Since I was five years old, my after-school life consisted of driving 20 minutes for ballet class and rehearsal. As a competitive dancer, my “season” didn’t have a start or an end. It was a year-round marathon of rehearsals, private lessons and weekend conventions. When high school started, I was faced with the inevitable question: “Why don’t you play a school sport?” At the time, I felt pressure to join a team, but dance wouldn’t let me dedicate my time to it. I realize now that dance offered a level of reward and professional growth that a school sport could never.
While my peers were playing games to hopefully make it past districts, I was traveling all over for conventions, competitions and workshops, where I would be on a stage all by myself, competing against hundreds of others. In the dance world, you aren’t just playing for pride; you are constantly putting yourself in front of people who are famous in the industry and could change your life with one opportunity. The opportunity to earn scholarships and professional opportunities at 15-16 years old was an adrenaline rush that made everything else in the world feel small by comparison.
The commitment required to reach that level was intense. While school sports usually wrapped up after two hours of practice, my rehearsals were a grueling four hours that stretched late into the night. My Saturday mornings aren’t for sleeping in; they are strictly dedicated to the studio. But that sacrifice created a bond far deeper than just teammates. I have been dancing with the same group of girls for almost ten years now. We’ve grown up together, been there for each other through injuries, and most importantly, performed together under stage lights for years. Those girls are my sisters, and I don’t know if that bond can be replicated through a school sport.
You can still be an involved student at the school as well. I have been to every football game and countless lacrosse games. Just because you don’t participate in a sport doesn’t mean you can’t support them. Not participating in a school sport also helped me branch out. I have friends from multiple schools, and it’s one of my favorite things that I am able to have more than just school friends.
Even though I may have missed out on some things in high school, I still had so much time to spend with my school friends, and I would say my high school experience wasn’t any less impactful than someone who did a school sport.
