There's no one answer to why I'm on the dance team, but there's actually a couple reasons on why I want to quit. For one, being in the middle of homework or dinner at 7:30 and having to rush to practice 8:10 has always been a struggle for me. Not to mention the whole two hour practices three nights a week situation. Don't even get me started on comp weekends. The out-of-pocket expenses, grueling travel times, and lack of sleep and free time all around doesn't exactly scream "fun".

Yes, there are all these problems, and more. Yes, I signed up for this voluntarily and here's why. Those practices three nights a week? They help me manage my time wisely and remind me to eat at appropriate times. If I don't eat on time, the dining hall will close after practice, and I will end up sleeping on an empty stomach. If I don't prioritize my work and finish it before practice, I end up having a long night and miss out on my Netflix time. This pushes me to eat a proper and healthy meal as well as get all my work done. Usually, those dinners and homework assignments that are interrupted by dance practice are accompanied by my teammates themselves.

Some of my most frequent study groups were made through my connections on the team, and I never have to eat in the dining hall alone. If there is a class that no one else on the team is taking or hasn't taken, upperclassmen always refer us to someone who can help. We study together, eat together, or study and eat together. Talk about team-building.

Being a dancer on a team lets me release all my frustrations and stress throughout the day, and it also allows me to give input and have a creative voice. Competition weekends may be the most stressful weekends, but they also amount to be the most memorable and eagerly anticipated weekends. Anyone of us on the team would say that we would not trade that feeling of being on stage for a million bucks - which is good considering all the money we spend to get there. It becomes easy to spend all this time and effort on a six to eight-minute performance because I am surrounded by all these talented driven people who are dedicated and get "it".

Being on the team is worth it BECAUSE it is difficult. If it was easy, I wouldn't have grown so much as a dancer, or prioritize being there for my team. I've danced since I was four, but I've never been pushed this hard or been on this big of a display. Sure, there are small reasons like "I love dancing," or "I get to meet new people from different colleges around America," but they are no match for the biggest reason.

The biggest reason is having 16 shoulders to cry on, 16 individuals to share a laugh with, and 16 people to rock the stage with. I love my team and being a part of something so special makes me special. Not only that, but it has made UNCC special. Prior to Queen City Ishaare, when I went back home people would ask if I went to college at NC State or UNC. Now, being a part of QCI, people ask "oh, you're on QCI right? How's UNCC?"

This team makes UNCC and lets me represent my school in ways going to class and living on campus doesn't. It gives me resources and an outlet. Challenges, experiences, and essentially a family come with being on this team. Thank you QCI, for everything. I simply wouldn't be the same without you.