I was five years old when I witnessed my father’s arrest in 2011. This marked the last time I would see him for several years, and it wasn't to be his final encounter with imprisonment. My life underwent profound changes due to this incident, yet it would take me several years to truly grasp the impact of my father's absence. This experience transformed a once courageous, vulnerable, fearless, and happy young girl into someone dispirited and angry, yearning for her father's presence, yet maintaining a deep well of curiosity and unwavering strength. A few years following my father’s arrest, I found solace in an unexpected place, the world of dance. It all began during elementary school as an after-school activity, but it grew to hold great significance in my life. I often came across advertisements for various dance programs through social media, my school’s announcement boards, and around my community. My mother, always supportive of my search to find an outlet for my emotions, encouraged me to try it out every time, if it was affordable. In the beginning, I was hesitant and would enter dance studios filled with doubt and a heart still heavy with the memory of that dreadful day, discouraged and feeling unworthy. But every time I stepped onto the dance floor and felt the rhythm of the music something within me awakened. It was as if dance held the power to mend all the things I believed were lost after my father’s arrest. In the beginning, I lacked skill and the technical knowledge of dance, as it had only been a hobby for me growing up. I often found myself discouraged as many dancers that were commercialized were white, wealthy, and had all the things that I lacked. But after entering The VIVA School of Dance, formerly CityDance DREAM, my dance instructor, Chandini Darby, a black woman thriving in dance, saw something in me. She nurtured my talent and provided a safe space to express myself. Through the graceful movements of ballet, the fiery passion of contemporary dance, and the infectious joy of West African, I discovered a way to channel my feelings and release the anger and sadness that had consumed me. Dance also reconnected me with my father in a unique way. While we may have been physically separated, he would call and write letters from prison encouraging and supporting all of my dance endeavors. His words were a lifeline, a constant reminder that he still believed in me, even from behind bars. Dance has become more than a passion. It is a metaphor for my life. Just as every movement in dance tells a story, I learned to use my life experiences, including the pain of my father's absence, to shape my story. It became clear to me that I could define myself in a positive way, not by the trauma of my past, but by the resilience and perseverance I have developed through dance. I am not like the typical dancer. I am black, short, with curves. I have experienced adversity but I carry the spirit of my younger self who refused to be discouraged by unfortunate circumstances or “disadvantages”. Dance has shown me that strength and beauty can emerge from even the darkest moments, and I am committed to continuing this journey of growth and self-discovery. In college, I aim to explore the intersection of my passion for dance with my academic pursuits, seeking to understand how the art of movement can be a vehicle for personal transformation and a source of inspiration for others facing adversi

Dance is vital to my life. It has allowed me to express, create, connect, and showcase to many people. I am passionate about expanding my artistry, technique, and becoming more knowledgeable in a wide variety of dance genres within the next four years. I plan to attend and participate in many dance classes, performances, workshops, and collaboration projects with peers. I am also looking forward to performing repertoire by professional artists, as well as creating my own dance choreography. By continually refining my artistry, I intend to evolve as a dancer as well as a choreographer with the ability to convey stories and emotions through movement. The study of psychology has been an interest of mine since I was 11 after attending sessions with a psychologist for several months. Though I was not too fond of the sessions at the time, I grew to love the scientific study which has influenced my decision to double major in dance and psychology. I aim to work with clinical psychologists, conduct research, and engage in the required coursework as a psychology major. I am eager to deepen my understanding of the human mind and intertwine my dance pursuits with the knowledge I will gain from studying psychology. My ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology, which will enable me to offer counseling and mental health resources. Choreography is a creative opportunity which allows me to intersect my admiration for dance with my interest in psychology. Within the next four years, I plan to investigate the psychological aspects of creating choreography to convey emotions and narratives. I have already had two opportunities to choreograph on my peers at my dance school which has given me insight on the choreographic process. But, I am confident that as I explore dance and psychology at a collegiate level I will grasp a higher understanding of how I can create and convey my chosen ideas to audiences. I intend to continue creating original works on my peers and dancers outside of my community and present my work in theaters in front of a wide range of audiences. Community service is also very important to me. Growing up, I was taught the significance of helping less fortunate people, and began servicing my community and families across the United States at the ripe age of 8. I grew to love giving back and helping people and I am confident that I will continue to encounter people who require assistance throughout my college experience. My goal is to help those in need access necessities they may lack. After completing my four year education as an undergraduate scholar and obtaining a BFA in dance and Bachelor’s degree in psychology, I aspire to join a professional dance company, choreograph for dance companies, advocate for mental health and give back to those in need by starting my own non-profit organization specifically designed to cater to people of color who are experiencing homelessness, who have incarcerated or absent parents or simply in need of assistance. Later in my career I would like to do postgraduate studies to obtain my Masters and Ph.D. in psychology. I believe I will have many incredible accomplishments which fuel me to stand by my goals and strong belief of my bright future ahead.

I was five years old when I witnessed my father’s arrest in 2011. This marked the last time I would see him for several years, and it wasn't to be his final encounter with imprisonment. My life underwent profound changes due to this incident, yet it would take me several years to truly grasp the impact of my father's absence. This experience transformed a once courageous, vulnerable, fearless, and happy young girl into someone dispirited and angry, yearning for her father's presence, yet maintaining a deep well of curiosity and unwavering strength. A few years following my father’s arrest, I found solace in an unexpected place, the world of dance. It all began during elementary school as an after-school activity, but it grew to hold great significance in my life. I often came across advertisements for various dance programs through social media, my school’s announcement boards, and around my community. My mother, always supportive of my search to find an outlet for my emotions, encouraged me to try it out every time I expressed my interest in dancing with her. In the beginning, I was hesitant and would enter dance studios filled with doubt and a heart still heavy with the memory of that dreadful day. But every time I stepped onto the dance floor and felt the rhythm of the music something within me awakened. It was as if dance held the power to mend all the things I believed were lost after my father’s arrest. In the beginning, I lacked skill and the technical knowledge of dance, as it had only been a hobby for me growing up, but after entering The VIVA School of Dance, formerly CityDance DREAM, my dance instructor, Chandini Darby saw something in me. She nurtured my talent and provided a safe space to express myself. Through the graceful movements of ballet, the fiery passion of contemporary dance, and the infectious joy of West African, I discovered a way to channel my feelings and release the anger and sadness that had consumed me. Dance also reconnected me with my father in a unique way. While we may have been physically separated, he would call and write letters from prison encouraging and supporting all of my dance endeavors. His words were a lifeline, a constant reminder that he still believed in me, even from behind bars. Dance has become more than a passion. It is a metaphor for my life. Just as every movement in dance tells a story, I learned to use my life experiences, including the pain of my father's absence, to shape my story. It became clear to me that I could define myself in a positive way, not by the trauma of my past, but by the resilience and perseverance I have developed through dance. As I embark on my college journey, I carry the spirit of my younger self who refused to be discouraged by unfortunate circumstances. Dance has shown me that strength and beauty can emerge from even the darkest moments, and I am committed to continuing this journey of growth and self-discovery. In college, I aim to explore the intersection of my passion for dance with my academic pursuits, seeking to understand how the art of movement can be a vehicle for personal transformation and a source of inspiration for others facing adversity.