It took me a month or so to work up the courage to go to my first lesson. My best friend from high school invited me, but I was too nervous to go because I was afraid that I would get made fun of or not know anyone else. I knew that I wasn't a very good dancer and that I might not pick it up very quickly. Things may have looked bleak, but I decided to give swing dancing a try.
Now, over a year later, I could not be happier. Swing dancing has given me courage and confidence I never thought I would have. I have learned so much, from the basic steps of East Coast swing to Country swing dancing, and more recently, how to do flips and dips. This may not mean much to those who have never tried swing dancing, but I can guarantee you that if you give it a try, you will thoroughly enjoy and love it as much as my swing family and I do.
Swing dancing gave me an outlet over the summer to get to know friends better and meet new people. I have found a family with my swing dancing group who is there to support me and have fun with, and I would do the same for them. Getting compliments on how much I have improved and the adrenaline rush that comes with learning flips and incorporating them into dancing feels so incredible. Every lesson brings a new challenge for me to learn or an old challenge that I can perfect.
I have thought about starting a club on Saginaw Valley State University's campus, which sounds super exciting! Getting to share my love of dancing with people on and off of my campus would be a great feeling, and to watch them pass it on to others would be even more amazing. Even if I don't start a club this semester, or this school year, I know next summer will be the best summer of swing ever.