As as a young adult, I'd like to think of myself as someone who is disciplined and respects others; I can thank my mother for this, but also I can thank ballet class too. Growing up, I danced in elementary school up through high school, and boy did I learn a lot about respect and authority. When you're a dancer you need to be disciplined not only in the studio, but also outside the studio like when it comes to eating right and working out. I learned how to eat right and train my body the right way. Although when it came to the discipline aspect, I can thank my ballet teachers who never tolerated anything, yet continued to care enough about us and watch us grow.

As a ballet dancer, you train like an athlete, always striving to be the best and you want to be noticed. In the ballet world, you learn a lot, like never talking in class, always watching the demonstration for floor work, always doing choreography full out (never marking it), and finally, making sure you looked presentable for class. If you think about it, most of these things that I learned I use in the real world every day. I learned that in ballet class if I was looking sloppy, I would get in trouble for it.

Well in the real world if you go to a job or job interview looking like a slob, you'll most likely not get the job. Also, I learned that when an authoritative figure was teaching or speaking we would never make a peep. It was rude to talk during ballet class, unless you had a real question about the combination. I use this in my everyday life as well, never talking in class and having the utmost respect for my teachers. Ballet may have been a pastime when I was young, but man did I learn a lot about life too.

Discipline. A word that describes most ballet dancers. They train their bodies and minds everyday, just so they can reach perfection. When you're a ballet dancer there are never any off days. You're always training in the studio, or getting ready for a big performance. I learned a lot through all my years of ballet classes and performances; I learned that if you work really hard for something, you can accomplish anything.

Ballet dancers are the strongest athletes I know, powering through the pain, and never letting the audience know they're tired or in excruciating pain. When you go to the ballet watch their faces, watch their bodies, it's a beautiful thing to see. These dancers are the way they are because they have discipline and respect. Without ballet in my life I may not have learned some of the lessons my teachers taught me. So I thank all those intense ballet classes and long performances; I also need to thank my teachers for allowing me to grow.

Ballet taught me more than just pirouette turns and grande jete's, it taught me life lessons too.