Scholarship Essay Entry – Dana S.

The ability to express emotion in a healthy manner is a very important skill to have. Life will take each person through many dips and valleys and people need to know how to handle their emotions to survive the tragedies of life. I believe the best ways to deal with emotion are through physical activity and expression through art. The perfect combination of this is dance.

I have been dancing for about 15 years learning many different styles of dance. But more importantly I have learned many insurmountable skills while dancing: time management, commitment, and work ethic. I have also learned a lot about myself. In dance, you are given a piece of music, and asked to tell a story.  In order to tell that story with conviction, you have to be able to look inside of yourself and release emotions that you have felt in your life: doubt, worry, fear, joy, and love. Confronting these emotions allows you to find peace inside yourself. These are tools and skills that should be passed on to the next generations.

I have been teaching dance for 3 years, and would like to continue doing that for many years to come. I want to help my community be spreading not only the joy of dance, but also teach these valuable skills to our youth. I will do this by owning a dance studio once I complete my degree in business. This will help youth in the community develop self-esteem, and traits that will help them throughout their lives. Dance facilities also give children an opportunity to be active. Keeping children active is a growing concern in today's society.

Although I may only be able to reach a handful of the community by owning a studio, I believe that my ambitions will spread further than the studio walls. If kids are growing up with character and integrity, they will then be able to go out in the world and be positive, contributing members of society. I would like to be a person who helps youth be the best people they can be.