Sissones and Textbooks by Elizabeth

Sissones and Textbooks by Elizabeth - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

“I’m just going to do it.” I told myself, confidently, not thinking about the potential consequences and difficulties that I might face the next four years to come. It was a bold decision, but I had made up my mind – and once that happens, there is usually no going back. My young, stubborn, freshman self decided that I was going to double major in Psychology and in Dance, and nothing could stop me. Despite my lack of prior dance training, I dove headfirst into one of the first ballet classes I had since I barely knew how to write my own name. I tripped though my pas de bourrées, stumbled over petie allegros, and had absolutely no idea what a sissone was, but I held tight to my ambition and danced shamelessly alongside my prima ballerina classmates. There were days when I felt tired and frustrated, classes when my teacher would call me out in front of everyone, and countless times that people told me I should just forget about the dance major. And with the fears of not being able to catch up in class, or even graduate on time with both degrees, I almost agreed with them. Almost.
I worked harder than ever, overloading on classes, during the semester and over the summer. I danced tirelessly in extra rehearsals as well as on my own time, and refused to let go of my goal. After two and a half years of hard work and perseverance, I found myself asked to perform a solo for a graduate student choreographer whom I greatly admire, and I even made it to the cover of my school magazine for performing in a piece over the summer. Not only that, but I will successfully graduate on time with two degrees in just four years.
I am so grateful for my carefree stubborn eighteen-year-old self who decided that it does not matter how well you point your toes, only how well you focus your goals. And what do you know...I finally learned how to do a sissone in the process.