I cannot imagine my world without dance; it keeps me grounded and allows me to express complex feelings and ideas in ways that words cannot. I started dancing young, and even at 3 years old, I always knew every step of the choreography. I’ve spent 12 years at my current studio, the California Academy of Performing Arts. I train over 20 hours per week and teach jazz, ballet, and tap to younger kids. This pre-professional program has given me thorough training in jazz, contemporary, modern, tap, ballet/pointe, theater dance, and choreography. It has also given me a family-like community, and friends I’ll have for a lifetime. This trusting environment has allowed me to grow into an open person and pushed me to dig deeper when I am given challenging choreography. I’ve also been lucky enough to refresh my outlook with renowned summer programs. I’ve done three Joffrey sessions, learning contemporary as well as African and Latin dance styles. I attended a Hubbard Street Chicago repertory intensive and Alonzo King LINES training intensive. The challenging classes made me realize how capable of a dancer I am. There was so much talent and diligence, I was thrilled I was able to keep up. I came back each time with a new outlook on dance and a fresh ideas and renewed creativity. This year I was selected as CAPA Dance Captain, the studio’s highest honor. I’m the person everyone looks up to, which pushed me even further to approach dance with curiosity and eagerness. I continue to fall more in love with dance each day, to find joy in movement, and even in the rigor or long hours. Dance connects us to our history, our cultures, our humanity—and it's an amazing portal for self-understanding. Earning a degree in dance at UCLA will be a springboard to a career as a performer and a choreographer. After my professional career ends, I plan to open a dance school of my own, to honor the brilliant mentors who have shaped me while passing on my passion for dance to the next generation. It would have representation of global forms of dance with instructors with expertise in ethnic genres who incorporate what they know into contemporary dance. This fusion can keep the tradition of cultural expression through dance alive. I will provide a truly unique, communal space for expression that promotes kindness, sharing, and diversity.