https://drive.google.com/file/d/11x6mBQN8dx5VagL5kpwNhodwQlXgx98O/view?usp=sharing

A beat, rhythm, space, and imagination are all I need to engage in my favorite hobby. Of course, I’m referring to dance. I’ve been a dance student since I was five years old and have loved every minute of it. My training has included various dance forms such as Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Tahitian, Tap and Hip Hop. I love them all as each offers a different creative outlet and a way to express myself without words. If I'm not at school or completing hours for my Pharmacy Technician externship, you’ll find me at practice or doing something dance related at one of the two dance studios of which I’m a member. I’m also privileged to serve as the Team Co-Captain on one. I train about 14 hours a week to master technique and choreography. I put in the work, but it rarely feels like work. I suppose that’s the very definition of a hobby though. Dance holds a special place in my heart for several reasons. First, dance became a place of refuge for me at the critical time when my parents divorced. I was only ten years old, and dance was a constant in the middle of the storm. I was able to lean into it for support and as a source of joy. Although things were tight financially for my mom and me, I pleaded to continue dancing because I loved dance and it loved me. Thankfully, she made sure I didn’t lose dance too, recognizing I had experienced enough loss already. Second, dance is special because it represents one of my communities - my village. It’s one of the places where I belong. The dance community is tight knit and we’ve become like family over the years. We’ve trained together, performed, and even traveled. I’m an only child, so it was special to have sisters and brothers on my various dance teams. Even with our ups and downs, we always had each other. Finally, we learn and grow in our communities and dance has been a great teacher. I’ve learned much about hard work, discipline, and teamwork which are key ingredients for success. What you give is what you get. One lesson is that any team of dancers is only as good as the weakest dancer. This has always driven me to do my best to be a strong contributor and encourage the others to do the same. I’m a witness that practice does make perfect and have seen our team’s hard work pay off when we won 1st place and gold medals during competitions. Thank God for dance and the blessing it is to my life. I love getting into a zone, blocking out everything else, and moving my body to create art. I love the challenge of setting the bar a little higher each time to achieve more. If I had to sum it up, I’d say dance frees me and grounds me at the same time. It’s my perfect hobby.

On September 25, 2004, at 12:20 am, I opened my eyes for the first time. I was named Carla Renee - a combination of a variation of my father’s first name and my mother’s middle name. My life’s been framed by two things – religion and education. I was grounded in the Christian doctrine and our family attended church and related functions faithfully. Education was also emphasized as a pathway for success. When I was young, I recall my parents saying things like, “You’re a Merriweather! Merriweathers do things thoroughly, they don’t quit, and the quality of their work is excellent!” Those thoughts still guide me. Fast forward to today – I’m a proud, soon to be high school graduate. It’s an exciting time for me, and I cannot wait to begin the next chapter. I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a neonatal nurse. I was an only child, but desperately wanted to be a big sister. I sought out babies every chance I got. I loved holding them, feeding them, walking with them, and making them smile. It was my youthful version of fulfilling the important role of caring for babies. My career aspirations have continued to take shape. My mother works in the field of epidemiology and has shared information about minorities and public health. The statistics about their higher rates of illness and death, including for infants, are alarming. Knowledge of the disparity in health care and outcomes for minorities has sparked my interest to work with minority populations, where hopefully I can make a difference. I’ll enter college in Fall 2022 at either Howard University or North Carolina A&T State University to pursue my BS degree in Nursing. I’m proud to be continuing my family’s legacy of attending an HBCU which began with my mother and two of her sisters. They’ve told me about their amazing experiences, top-notch education and support they received, along with the lifelong friendships they developed. Ultimately, I’d like to become a nurse practitioner which requires a Master’s degree. Many MSN programs require some years of work experience before admission. After my undergraduate studies, I’ll gain the necessary, valuable work experience. Additionally, because healthcare is a changing field with many medical advances and new technologies, I’m committed to continual learning so I can be the best nurse possible. The legacy we leave behind is as important as the life we build. For me, it’s little things, done consistently, that matter. There are a few “little things” for which I’d like to be remembered. Most importantly, I want to be remembered as a Christian who showed compassion for others. I think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. He saw someone in need, met him where he was, and helped him. Being kind and compassionate can change lives for the better. That’s a large part of my desire and calling to be a nurse. I also want to be remembered as someone honest and faithful. I learned some hard lessons at a young age when my parents separated and divorced. I’ve seen what being dishonest and unfaithful can do. I hope to avoid that or being the cause of that as I live my life. I want to maintain a good name and honesty and trustworthiness are two key pieces of that. Finally, I want to be remembered as someone who tried new things and didn’t let opportunities pass me by. We’ve a set amount of time here with so much to learn, explore, and do. Saying yes to something new might open a door to unexpected blessings.

