Being a dancer on a Drill Team not only taught me how to point my toes, polish my boots, and create the perfect “Drill Team” curls, but also taught me several important life lessons. The concepts and values that I learned during my four years on drill team are some that I will carry with me my whole life.

1. Dance taught me that if you persevere through the hardest of times, the reward will usually be much greater than anticipated.

If you have ever been a dancer, you know there is no better feeling than when many long, hard, and sometimes frustrating practices, turn into a successful and impactful performance.

2. Dance taught me about the aspect of commitment.

There are times when being a dancer seems almost too difficult to continue. However, because of the love and respect you have for your team, you understand that you have to continue on and stay committed to the team's end goal.

3. Dance taught me how to be a leader, both in and out of the dance environment.

As a dancer, you know that there is always someone younger watching your every move, and dreaming about the day they can be a dancer like you. Those little girls dressed in pink tutu’s and ballerina slippers look at you as a role model, and you don’t want to disappoint them.

4. Being involved in dance showed me how much my parents loved me and wanted me to succeed.

Between driving me to 7 a.m. dance practices, speeding back home before a football game because I forgot my freshly polished boots or red lipstick, or buying countless pairs of tights, I really saw the extremes my parents would go through to help me be successful.

5. Becoming a dancer taught me to believe in myself.

As a dancer, in order to perform to your best ability, you need to have confidence in yourself, and let that confidence shine through in your performance. Performing in front of massive crowds of strangers and judges taught you that you can do close to anything, and caused you to believe in your ability to perform under pressure.

6. Dance taught me to always be on time.

Whether it was showing up 30 seconds or 30 minutes late, I knew I did not want to discover the number of high kicks or my instructor had waiting for me as a punishment.

7. Being on a dance team taught me what it’s like to have a second family.

After spending hours upon hours with these girls, they learned my strengths, my weaknesses, how to motivate me, and most importantly to know when I needed a hug. Teammates turned into sisters that I know I will have for life.

8. Dance taught me to stay focused on my goals, even though I had some discouraging times.

Although there are many triumphs and tribulations throughout your dance career. If you stay focused on a goal, the bumps in the road will seem minimal and only push you to be a better teammate, dancer, and most importantly, a better person.