Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Editorial

Media Credit: Thaddeus Harrington Mwansa M. Changwe

    It has almost been 2 weeks, and everything still doesn't seem real.
    If you would have told me last Tuesday I would be crowned Miss University of the District of Columbia, I probably would have given you my sideways laugh. Lately, I have been asked, "How does it feel?" My answer: "Quite frankly, I'm still in a daze. It hasn't completely hit me yet."
    In the beginning of the application process, I made sure I had all my qualifications in order to be on point before the deadline date. As it has been said, first impressions are lasting; I wanted the committee to know I was serious about running. Once I knew I was eligible - that is when things really started to set sail with the workshops, the practices, the meetings.
    The thing that I found most difficult about the whole process was not the workshops nor practices, or even memorizing speeches, but my outfits! For those who may not know me, I am 5'2" (which I think is a lovely height, in and of itself). I'm curvy. In other words, not your average size 6 woman! There are not too many things made for women of shape, especially women who are not above 5'5". Finding outfits that were not too long, too revealing, or too fitted was a challenge! At times I began to get a little frustrated, but at one point I had to take a step back and rethink what I was doing.
    I prayed, asking for patience and guidance. I was blessed to have members of my UDC family to guide and assist me. Believe it or not, I went to six different malls - how many stores within each, Lord only knows! Thank goodness though, at the end, I was able to find all of the outfits I was looking for.
    The day of the pageant was filled with last minute running-around (N.B. Future candidates - try to avoid that as much as possible!): having my nails done, getting jewelry, and finding my last pair of shoes. During the preparation as well as the show, a few personal things that could go wrong did in fact go wrong. However, with each happening, I went on, praying for the Lord to lead the way. Knowing that I had family and friends, and, most importantly, other members of UDC and The Truth Club praying and cheering me on…well, that was more than enough to keep me going.
    When it came time to crown the next Miss University of the District of Columbia, all I could do in my head was give thanks to the Lord for whatever the outcome was about to be. I also thought about how happy I was to just compete, given my positive and meaningful experiences with my fellow candidates, as well as my supporters who saw me through since the beginning.
    When Miss Homecoming and Firebird were crowned, and I heard my name for Miss UDC, I was awestruck. I did not know how to react. All I could do was cry tears of happiness while showing the biggest smile the world has ever seen. I was overjoyed and speechless, all at once.
    That day has come and gone, but it still replays in my mind and lives in my heart.
    However, now it is time to get the work done! I want to use my new position to make UDC even greater than what it is now, in areas such as enrollment and student activities, to name a few. I want to develop new ways of enriching our university, as well as methods for letting those who don't know about UDC discover what our school is all about!
    I know during my reign I will have the UDC family's support, faculty, staff, and students alike. I also want to let people know I am always ready and willing to hear what they have to say and to remember that I am still and will always be the same Mwansa M. Changwe they have always known.

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