During a conference call with the media on Friday, eliminated American Idol contestant Becky O'Donohue told me what it's like to be a contestant on the hit show. "A typical day is always waking up early, being camera-ready, hair and make-up done, shirts ironed," she said. "And it always differs. Sometimes you might have practice, sometimes you might have interviews, sometimes we’re practicing a song. It always changes, but I can tell you every, single day we’re busy. Every single day."

The days are so busy when you're an Idol contestant, Becky says you don't stop to notice how much you're growing as a person. "You’re so caught up with the whole deal that you never actually look back and say, wait a minute, I am growing so much and I am becoming such a better person for going through this. So it’s been a nice surprise. "

Now that she has been eliminated from the show, the New York City waitress plans to continue pursuing her dreams. "My next move is going home and giving my family a hug and after that, just kind of not so much sitting back, but seeing what opportunities arise. And pounding the pavement and getting myself out there and letting everybody know that I’m here to pursue my dream and to continue with it."

Photo courtesy of Fox.