As a child and a teen we had absolutely no free time, and we loved it. The grueling and painful hours we spent in the studio surely paid off once we got on the stage. These 18 things are all too true for competition dancers.

1. "I can't I have dance"

People would ask us to go get fro yo after school, teachers would need us to stay after for extra credit, and we couldn't even audition for the school play. Why? Because we were in a dance studio working our butts off from 4-9 at night. Every night. School sports were not an option.

2. You owned just about every hairspray brand known to man.

Before any given class, rehearsal, recital, or competition your mom had to yank back your hair into that perfect ballet bun. This required SEVERAL hairsprays, gels, and bobby pins. Good luck trying to get that out.

3. The only makeup you excel at is stage makeup

Let's face it, Mom always did your stage makeup so that hinders your ability to wear makeup like a regular person. Even as an adult I am completely clueless on makeup, so I just don't do it.

4. It shocks you that your other nondance friends don't follow SYTYCD regularly, nor do they even know what it stands for

It's your favorite TV show (even though you had to watch it on demand or DVR because you were at dance when it premiered)

5. But seriously how do people not even know the holy entity that is Travis Wall??

His choreography brings you to absolute tears, his dancing is beautiful, he is beautiful, HOW can you not know who Travis Wall is?

6. You really should apologize to your mom for all the times you freaked out at her during performances

You were an emotional wreck, a stressed out mess, and a dance brat. Mom dealt with the teary costume changes, the repetition of warm ups backstage, and the stress of award ceremonies. Thank her for not killing you.

7. You met your absolute best friends through dance, who else did you spend 24/7 with?

I can honestly say that my very best friends I met all through dance. We laughed, cried, and were way too comfortable with each other. I wouldn't trade our unique relationships for anything.

8. You were up hours past the rest of your peers trying to finish homework

Going to college was a piece of cake. Dance taught you that you really only need five hours of sleep anyway. Up til 2 am doing homework? No biggie! It taught you how much you can handle on one plate.

9. Growing up you always heard comments about your weight

"Go eat a cheeseburger", no don't worry... we do eat them.. lots of them. Our metabolisms are so active as dancers that we're constantly eating.

10. You constantly walk with your feet turned out

I don't think people who are nondancers will ever understand the concept of turn out and the fact that our hips are trained to literally force our muscles to turn out.

11. Competitions were the best because you got to spend special time with mom

Mom always bought you food, calmed your nerves, and had a blast road tripping with you. I loved my competition weekends because I always got to spend quality time with my mom and we had a blast.

12. Stretching in class was the best time to gossip

Much to your teachers' dismay, you and the girls needed to catch up after a long day of school, stretching was the time to do it. Whether you were planking, straddling, doing crunches, or wall splits; you and your BFFs always found time to chat. If that didn't work you found the time to do it when it was across the floor exercises.

13. No one is ever going to understand that Gold isn't good

Only in the dance world would Gold be the lamest award you could get at a competition. Competition scoring is just never going to make sense. Ever. Shoot for Platinum and if you miss just pray you'll land a High Gold. Just don't aim for a Gold, and if you get a High Silver you might as well just quit.

14. Your calves are killer

Special shout out to all those releves I did through gruesome technique classes.

15. "Run the dance one more time"

It's never one more time, ever.

16. Leotards are comfier than real clothes

You get so used to wearing them you might as well sleep in them. You would not believe how many different black leotard styles there are.

17. Dance competitions and recitals turned you into an unbelievably fast changer

6 costume changes in 45 minutes? NO PROBLEM.

18. You wouldn't trade any of the memories dance gave you for the world

I am so thankful I grew up with dance.