“Don’t give up," my mother said. Of course, that was when I was 10 years old. I didn’t realize the importance of that message until I was on the other side of one of the largest challenges of my childhood, a divorce that shook my family and my own confidence. I took refuge in my studies and in dancing, sometimes dancing eight to ten hours a day. It was not until I was standing on the stage in New York City receiving the first place award for dance that I realized that my long hours and commitment had not only brought me through a hard place in life but also helped create a new me – bold and hopeful. As I have matured, my passion for dance has deepened as well, branching off into other forms of performance and service. I began acting in theatre, first as a student in summer programs, and later as a professional actress alongside seasoned actors and actresses playing people as diverse as “” and “”. I also helped to pass on my delight for ballet, hip-hop, and classical dance by teaching classes for the younger girls in my studio, and it has been so fulfilling to see these girls, in whose place I once was, transformed by their desire to grow and improve. That is a desire that has never grown cold. …show more content…
It has been the cast of magnificent women – both in my life and throughout history – that have encouraged me, challenged me, and kept me fixed on the future. We all need those people who motivate us to be our best in the lecture hall, in the board-room, and in the dance studio. It is my conviction that the blessing of having been so inspired comes with the responsibility to be the inspiration for the next generation of intelligent, compassionate, driven young