My roommate Bailey and I had the misfortune of having to quit our respective sports when we made the transition from high school to college. It affected me a little less than my roommate, and she tells me EVERY SINGLE DAY how much she hates that she had to quit dance. Here are 12 things you will probably hear if you come in our room.

1. "What can I use as a barre in my dorm room?"

Apparently, a hip-level mattress is just as good as a ballet barre. I'm positive it's not recommended that dancers use makeshift barres, but when you so desperately miss the thing that used to light a fire of passion in your core, what else can you do? Just sit and stare at your pointe shoes while they gather dust?

2. "Do my calves still look good?"

This question is one that all ex-athletes from high school have probably asked. If you used to play a sport, you know how it feels to push yourself up on your toes and admire the rock-solid muscles around your lower leg. It makes one feel powerful and strong. Why would anyone want to lose that rush?

3. "I found more bobby pins in my car. From last season."

I told my roommate over and over that this is just a girl problem in general. Bobby pins disappear quite mysteriously, regardless of the type or length of one's hair. It's insane; at least they're cheap.

4. "Oh my gosh! Will my hip ever stop popping?"

Stories about dancers in dance class warming up, stretching like noodles and cracking their joints, used to make me sick. Yes, I realize most athletes stretch, but my roommate pops her hips quite often, and it doesn't sound like something that's supposed to happen to your body...ever.

5. "My feet look gross. I'm gonna wear sandals anyway."

When you're a ballet dancer who has been on pointe before (no pun intended), your feet sort of look like someone took a hammer to your toes and gently tapped away unceasingly for several years. That should never stop you from rocking those Chacos or Birkes. You go, girl (or guy).

6. "People stare at me when I wear Spandex in public and I don't know why."

Old habits die hard. Just because you're allowed to walk around in the studio wearing less-than-pants doesn't mean the social constructs of appropriate clothing in public have shifted for you. Regardless, there is still a time and place when it is appropriate to wear your favorite Nike compression shorts.

7. "Can I still [insert dance move]? I'm gonna try."

Just in case this isn't common knowledge, the older version of you is much less elastic than the younger version of you unless you've kept up with your stretching every single day. This will undoubtedly not stop ex-dancers from attempting to go through their barre warmup.

8. "I'm gonna try to put my leg behind my head. No, I will not hurt myself."

Again, this is a risky move. The lack of elasticity combined with the horrible crack hips tend to make when manipulated sound dangerous. Regardless, it makes a great party trick (if one can manage it).

9. "That song would be great for a solo piece..."

This happens to dancers almost every time they listen to music. They pick up on songs from the radio, Spotify, or even their own music library that they've heard many times before. Whether it's the beautiful, sad melody for a lyrical, or the perfect composition for a fast-paced, acrobatics-heavy jazz number, a large variety of music makes dancers feel certain ways.

10. "I should probably stretch."

Ex-athletes of any kind will have this thought; I know I do. Stretching is so important whether you're an athlete or not, so really, this is a good thing for anyone to think on a daily basis.

11. "Mom yelled at me for tapping at Wal-Mart today... Again."

When you put on your first pair of tap shoes at age four, it's not hard to internalize a tap-dancing rhythm to the beat of literally any song anywhere. Making up rhythms is so second-nature to ex-tappers that it's not rare to find them fidgeting while they're doing anything (including standing in line at the grocery store).

12. "I wish I were still dancing."

To quote a female pioneer of modern dance, Martha Graham: "Dance is the hidden language of the soul." Dancers have a passion like nothing else; it's what drives their motivation and tolerance of seemingly endless practices, rehearsals, competitions, and recitals. However, while all of the commitment was once annoying, it's now painfully foreign to go out with friends instead of responding to their invitation with an exhausted, "I can't, I have dance."

Dance is an expression of self, and it is a great outlet for extreme emotion. Throwing oneself into one's art is a healthy way to get rid of frustrations. No matter how much time, money, blood, sweat, and tears were spent on the sport, given the opportunity, ex-dancers would return in an instant.

Thank you to Bailey Wilson for being a good sport and letting me quote her and use her image. She's a great roommate.