rise

This worlds feels like an eternity ago and I just realized I forgot to post!! Words can’t even describe the feeling of going from no recall last year to 30th this year. When they called out the recalls my mom and I both burst into tears of joy and no one around us knew if that meant good or bad news. :p

This spring was really tough to balance dance and work while trying to write and defend my thesis, go on postdoctoral fellowship interviews, and try not to freak out about all the unknowns including moving to a new city. I prepared the best I could for this worlds but I knew I didn’t put the time in like I did last year and that made me nervous.

Honestly, dance day was one big mental test. I was feeling fly in my new look (thanks yet again Momma Duff!) but wanted the dancing to shine on the day. I fought back all the negative thoughts that cropped into my head and danced my absolute heart out in the hornpipe. It was one of the best rounds I’ve ever done.

The soft shoe was a different story. 3 at a time is tough no matter what but I travel backwards in my middle step and decided to cut back to avoid the other two girls on the other side of the stage. Unfortunately, they didn’t see me either and cut backward as well, and when I turned around we collided so hard the other girl fell into a split and I tumbled to the back of the stage (and we became instagram famous in the process I learned later :P). I was absolutely mortified and apparently hit my head because the EMTs concussion checked me afterward. I think we were in such shock that Dan Armstrong wouldn’t let us go onstage for a WHILE until my whole body started hurting and I knew if I didn’t dance then I wouldn’t be able to. I wasn’t even thinking about the recall at that point, and to be honest I thought it was out of the question with a fall that bad, but I loved my reel so much that I just wanted that joy to shine on stage. I could have freaked out, or given up, or danced timid to try not to bump anyone, but I didn’t. I danced smart and we all left each other plenty of space, but I danced as hard as I could to prove that I wanted this. After the soft shoe I wasn’t sure it was enough.

So when they called that recall, I lost my mind for a second. I let all of the emotion from the entire spring out and it was such a joyful release I can’t even describe it. Thank goodness I wasn’t first for the set or I would have been a basket case. The set wasn’t the best I’ve ever done, but I knew I hadn’t put the time in that I needed to and I just wanted to dance with joy. I had so much fun at the awards ceremony cheering on my friends and getting to take the awards stage again. I can’t even post photos from the awards because I was trying so hard not to happy/ugly cry that I just made a weird face the whole time!

1. Frame challenges as opportunities.

2. Look for the good in every situation.

3. Seek feedback from people you respect.

4. Don’t equate the need to improve with failure.

5. Develop grit and holding on to your goals.

6. Reward perseverance, commitment and hard work.

7. Don’t compare yourself to others; be proud of who you are.