Get To Know Kendyl Druffel, Distinguished Young Woman of Washington 2017

Name: Kendyl Druffel        

Age: 18

Hometown: Colton, Washington

College: Oregon State University

Major: Pre-Business

Favorite food:  My mom’s homemade cheesecake!

Favorite TV show: Friends or Friday Night Lights. It is too hard to have just one favorite tv show.

Favorite movie: 27 Dresses, I watch this movie at least six times a year. It never gets old!

Favorite Christmas Tradition: My favorite Christmas tradition is making Christmas cookies with my mom. We bake so many different kinds throughout December to give to family and friends. While making cookies we also watch Hallmark Christmas movies. There is nothing better than the smell of baked goods, during the Christmas season, while watching movies with my mom.

Favorite quote: “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” – John Wooden

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: I love to plan ahead, I get stressed out when multiple things start to pile up.

Paper OR plastic: Plastic

Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: I always look at my glass as half full.

Introvert OR extrovert: Both, it depends on the situation.

Cats OR Dogs: I am more of a dog person, but I love kittens. Both are so adorable!

Morning person OR night person: morning person

What is your most embarrassing moment? My most embarrassing moment was actually during the first night of prelims at nationals. My group was the first to do fitness during the three nights. One thing you all should know is that I have no rhythm, at all. So, I always count music, but often get lost. I made it through the group portion just fine, and was doing great during the background choreography. I was hitting every count and was really proud of myself, I then proceeded to look towards the middle of the stage and realized it was my individual. Thankfully I realized it in the last second and made my individual. This was extremely mortifying because you never imagine messing up on the National stage. My parents and friends told me that they did not even notice, but it was still terrifying for me.

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? If I could be a crayon, I would be royal blue. That is one of my favorite colors and was one of my high school’s colors. GO CATS!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you absolutely need for survival? I would need ice-cream, water, and my laptop to watch some Netflix and March Madness!

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? Right now, there is water and two vanilla Yoplait yogurts. #dormlife  Actually one yogurt, I just ate one.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be? If I could trade places with anyone for one week it would have to be Kate Middleton. I have always been obsessed with the Royal family, so I would want one week to experience her life and of course meet the Queen, Prince William, and Prince George and Princess Charlotte! Plus who wouldn’t want to have a British accent for a week!!

Sum yourself up in three words. Hard-working, kind, loud.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience.

 It is extremely difficult to choose one favorite moment during my Distinguished Young Women experience, because they are all so wonderful. But if I have to choose, my favorite moment was during my state program this past August. The state choreographer, Shirley Sears, has been my dance teacher since I was three and has choreographed the state program for over four decades. During the week, I was told by my state chairs that they had a special surprise for Shirley during the program. Halfway through the program, we recognized Shirley as an honorable Distinguished Young Woman for all her hard work and dedication to the program. I was able to give her a medallion, and her face was one I will never forget. Shirley was shocked, but was wearing absolute joy on her face. She even got to take a walk across the stage. Every time I saw her she was looking down at her medallion, as if she could not believe the recognition she had been given for all her hard work. This moment is my favorite because it shows how people dedicate their gives to make this program the best that it can be. Shirley had volunteered for over forty years, and I hope that I can do the same for a program that has impacted my life for the better!