Weber 1

Lauren Weber

Ms. Woelke

Pre-AP English 9

25 August 2018

Dance Tryouts

I have always been passionate about dance. I designated all my after school hours and

weekends to dance. I danced at least ten hours a week just to perfect my routines. I competed in

dance competitions in Southern California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. I have done ballet for years

and I finally, just this last year, earned my pointe shoes. I can also perform techniques from

dance styles such as hip-hop, tap, and jazz.

When someone told me that I could tryout for the Great Oak High School dance team, I

was extremely excited. I was ready to continue my passion of dance throughout my high school

years. My mom and I went to the parent meeting prior to tryouts. I tried to figure out how many

new dancers they’d take, and how many in the room I thought would definitely make it. I

recognized so many great dancers that I had competed with over the years. On my first day of

tryouts, I was extremely nervous. I didn’t expect that so many older girls would be trying out

with me. They were all very skilled and many of them had previously been on the varsity and

junior varsity dance teams. I tried my very hardest to understand all the choreography and perfect

each move.

My friends told me, “Of course you are going to make it Lauren, you’re a great dancer”. I

was hoping they were right.

On the last day of tryouts, we went in front of a panel of dance teachers to show them
 Weber 2

our choreographed dances that we had just learned. I was the last group to go, and the longer I

waited, the more unprepared I felt. Shortly after I performed my dances; I knew I had tried my

hardest, but I still didn’t feel like I was as good as the other girls. I waited three torcherous days

for the results.

That Friday after I got out of school, my mom told me, “I’m so sorry Lauren, you didn’t

make the dance team”. I was devastated. How was I going to tell my school friends, my dance

friends, and more importantly, my dance teachers? It was embarrassing; especially, when the

majority of my dance friends made their high school dance teams, some of who even made

varsity. My mom was very sad for me. However, she said, “ It’s not too late to try out for the

freshman cheer team”. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

I walked into the first day of cheer tryouts confident. I was ready for tryouts. I picked up

all the choreography very easily and the cheers were not too complicated. I had some doubts that

cheer wasn’t right for me. I’m typically not a very bubbly person. On the last day of tryouts, I

knew this was my last chance to do something that I loved. I was ready to impress the panel of

judges and make the cheer team.

Finally, three hours after tryouts the results were posted online as to which girls made the

team. I clicked and refreshed the webpage at least twenty times before I saw a bunch of numbers

pop up. I scanned the numbers closely as I took a deep breath. There it was, #39! I made it! I

was so excited and proud of myself. I had a lot of friends on the cheer team and I was happy that

I could be involved with my school. Even though I went through the experience of trying out for

the dance team and sadly did not make it, I learned that you should never give up. If I gave up, I

never would have made the cheer team, and I would have lost a great opportunity to make new
 Weber 3

friends. My mom always says, “ When one door closes another door opens”.