As many dancers do, I started dancing at a very young age. I took my first dance class at the age of 5 at the best local dance studio. I immediately loved it and the director wanted to put me into the competition program immediately! My mom has always told me that I was made to be a dancer. As I grew, my love for dance also grew. Always having goals to reach for helped me keep my work ethic high and stay dedicated to reaching those goals. I was trusted with balancing school work and learning a dozen dances at the same time. I learned so much about trust, group work, time management, and more through dance. I developed lifelong relationships with other dancers and teachers that I met on the journey. Because the dance community is so small, especially after high school, everyone is connected in some way. The dance industry is also highly competitive which is why so many people are discouraged from taking this career path. During high school, I started to drift away from dance because I always had a sense of not being good enough. I knew I wasn't the best out there and lost my passion for dance for some time. It always felt like I had to come in first place at every competition, hold the plastic trophy at the front of the stage, and say my name into the microphone. I now understand that being a good dancer isn't about the glory and your overall score. It is about your impact on the audience and yourself. During the start of my Junior year in high school, I changed my outlook on dance and fell in love again with the passionate movements. I was in awe of how making shapes and rolling around on the floor could have such a huge impact on people. Even watching my dance teacher live her life on the floor had such a huge emotional impact on me and I knew I wanted to have it on others too. At that moment, I decided that I wanted to pursue dance as a career and live my childhood dreams. I understood that the entertainment field won't be an easy one to survive, but it would be worth every second spent. I have met hundreds of dancers at competitions and conventions and was inspired more and more. I took masterclasses and had dances choreographed by world-famous dancers. The opportunities presented to me have always been one of my biggest blessings. I have always been lucky to have my parents support me through every step. Although the decision to continue dancing beyond high school is intimidating, I committed to it. I don't want to see my peers as competitors but I want to uplift them to become the best dancers possible. Dance is a huge emotional, physical, financial, and time commitment. You learn as you go. Cultures and dance are always changing and there is always more to learn. I want to further my education in dance and leave an impact on dance history. I want to inspire my 7-year-old sister who is also a dancer and show her what is possible through dedication.

My dance experience has changed over the years. I was very lucky to be able to start dancing at the age of 5 at the best studio in the city. I grew a lot in this studio but time brought change. After 7 years, I switched studios in 2018 and I still dance there now. At this studio, I met teachers that built my self esteem back up and drastically helped me improve my technique. I met world famous choreographers and took their classes. I have been in competition dancing since I was 6. I've met many people and traveled over the east coast quite a bit because of dance. Just the thought of dance makes me elated. I want to share this passion with other dancers and an audience. I am passionate about the art of dance for many reasons. When I dance, I let go of everything else going on in my life. I can feel like flowing water and a lightning bolt all at the same time. My heart and soul endlessly pour out into my performance and I learn new things about myself each time. At my studio, I have met my best friends that I can't imagine a life without. Dance connects us together and we would do anything and everything as a team. This art form brings out a flame in me that makes me want to be my best self that I possibly can be. I feel so inspired by other dancers, it makes me want to inspire others the same way. Dance has pushed me to stay physically fit. The hours of hard work each day pay off. I am also challenged mentally with time management, team work, memory, and especially confidence. Balancing dance with school has taught me a new sense of self discipline. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to remember 15 dances, have hours of rehearsals every day, focus on school, and have a life at home, all while still getting enough sleep. Dance motivates me to push through these obstacles so I can reach my ultimate goals. Next year will be my senior year, my last year at my studio. I want to make the most out of it and make it a memorable year. My goal is to be in prodigy, the pre-professional program at my studio. This group of selected dancers meet famous choreographers and other dancers from across the world. They get a taste of the professional dance world and are prepared for a career after graduating. Another goal of mine is to help my little sister in dance. She is 6 and started competition dancing too. With 2 dancers in the family, it can be pricy but I want to help as much as I can. Outside of the studio after graduating, I plan on pursuing a career in dance. I want to do a combination of choreography and performing. Being a back up dancer at a show or in a music video seems like a dream. I also want my creative side to contribute to my career path which is why I have taken in interest in choreography. Traveling has always been a part of my plan, I want to experience other cultural dance styles while bringing my taste to others too. With 10 years of dance and going, I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I can't wait to see what the future will bring and what choices I will be able to make. Dance is an art form that everyone should be able to experience.

The best way to live a long, healthy life is to listen to your body. Life style choices have a huge impact on an individual's health. Although there is a lot about our health that we can't control, there is plenty that we can. We often ignore a problem until it is too big to do so. To live a healthy life, you need to fulfill your body's needs. Maintaining a healthy diet and eating enough is already something that many people struggle with. Sleeping enough and listening to your body when you're tired is another factor that is often ignored. When you notice a problem, it is important to find the root cause and solve it. Keeping up with these things won't guarantee perfect health but it is a starting point of what you control. Your mental needs should also be a top priority. Too many people disregard their emotions for something less permanent. If you are emotionally drained, your body won't work as efficiently. For example, stress can cause depression, high blood pressure, and even heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America! Understanding your body, taking a break when you need to, and fulfilling basic needs will contribute to a long and healthy life. It all starts with listening to your body.

I am very passionate about dancing. I am always surrounded by people who share this same interest. I dance every single day and enjoy every minute of it, even when I am not thinking about it. I've always found everything related to dance very interesting and I love exploring new styles and performing my favorites. I want to share my passion with other people and help them find a new side of movement. Dance is so unique and has a different impact on all people, including the performers and the audience. Dance sparks a new feeling that can't be described with words. You learn to thrive in challenges and constantly grow. I love watching others dance almost as much as dancing. It is very interesting to see how differently each person can move to the same music, especially in improvisation. Being a part of the audience is a completely different experience than performing. Instead of thinking about perfecting each movement, you focus on understanding the meaning and connecting it to yourself. There are endless topics about dance, infinite questions, and infinite answers. Sharing this passion with others is important to me.

Happiness is a goal everyone wants to achieve in life. My family and my closest friends make me happy. Being in their presents, spending time together, and simply talking with them makes me happy. It is good to know that someone out there loves me and cares about how I'm doing. I am a dancer so I get to see my friends everyday. The activities we do help us grow even closer than an average friendship. Speaking of dance, I have a strong passion for it and I dance professionally. Dance fulfills me emotionally and makes me a better individual. It is one of the things that makes me the happiest in life. I started dancing when I was just 5 years old and immediately fell in love with it. You can ask anyone I know and they will confirm that I am a dancer because I talk about it so much and enjoy it. I would give up almost anything for dance, and everything for family.