Baccalaureate Dance Program

“One moment while we get your MRI ready.” Sitting in the orthopedic office of Wake Med hospital, my body felt numb as my head nodded in acknowledgment. The X-ray had come up clear, yet a wave of nausea swept over me every time the doctor asked me to drop my weight onto my heels. The pain in my ankle had followed me for almost six months- but I had to ignore it. I was a dancer, and three years of training had finally brought me to my goal. Senior level team at my dance studio, acceptance into the International Baccalaureate Dance Program at my school, and assistant teacher to an amazing group of preteens. It had taken me all of the three years to feel confident in my art-I was on top of the world. Then I was lying in a deafening grey machine, …show more content…
We are going to get you into a walking boot and crutches-keep the boot off the ground, it is only for stabilization. We will start with nine weeks and see how you do.” Nine weeks turned into six months, and six months turned into a period of two years on and off with a boot and crutches. Two years of no dance, no running, jumping, skipping, and barely being able to walk- two years where I had to teach myself how to function without the full use of my legs. I missed drivers’ education, Easter egg hunting, recitals and performances. But it opened my eyes-opened them to what life was like to thousands who couldn’t walk. My classmates told me how lucky I was to “get” to skip gym, I thought how wonderful it would be to run. I saw how much we took our bodies for granted, and how poorly we treated them. I saw that I had failed myself by not taking care of my body and allowing it to get hurt. It was a self-inflicted failure, but one that completely changed how I think. I started taking piano lessons and put more time into my studies. I learned how important it was to strengthen my mind, and I developed a drive to help those who couldn’t help