From the age of three, my dance teachers were some of the most important people in my life. Although I would often fight my mom on going to class because I was nervous, when I got there, I never wanted to leave. I looked up to these women who proved to me that beauty could be shown through movement, and for this I am eternally grateful.

Thank you for teaching me confidence. This is probably the most important lesson I learned as a dancer. When you are on stage performing, there is absolutely no better feeling, but reaching that level of comfort can take some coaxing. My teachers were incredible at teaching my team to love themselves for who they were. Maybe you didn't like the way you looked in your leotard. Maybe you weren't as flexible as the girl next to you. Maybe you were self-conscious because your costume was bigger than your best friends. Whatever the issue, they were always there to tell us to keep our shoulders back, chest out, chin up and smile. If you look confident, you will feel confident. Accept that this is the body that you have for the rest of your life and learn to love it.

Thank you for teaching me acceptance. Life isn't as easy as you think it will be when you're a little kid; there are ups and downs that no one can predict and things that you need to learn how to deal with on the fly. Thank you for showing me that I can't always change everything, but that it happened for a reason. Whether it was the results of a competition, a painful break up, or college acceptances and rejections, thank you for showing me that it was out of my control, but for also showing me how to come to peace with it.

Thank you for teaching me that hard work pays off. This one was probably a tough one for you to drill into our heads. In the midst of hours of team technique lessons, the practices multiple times a week, the endless tap drills, the bar work that seemed to never get less painful, the "do it again" nights, I never thought I would see them pay off. I have never been more wrong. All of these things have taught me that you need to work hard to see results, no matter what you might be doing. You want an A on that exam? Study harder. A higher kick? Stretch longer. That job interview? Work for it. Nothing comes easy, but you'll feel incredible when you finally reach the goal that you've worked tirelessly for.

Thank you for teaching me discipline. It wasn't always easy to be at the studio on a Saturday afternoon or for a 3 hour practice after a full day of school and work, but I knew that it would be worth it (and that if I wasn't there I probably wouldn't see the stage for a minute of a routine). However, you didn't just teach me mental discipline, but physical discipline as well. Hold this stretch for ten seconds longer each time you do it and your split will be flat. Point your toe harder each time you jump and it will become muscle memory. Always do everything with a purpose, never just because you have to.

Thank you for teaching me that it's okay to make mistakes. It happens to everyone, we're human. However, making a mistake in front of your team or an audience feels totally different than messing something up in the comfort of your own home. The longer I danced, the more mistakes I made, the more comfortable I became with myself and the more I learned. To this day, I don't get upset about mistakes, but use them as a chance to learn how to improve myself.

Thank you for being there. For the bad days, the family troubles, the break ups, the college acceptances, the prom stories, the school fundraisers, and the other shows I was in. For letting me unapologetically be myself around you and for laughing with (and at) me. All of these lessons have made me into who I am today. So again, thank you for being you, you have no idea how much it meant and still means to me.