Dancing My Way To The Top
Have you ever experienced a sudden transition from playfulness to a hospital bed? I certainly have. Dance and cheer were my lifelong passions, and I even competed nationally in both. These sports consumed most of my weekends and held a significant place in my high school’s culture, making team members popular.
One fateful afternoon in 7th grade, during a combined P.E. class, I decided to play around while discussing an upcoming dance competition. I attempted turns without proper shoes, lost my balance, and collided with a wall, resulting in a head injury. Despite feeling the severity of the situation, I hid my distress, not wanting the boys on the other side of the gym to witness my tears. The teacher’s concern eventually led me to the nurse, but I kept my condition to myself due to embarrassment. Things took a turn for the worse in my next class as I struggled to stay awake, battled pounding headaches, and felt a strong urge to vomit. When I finally vomited on a friend’s hair, I was sent back to the nurse, where they suspected a concussion. My mom was called, and as my condition worsened, I was rushed to the hospital, where I vividly remember being awoken every 5-10 minutes to prevent a potential coma.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the dangers of playing around doing dangerous skills, emphasizing the importance of following instructions and avoiding horseplay. What seemed like harmless fun nearly cost me my life. From that point on, I steered clear of risky behavior. After my recovery, I faced the challenge of catching up on routines in preparation for nationals. Despite missing two competitions, I persevered and eventually led our team to secure first place in our category at the national competition. This journey reinforced the significance of responsibility and dedication in achieving my goals.