For the kids.

To people who don't have an understanding of the dance marathon community, it might just seem like three simple words. To those who have a vague understanding of it, it's a mantra, an explanation for why those involved do what they do. But to those who live and breathe dance marathon, be it as a dancer or a part of the committees that make everything happen, it's so much more than three little words, than 10 little letters.

It becomes a motivation for everything we do, it becomes why we do what we do, because dance marathon is about making miracles happen. It's about changing lives, and it's about giving these amazing kids the chance to be rock stars. It's not about us, it's not about the work that goes into it, it's what the kids get out of it. For the kids is so much more than saying we do what we do "for the kids," because it's not that simple. But, at the end of the night, the kids are all that matters. It's not about the money raised, the recognition from the school and local communities, or the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes along with doing right by someone. It's all about these kids.

For the past 11 months, dance marathon has essentially been my life. From the weekly meetings to meeting with potential corporate partners to doing everything I could to play my part on our committee, there was rarely a moment that it wasn't on my mind. But, admittedly, it didn't always feel like it was on my mind for the right reasons, and I often lost sight of the true purpose of why we were there. Being in such a behind the scenes position, I got caught up in the semantics of the event, trying to ensure that everything was going to be running as smoothly as it possibly could, while simultaneously trying to balance everything we needed to do leading up to the day of our event.

I was stressed, stressed to points that I hadn't even quite imagined possible, and trust me when I say, a lot of us were. I found myself so caught up in a five-letter word: total. It was a word that I'm relatively certain might still happen to send a shiver down my spine every time I hear it. The entire time leading up to Wright State's Raiderthon, I found myself more and more worried about the little things, the things that, in the bigger picture, didn't even matter. The closer that the event came, the more that stress increased and the more frayed my nerves became. But, you know what? When day of rolled around, something incredible happened.

Being in that environment and around all of these amazing families with such incredible stories changed everything. I remembered why I was there, and the answer had absolutely nothing to do with total or anything to do with anything except each and every one of the kids that was there and the dancers that were there to support them. This was their day, their time to shine, and their time to feel like rock stars. For the kids became more than just a mantra, it became the theme of the day, and that was absolutely the way it should be.

From watching a miracle child that could not walk last year take a few steps in front of us all to playing soccer with one of the most hyperactive and absolutely amazing little five-year-olds that I've ever met (for the second year in a row, I might add) to being remembered by the little girl who had been my dance partner for so long during our morale dance last year, those were what kept me going throughout the entire day. Nothing else even mattered in the little moments like that. Combine that with how much fun our dancers were having and the number of students we had attend, enthralled by each family's ever word? Yeah, for the kids really starts to mean something so much more.

Dance Marathon has changed my life in so many ways, ways that I can't even begin to describe, but ways that I'll always be thankful for. I have made so many connections with so many incredible people. I have made friendships and bonds that I'm certain will remain for years to come. I have grown so much as a woman, as a person, and as a leader. I can say with absolute certainty that I would not be the person I am today if it were not for dance marathon.

But again, this isn't about me. This isn't for us, and it never will be. "For the kids" might not mean much to those who don't fully comprehend its meaning, but to those of us that do understand, it means more than we could ever describe. So, to everyone who has believed in me enough to give me these incredible opportunities, thank you from the bottom of my heart.