Think back to a time when you believed that you could be anything you wanted to be. A firefighter. A policeman. A baker. A professional athlete. The President. For me, my dream was to become a dancer. Lucky for me, my dream has been coming true for the past 15 years.

Ever since I could walk, I was dancing and moving along with the rhythm of any song that would come on the radio. Once I was finally old enough to sign up for dance classes at a studio, I was hooked. I did not know it then, but dance would become the biggest part of my life and a part of my life that I would never give up.

I do not credit dance enough for everything it has taught me, shown me, and helped me through. This is my thank you letter to the best friend I have ever had: dance.

Thank you, dance.

Thank you for teaching me to believe in myself. When I dance, I feel like I can do anything. When I finally master a hard turn sequence, or land that jump that I've been killing myself over, I feel on top of the world. I feel as if I could do anything and conquer anything dance-- or even life itself-- throws at me. Having to dance in front of crowds, both big and small, has taught me to be sure of myself and what I know. In dance, you practice over and over again until you get it perfect. When I step out on that arena, football field, or court, I am as sure about myself as I ever could be. I have learned to believe in myself and my abilities, and I owe it all to dance for helping me find that self-assurance that so many people search for.

Thank you, dance.

Thank you for teaching me to love myself and to be confident. Having to be in tight and sometimes uncomfortable costumes for hours on end may seem horrible and confidence-draining, but it has led me to love my body and to appreciate what I have been given in life. You want me to wear a tutu? No problem. You have a costume that looks like a tub of glitter threw up on it? Bring it. Being a dancer has made me feel comfortable and confident in anything I am wearing, because I know that I have a team of girls beside me wearing the exact same outfit and that we are about to crush whatever dance we are about to perform no matter what we are wearing. Plus, I happen to love tutus and glitter, so sometimes they end up in my outfits outside of the dance world. Being a dancer has made me more confident as a person, on and off the dance floor.

Thank you, dance.

Thank you for giving me the best mentors I could have ever asked for. I have been lucky enough to be blessed with three of the best dance and life mentors for the past 15 years. My studio dance teacher, my high school dance team coach, and my college dance team coach mean so much more to me than I thought a coach ever could. They push me to work harder. They believe in me when I don't believe in myself. And they take interest in my life outside of dance. These 3 women have been some of my biggest role models, supporters and sources of encouragement for the duration of my dance career and I love them dearly. I thank dance for leading me to them. I only hope that one day I can grow up and impact someone as much as those 3 women have and continue to impact me.

Thank you, dance.

Thank you for leading me to some of the best friends I will ever have. From grade school up until now in college, dance has given me friends to grow and laugh with all along the way. I will never forget the special moments at recitals, performances, and competitions that I have made with all of my different dance families. The memories I have with all of my dance friends are some of the most cherished memories that I have. And the best part is that I am still making those memories with them. A dance family is hard (if not impossible) to break. I know that I will always be able to depend on my dance family whether they were my middle school dance family or my college dance family. Dancing with a group of people for an extended amount of time creates a bond that is truly indescribable. And I thank dance for those indescribable bonds.