In high school, with it an endless amount of clubs and sports, I fell in love with one sport so much that I did it for three out of my four years. Dance was my passion, it fueled me to do better in school, get involved, and gave me an amazing support system of friends. But now as a full-time college student with a part time job, it is hard to balance all of it and I was forced to give up a sentiment that helped me thrive through a tough time in my life. Every day I look back at my high school career and I am so thankful I had dance, but then I remember I am not doing it now.
The experience I had those three years are some I'll never forget. It broke me out of the shell I thought I needed to get through high school, but with the help of my team and my coach I realized I didn't. Now as a college student 500 miles away from my high school, I am wondering why I let the fear of having to meet all new people when trying out for a team or joining a class scare me to the point of quitting something I was so dedicated towards.
High school was where I was so worried about people's opinions, now I pride myself on people liking me for who I am, and when they don't I just let it slide off my back. Yet I still haven't looked for studios, still haven't looked for a class at my school, or even just busted out my jazz shoes and did some turns in the dance room at my gym.
After going back home to Vegas to visit some of my family and friends, I went to help at dance camp with the J.V. dance team my best friend coaches for. Seeing her teams love and excitement for all of them doing something so fun and so new to them was such an eye opening experience. These students stepped out of their comfort zones, joined a sport that they didn't know what to expect, and had an amazing time at their first big outing as a team.
I learned a life lesson from a group of underclassmen who were in the exact same place I had been in four years ago. That you'll never know how something truly is if you don't try it. There is a quote made by "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky, "you'll miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Recently I have taken so many shots now this was just another one, but it was an important game-winning shot that needs to be taken. Gretzky made 894 shots in his career now it is time for me to make my next shot.
