Just enjoy myself and make the most of it. The whole time that you're at nationals is rather stressful. It seems like all you do is rehearse, rehearse and then rehearse some more. The first week is great because all of the girls really get a chance to bond. You're really casual.
Nobody is in their competition mode.
As you get closer to the competition, everybody withdraws. Everyone goes into their shell and gets focused on the task ahead, which is winning the crown. I really enjoyed the casual times, getting to know the girls, sitting around the breakfast table, sharing events that had happened in our lives. I remember after we had finished our personal interviews with the judges, we were sitting around having a cup of coffee, and Sharon Belden of Florida shared her life story with us, which included the tragic deaths of both her parents. And then Jennifer Prodgers of Georgia shared the story of her father and his death.