Leaping Through Obstacles by Hasini

Leaping Through Obstacles by Hasini - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

I stood in the bleachers watching the drill team perform at my very first pep rally as a freshman. In just a few seconds, I knew drill team would become a significant part of my life. Their in-sync movements gave me goosebumps. I knew that having a background in Indian classical dance and transitioning to drill team style dancing would be demanding. I viewed this transition as a chance to expand my horizons and make new friends. I unexpectedly didn’t realize how demanding the commitment would really be. My commitment to the team affected me academically, emotionally, and physically. Being on the varsity team required dedicating over 30 hours each week to practices, games, and performances. My team would walk out and n the pitch black field and started before sunrise with early morning practices and ended late at night after football games. The scorching heat during rehearsals left my boots melting on the turf and my body exhausted, but the physical pain wasn’t even the toughest part. Balancing the relentless drill team schedule with school became a significant challenge. Nights turned into early mornings as I stayed up studying, trying to keep pace with my rigorous coursework. There were times I barely got any sleep, caught between school deadlines and perfecting dance routines. Rather than being a supportive environment, the drill team felt like a toxic environment. I remember the heart ache of being pulled from my first field routine without any explanation or encouragement. My coach’s harsh words hit me harder than the exhaustion from practice. It felt like a setback not just in the performance, but in my aspirations. Not only was I slowly getting affected physically but also mentally. The lack of support and understanding, combined with the overwhelming workload, began to weigh heavily on me. In the end, the experience taught me how to fight through any obstacles, discipline, and time management erben when mental and physical stress might be taking a toll on me.