Reflections by Stephanie

Reflections by Stephanie - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

It was so simple.

I ran on, waited for the lights to awaken once more, performed my own choreography to a song I knew so well, bowed, and ran off. So easy.

It wasn’t always like that, though.

I remember when my dance class, while fun, was a source of anxiety. There was once a time when completing performance quizzes, where we had to learn a combination of steps and perform in front of the class for a measly letter grade, left me feeling dissatisfied for the rest of the morning. My insecurity was restrictive and consumed me. Though my teacher told me I was doing well with an encouraging tone, I felt as though my progress was nonexistent. I once failed to acknowledge my self-growth and felt so disappointed because of it.

My dance teacher, Ms. Barnes, taught me to reflect on how far I’ve come. To remind myself that I have improved. To tell myself that despite being known as the timidest person in my dance class for the past three years, I performed a self-composed solo in front of a crowd of strangers my senior year without faltering or having any mishaps. I went from being a red-eyed mess after presenting with a peer to being able to stand alone in front of judgemental eyes for a whole song.

I did grow. Though I still have a lot more progress to undergo, I now see that a frail seed has become a small tree. Its branches will only form more divisions and form more leafs that will forge blossoms. When the blossoms fall, it will simply create more as the seasons pass. It will struggle to create a sturdier trunk, but it will struggle with pride...

And even when it becomes a large sapling, it will never forget its roots.