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I opened the car door and sprinted into Lincolnshire Academy of Dance. I didnt want to be late on the first day of summer classes, especially not at a new studio. Praying no one who would recognize me was taking classes that day, I pulled open the door to the studio. A sudden rush of panic engulfed me. Shoving my stuff into a cubby, I headed to the back studio where all the seventh and eighth graders were waiting patiently for class to begin. I looked around, realizing they were dressed for jazz not contemporary. Now, extremely confused, I headed over to the front desk just to make sure I had the correct time. The woman at the front desk pointed to a small studio where all the older dancers were standing. I strolled over to the studio trying not to look nervous. Once the door finally opened, I headed to the back corner of the room praying that the one girl I knew didnt recognize me. Oh My God!, I thought, I probably look like an idiot.
I was actually dancing with dancers who were my age. After class, I went up to the teacher to make sure I was placed correctly. She reassured me that I was in the correct level and that I looked pretty good. I almost died of excitement. My determination and hard work had finally paid off. I was able to be in classes with dancers my age. It wasnt even that I wasnt dancing with high schoolers. Primarily, the fact that I had been dancing since I was two and wasnt in advanced levels frustrated me. Before seventh grade, I went to a studio that wasnt very good. Without the rigor of a good studio, it was easy for a tween with ADHD to fall through the cracks. I was too young to understand that, even though no one told me to pay attention, I couldnt be goofing off in the corner. As a result, I couldnt remember combinations and formed many bad habits. Usually the only compliments I would get would be ones said with pity, like That was good, accompanied by a sympathetic smile.
Not only did my dance teachers reassurance show how far I have come with dance, it also showed my growth in managing my ADHD. Since dance takes a lot of patience, focus, time, and discipline, I have to work harder than most students in my class to pick up the combinations and commit them to memory. Although simple tasks like this are more challenging for me to execute than they are for another dancer at the same level, my dedication, persistence, passion, and drive have helped me get to where I am now. Freshman year, I had a dance teacher tell me, I feel like I am beating a dead horse, because she kept giving me the same correction. Over the past two years, I have been told I take constructive criticism very well and I am able to make corrections almost immediately. Having ADHD while growing up as a dancer has taught me how to pay attention and stay focused. It has also given me the discipline I need to succeed in school and in all other aspects of life.
