Mollie J., Incarnation Catholic School
Self-Confidence is Key
“Being good and doing good will result in having fun and being happy,” Dottie Yeck first said those words many years ago, but dancing enables me to live those words every day. I have been dancing as long as I can remember, it’s a part of who I am. Dancing increases my self-confidence. To me, self-confidence is feeling good about yourself and knowing what you are capable of. Dancing has brought me joy, sadness, and even pain. While I love dancing, and I especially love performing, it’s about more than me. I dance for the audience. I dance with my friends. I dance for fun. When I dance, I’m living a good life.
Living a good life means more than just having fun; it means growing as a person. Ballet challenges me and pushes me to improve. I feel good about myself when I get compliments from my teachers or I’m cast in a good role in a show. Other dancers aren’t always complimentary or happy for you when you achieve something that they haven’t. Those people can bring your self-confidence down. Sometimes they insult you to your face, other times behind your back. That can be hurtful, but it’s also how you find out who your real friends are. Those real friendships can last a lifetime. I strive every single day to be the most supportive and understanding friend I can possibly be. This not only helps my self-confidence, it helps others’ self-confidence too.
My self-confidence continues to grow on and off stage. I can’t tell you how exciting it is when a young girl or boy asks me for an autograph or to take a picture with them. When someone tells me how much they enjoyed the show, it makes me beyond happy. This is why I love performing so much. Shows like Nutcracker are a holiday tradition for many families and being a part of that makes me happier than you could ever imagine. It’s also a time for my own family to come together. My mom, dad, grandmother, brothers, and friends all come to see me perform which makes me feel important. Having them there to watch me do what I love most makes me proud and, hopefully, makes them even more proud. Their support and positive comments help to boost my self-esteem. Having a good support system of family and friends can help anyone boost their own confidence level.
Dance has helped me gain strength, both physically and emotionally. I have learned to be resilient and pick myself up when I fall down. There are also going to be people in your life who will try to bring you down, but you can’t let them. I am grateful for the self-confidence I have gained through the 10 years I have been dancing. If I’m living a good life, I want everyone else to do the same.
