Saline Twirlettes

October 20, 2008~Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you have learned something, where your personality was developed or by whom; but as you grow up it becomes more clear what experiences contributed the most to your growth into an individual. Throughout this whole college/ medical school application craziness I was able to take a step back and really realize a few things about life. I realized that the experience you gain as a member of a dedicated and competitive team is priceless. Not just in the fact that you are gratified with titles, trophies, and praise for doing well, but in that you learn the importance of work ethic, group togetherness, and social graces that many other people don’t learn till much later in life.

            During twirling these attributes begin to form at a young age and it really is hard to appreciate everything that has literally gone into you. If you take one thing from this little write up please let it be the encouragement to appreciate the time, energy, and money that your parents and coaches have put in to you. They aren’t just making you a more advanced twirler; they are attempting to refine you as a person. I realize that sometimes it is frustrating how hard you have to work before you see any progress, how you have to balance a team commitment with school and your personal life, and how sometimes pettiness creeps into your most important relationships. What I have learned is that you need to focus on what matters most to you and just keep working hard through it all. Sometimes it is necessary to miss out on another date in order to get in more practice before the next competition, or more studying before the next test. That is just part of life and the people that love you the most accept that what is most important to you is most important to them. Why do you think all of your parents and coaches sit in the stands for weekends and hours on end to watch you and every other girl your age compete? They do it because they love you unconditionally and are actively supporting you and your future.
            Keep working hard in twirling and in school because you are gaining life skills that will carry you into your future. I have had to use many of mine just recently in order to get into medical school and I am grateful for everything I learned from my twirling experience. You are all extremely lucky to have been given the opportunity to be apart of a team that can teach you so much.

Essay I used for medschool:

1. What do you consider a valuable experience in your personal development? This might be a decision you have made, an achievement of which you are particularly proud, or a person who has influenced your life.

In July of 2004, after seven years of extreme dedication, the Saline Twirlette’s senior dance twirl team won nationals. Standing in the arena as the captain and representative of my team at the award ceremony that day was one of my proudest moments. I have dedicated thirteen years of my life to the sport of baton twirling and the Saline Twirlettes. In this time I learned and immense amount about responsibility, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, teaching, and hard work. At the young age of seven I began competing nationally and by thirteen I was a private instructor, captain, and assistant coach of the Saline Twirlettes.

One of six girls on the senior team, I have built close relationships with all of the girls and our coaches. During ten hour long summer practices I have watched as each girl worked her hardest in order to accomplish a goal the entire team had set. It took seven years and over 8,000 hours of practice to win nationals, but in that moment it was all worth it. This team experience has been valuable in my character development because I learned the importance of good sportsmanship and how to work with a variety of individuals, all unique in age, race, gender, background, and goals. As a private instructor I learned how to encourage the defeated and motivate the unwilling. After working so closely with the team’s younger twirlers I felt the reward of seeing them succeed and the responsibility to be a good role model for each of them. As a captain and leader of the competitive teams I also acquired a great deal of responsibility. After working to organize practices, scheduling, and preparation for important performances and competitions I grew to appreciate those who had once led me.

Overall, my twirling experience enabled me to grow into the mature and confident young woman I am today. I am proud to have been an involved part of such a distinguished and positive team, but what I am most proud of is all that team has accomplished together.