Growing up, dance was always a part of my life. I started around the age of 6, and went up until I was 18. Not only was I very passionate about it, but I genuinely enjoyed doing it. For me it wasn't so much about winning or losing (although winning was definitely a plus), but about my experiences and memories I gained from doing it-- and of course the pretty makeup. :)

One of the best things this sport taught me was how much hard work goes into something you really love. It shows when you aren't putting your best foot forward, especially on a dance team where everything is supposed to be synchronized and the wrong placement is easily noticed. If one person is off even half of a second it could throw everything into whack (if you know anything about me you know I'm a psychotic perfectionist so this sport really did a number on me).

With that being said, it was one of the most rewarding things to see your coach sitting in the stands with the biggest smile on her face, because you and your teammates had truly impressed her and made her proud. When that happened, it didn't even matter if we won or not, we were all just so content that we had made that look happen.

When it came to winning or losing, I have to admit that I wasn't a very good loser. I was on a team that won very frequently, and when things didn't go our way none of us were happy. It wasn't even that we lost, it was that something in our routine wasn't good enough, or someone had forgotten what they were doing, or a certain skill didn't hit. Disappointment is the best word to describe the feeling of not winning.

(Now I have to brag a little bit). My team was extremely successful. I'm just going to base this on my high school dance team. I went to Washington High School and was a part of the Highsteppers. Everyone knew who we were just because of our track record at competitions against other schools. We rarely placed third, and when we did you could expect to see changes in our routines for the next time to ensure a victory. Throughout my 4 years of high school, we were lucky enough to win the State Championship every year. To this day I am still so proud to say that (and I'm 3 years into college). It's just one of those things that will never not be an accomplishment.

The best thing about being on a dance team with all these girls, is that they become a second family to me. Through one of the roughest patches I have probably ever had, they were there to listen rather then judge, and help rather then stand by. They were one of the biggest support groups to me, and how grateful I am to them can't be put into words. I can never even imagine my life without those experiences in it, and it truly has shaped me into the person I am today (a control freak who likes pretty makeup).