Has there ever been something that you’ve looked forward to for years, something, which you have been readily anticipating with fear and excitement? I have been dancing for 16 years. About three years ago I met a woman named Rhonda Miller. She is the department head of a commercial dance program in New York City. This is where my anticipation began.

When I met Rhonda, I had just torn two ligaments in my ankle, and my parents were in the process of a divorce. My motivations to heal and work again were lackluster. However, in the small town of Ardmore Oklahoma, this woman gave me hope. She sat all of us down at this dance convention and talked to all of the dancers about her new program. The Commercial Dance program would train in all styles of dance. She told us, “I want dancers with heart and passion, anyone can have technique.”

From then on, I worked my derriere off! The idea of Pace University’s Commercial Dance program gave me hope that there was life after high school. By no means was the training process easy- I had to sacrifice a lot. Although now, I look back being 18 at my 15 year old self being proud I gave up those things. I began to homeschool, I got two jobs, and I started to dance all the time.

Now, I am on the brink of discovering if I will get into the program. I have already made it through one round of auditions. My final audition is Saturday the 22^nd– this week. No matter what happens, I am thankful for the motivation and hope the idea of this program has given me.