“[I started] dancing at 9 and I used to be a gymnast, so that kind of led into me dancing. [Since] I was a gymnast, I just kind of wanted to try dance. I played soccer [too], so I did soccer and dance at the same time, but it got to be too much and I had to make a big decision. My dad was upset because he wanted me to play soccer, but I chose dance. [I had to decide] when I was [only] 11.

My soccer and dance schedule was: [go to] school, then soccer right after school, then leave soccer early to get to dance a little late. I was sad [to give up soccer], but I knew I made the right decision [because] dance was just more appealing. I guess I just liked [dance] more [than soccer]. I wanted to pursue dance more because I liked it and soccer at that point was just exhausting for me.

Now, I like to [dance] all styles, but contemporary [is probably] my favorite. My current studio is Viva [and] I’m looking to pursue dance in college and I want to get my bachelor’s in fine arts and dance. I’d probably want to do commercial dance and then choreograph. In the future, I want to assist choreographers and choreograph dances for other people. When I’m younger, [I want to do] music videos, So You Think You Can Dance if I get on there, and stuff like that.

My [weekly] schedule is: Monday I go straight from school and go from 3:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and it’s an hour away. Tuesdays I usually have off unless there’s a random rehearsal. Wednesdays I go from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Thursdays I also go 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so I go straight from school, drive to Monroe, dance, and then at 9:30 p.m. I leave and get home at 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m.. On weekends, I usually have competitions and conventions, so I take classes from famous choreographers in the mornings from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then from 4 p.m. [until about] 11 p.m., I compete in group dances with my company. [Even though] it’s exhausting, I love it.”