I look in a mirror every day, multiple times a day. There is hardly a bathroom entered that is mirrorless. As I take a quick glance or even look carefully, I see a reflection of my outer self. What mirrors don’t show is what lies within, however. If my mirror could talk, I’d ask “Mirror, mirror. What is my greatest quality?” Undoubtedly, the mirror would say my ability to use my voice to advocate for myself and others. My mirror and I agree for once. I have my mother to thank for instilling this quality in me and helping to nurture it through the years. She often tells me that she wants to make sure I have all the tools I’ll need to succeed in life. One of the life lessons she emphasizes is “Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find.” Knowing how and when to use my voice has been valuable to me. First, I cannot assume that others are aware of what I may want or need, so my ability to speak up is critical. Moreover, when I am clear in my communications, it helps to minimize misunderstandings with others. Failure to effectively communicate is the root of many issues. Finally, I value this trait because it is beneficial when facing the challenges and obstacles that are common in life. We cannot simply accept defeat but need to search within and find the words that lead to action. One challenge I faced recently was missing the dance auditions at my school due to a scheduling conflict with another event. My mother’s voice rang in my head saying, “Ask for what you want Carla”. I did and the teacher allowed me to audition on the spot. I earned a coveted spot on the dance team. I am proud of the fact that I also use my voice beyond my own personal benefit and have learned to advocate for others. For any number of reasons, not everyone is able to speak for themselves. They may be too fearful, uncertain of what to say, lack information, or know how to get their point across. As the saying goes, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. For example, in the 9th grade my math teacher incorrectly marked my work wrong. I respectfully approached him to explain the error. My efforts resulted in winning back points for the entire class. It was another valuable lesson in recognizing this is an area in which I shine. My strength in using my voice to advocate for the wants and needs of myself and others has a direct connection to my career aspiration of becoming a neonatal nurse. It is one of the ultimate helping professions. Neonatal nurses are called upon to be their patient’s advocate and represent a part of the community that supports newborns and their families. I am especially interested in working with underrepresented populations, as I find the great disparity in minority healthcare to be very concerning. Voices are always needed, and I will be one that shows up and speaks up in my life’s journey. I have been blessed with this quality and will use it to be a voice for the voiceless and lend a hand to those in need. With my natural ability to advocate, I plan to positively impact the world – one baby and one family at a time.

Have you ever felt lost, alone, and confused? I found myself feeling all this and so much more at 10 years old when my parents separated and ultimately divorced. My world - my perfect little world - had come crashing down and I was being crushed under its weight. Everything was changing and there was nothing I could do about it. My mom and I had to move out of the only house I had ever lived in. That move led to another move, and another; three times in five years. We were forced to live on limited funds and there was little to no support from my father. One constant in the middle of the storm was dance. I have been a student of and loved dance since I was 5 years old. Through dance, I have been able to express myself creatively and have learned about hard work, discipline, and teamwork. Dance also became a place of refuge for me at that critical time in my life. Although things were tight financially for my mom and me, I pleaded to continue dancing. I loved dance and it loved me. It was my outlet and source of joy. Thankfully, my mother made sure that I did not lose dance too, recognizing that I had experienced too much loss already. A dream was born in me somewhere along the way to open a dance studio one day – Minor Expressions Dance Studio. My goal is for the studio to positively impact the lives of children in a disenfranchised community. Very often, these are children of color. My studio will be a place where children can be free to express themselves in various dance forms; a happy and safe place, very possibly unlike the homes in which they reside; and a light and a resource to the community that surrounds it. Its mission will be to foster self-confidence, excellence, self-care, and respect for self and others. Other life skills such as healthy eating and financial literacy will be taught through workshops. The motto for Minor Expressions Dance Studio is simple, yet powerful: Be - You are loved and have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Come as you are into this safe space. Grow - Challenge yourself to take one step and then another. Always look forward to learning something new. Give - Hard work brings rewards and its results should be shared with others. Give the gift of you in your home, school, community and beyond. Jane Goodall famously said, "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." I have many dreams for the future and one of them is to bring the world of dance into the lives of children who may not otherwise be exposed to it. Dance changed my life and maybe even saved my life. It was one of the few positive things I seemed to have left when my world was falling apart. Although it all seems like floating puzzle pieces right now, I am excited about what lies ahead and the opportunities I will have to make a positive impact and change the world one child at a time.