Everyone can Dance by Jessica

Everyone can Dance by Jessica - June 2018 Scholarship Essay

During my senior year of high school, I was given the opportunity to take dance as an elective. Given the fact that I had already fulfilled my P.E. requirements and wasn't much of a dancer, I was hesitant. I had no background in the art and the idea of trying to dance in front of my peers felt like it would be embarrassing. However, all of my friends had decided to take the class and encouraged me to join them. Not wanting to disappoint them, and recognizing this as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone, I decided to give it a try. Afterall, I knew that if I didn't like the class I could easily drop it.
During the first week I was quick to realize that I wasn't a natural born dancer. I wasn't born flexible and couldn't even hold my balance during most of the exercises we practiced. It's safe to say that I was a disaster and I knew it. Due to the fact that the class accepted dancers of all experience, I was incredibly intimidated by the advanced dancers. They moved with such beauty and grace that their years of training beforehand was obvious. It was discouraging, because I knew that I could never achieve their talent in the one school year.
I'm the type of person who likes the be the best at what I do. I constantly try to excel in everything I try. I knew within the first week that this would not be the case. I practiced at home, but hours at home did not equate to years. I knew that and decided it was time for me to take a different approach to the class. I realized I didn't want to drop the class and I didn't want it to be a class that stressed me out as I constantly pushing myself to be the best. I came to the conclusion that it would be a class that I took simply to have fun. I was surrounded by my friends in a room that always encouraged me to try. It didn't take long for it to become an escape from my academic classes, a way to forget about everything that stressed me out.
Essentially, the dance room became a home and the people who filled it became family. The environment was such a positive one, everyone building each other up, no matter their level of skill or talent. Everyone was equal and everyone was there to have fun. The class helped me more than I was able to realize at the time. Not only did the class force me to take a break from the pressures of school, but it also helped me with my self image. Going up in front of my peers nearly everyday gave me more confidence. I learned to laugh at myself when I messed up and not let it push me back. It was a hard lesson to learn and it took time, but it's one that I desperately needed.
There are obvious benefits to dancing, most of them being medical. It can help with fitness, increase strength and flexibility, and create a better condition of the heart and lungs. However, it has the potential to be more than that. It's a creative way to express oneself, get pushed out of comfort zones, and essentially grow. I believe that this would be a unique class that would challenge students in a way that they're not used to being challenged in. I also believe that it would teach them life lessons essential to their growth. I realize that not everyone is a dancer and very few are born with a natural talent for it. However, there's nothing stopping students from trying.