Walking through the halls of Perry Meridian High School, it is hard to miss Mang Dim.  A junior, Dim has made her mark through involvement in a wide range of clubs and activities, including DECA, Riley Dance Marathon, World Ambassadors, Student Voice (StuVo), Asian Student Union, Interact, Yearbook, Tri-M, Choir, Boys Volleyball Manager, cheerleading and more. 

But this year, something is different. This year, Dim is taking a new approach. 

“Instead of just doing everything to do it, this year I’m focused on finding a purpose and contributing to the school further than before,” Dim said. With the new school year, Dim is turning a page— not just in her high school journey, but also in her personal growth. 

So why the sudden shift in attitude? Dim partially credits her new perspective to her participation in this year’s Burmese American Community Institute Miss Myanmar Pageant. “I signed up impulsively, probably on the last day of school. I was like, okay, this is interesting,” Dim said. 

Dim’s journey didn’t start easily. “I was stressing out a lot. I had very low self-esteem because I was the youngest and I didn’t want to embarrass myself,” Dim said. Despite her initial doubts, the other pageant contestants warmly welcomed her, helping her feel like part of a close-knit sisterhood.

While Dim might not have been sure about the decision at the start, she was met with support from her friends and family. “My Chin community and everyone at my church told me I would be such a good fit because I’m already really involved not just in school but also within my church,” Dim said. The process consisted of interviews, practice, and a performance on the night of the pageant. Though the process was unlike anything Dim had done before, all of her hard work paid off with her becoming the youngest ever first-runner-up. “All of the other girls were all above eighteen, so they just graduated high school, and I was still and junior, so to experience that just really showed me a lot about, like, how much love I received from the community. I am filled with, like, so much gratitude for everyone’s support,”  Dim said. 

The experience left a lasting impression on Dim, who now looks forward to possibly competing in more pageants and learning more about herself through pageantry. “It made me, like, reflect about who I am,” Dim said. Her unexpected journey through the pageant not only earned her a top title but also deepened her connection to her community, culture and herself.

Embracing the lessons she has learned from the pageant, Dim moves into this year with a mentality open to growth. At the beginning of the year, she moved up from the junior varsity cheer team to varsity. “It’s a big difference being on JV compared to Varsity,” Dim said. Her promotion to varsity marks a milestone, one she embraces with pride and enthusiasm. 

Additionally, Dim has taken on a new challenge by joining the yearbook. After her experience with the Miss Myanmar Pageant, she is ready to use the yearbook to highlight other students. “This year, I really want to bring other people to the spotlight because now I know how it feels to be on stage. And, like, I know how it feels for people to look at me, and I want other people to receive that same enthusiastic, like, encouragement and celebration,” Dim said.

With graduation on the horizon, Dim is focused on leaving a meaningful legacy by pouring her energy into the activities she loves and embracing each experience.