When I was younger, my parents enrolled me in multiple extracurriculars: ballet, piano, Chinese school, swimming, ice skating. The idea is that it's easier for a child to learn because one: they aren't afraid to try new things and two: their brains are fresher and can soak things up more easily.
I had stopped ballet before I got to elementary school, but I had never stopped loving dance. As a child, I would watch any time of performance with wide eyes and unwavering interest. I loved the show "Dance Moms" (as trashy as it was) because of the beautiful dance performances showcased.
Eventually, I started ballet at the end of middle school, when I was 12 years old. There was no denying it — I was much older than the girls who start training when they are 4 or 5. During my first year at the studio, I had to take two classes. One with girls my own age and the second with eight years old to catch up on technique.
I persisted despite the setback in my age. It was true that I wasn't as knowledgeable about dance and I didn't have the same flexibility as the girls who had been training for years, but I was also more aware of my movements and my learning style.
As I continued to dance, my flexibility improved and I learned more terms by heart. I was fortunate enough to star in the middle for some dance recitals. During my sophomore year, I was able to get my first pair of pointe shoes. I continued to dance for 6 years, until the end of my senior year in high school.
What I learned from this whole ordeal is the late is truly better than never. If I had let my age stop me from starting ballet, I would have never had the chance to make it to pointe or grow with the art form. So even if you have to start late, do it, because passion will catch you up eventually.
