
Who supported you the most throughout this process, and how?
“I would say my mom was my biggest cheerleader and supporter as she pushed me to try my hardest and never failed to give words of encouragement.”
Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of competing?
“My advice is to go into it with an open mind and focus on growth rather than comparison. Take every part of the experience, whether it’s the interview, talent, or fitness, as a chance to learn something new about yourself. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and remember that the program is about becoming your best self, not being perfect.”
