Senior Dance Team Try Out: The Last First Step

There’s something different about walking into tryouts as a senior.

Two years ago, during the 2023-2024 season, I was just a shy girl quietly signing up for JV, unsure if I truly belonged in the dance room. I remember standing in the corner, trying to blend in while still hoping someone would notice how badly I wanted this. Back then, confidence was something I had to pretend to have.

Now, I stand outside the tryout room again, but this time as a senior.

The feeling is impossible to describe. It’s fear, excitement, pressure, and passion all mixed together. This is my final year, and naturally, I want everything to be perfect. Every count, every turn, every performance. But more than perfection, I want my growth to speak for itself.

This season has not been easy. Right after a family trip, I came back with an injury that no one really knew about. Still, I continued practicing quietly, pushing through the pain, showing up every day because dance means too much to me to stop. Hard work became something silent for me, not something I needed to announce, but something I proved through consistency.

People around me often tell me I have a high chance of making varsity this year. Sometimes I think about how surreal that sounds. I went from being the girl placed as a swing to becoming one of the first choices in routines. Looking back at my first day in the studio compared to now, I barely recognize the person I used to be.

But I also know this year is competitive. Everyone is talented. Everyone wants the same spot.

So before I walk into that room, I want to say this to myself:

Lisa, trust yourself.

Show the judges and coaches what you can bring to this team. Show them your resilience, your discipline, your energy, and your passion. Don’t let fear silence the confidence you spent years building. No matter what the results are, you already proved something important and never stopped trying.

Honestly, maybe that’s what growth really looks like.

Not becoming fearless, but learning how to dance anyway.