Personal Narrative: A Career As A Dance

“Point your toes!” The coach said for what seemed like the millionth time. Being a dancer was hard, but I knew that I was going to improve physically and mentally from this. I was shy, weak, and wasn’t sure that this was the path I should take. Moving into middle school was a very big step, and to add to that, I made the dance team. This experience has shaped me into the person I am today, because I have learned to be a leader, work harder than I have ever worked before, respect and work with a team. Now, two years later, I am captain over many outstanding dancers with which I have grown so much with, not just with dancing but being a better person.

My dance career has changed the way I think about working harder in a positive way because I learned that the only way to succeed is to work hard. There is no other way. If you don’t work hard, then you haven’t truly achieved success. One of my favorite quotes is from Paul, and he says, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning... sacrifice and most of all, [the] love of what you are doing.” I work hard, have learned much, and have sacrificed much, and absolutely love dancing.
Being a dancer, I had to learn to have leadership and respect fellow peers and take respective criticism.
This has moved me so far in life. Before this experience, I was either the boss and everyone followed what told them to do, or I was a follower and I was offended when someone tried to correct me. I now know that when someone fixes something that I am doing wrong, they aren’t being mean or insulting me. They are just being nice and trying to make me a better dancer. I am now a great dancer and can give comments to others and take them with a positive
attitude.

In those two years, I learned to work with a team. Our coach told my team something that forever changed me. She said “We are not a team because we work together, we are a team because we respect, trust, and care for each other.” From then on, I always tell that to my teammates when I hear them talking bad about their own teammates. Our relationships with each other have strengthened beyond anything that working with them could have done. I have learned to be calm and explain how we can be better and be nice to everyone. On my team, no matter who you are or what you have done, you are amazing and you deserve to be included.