Well, we're about to be Daytona-bound. American University Cheer and Dance leave D.C. in 48 hours from now! Although we're all itching with anticipation, and only have one practice left in D.C. to prep for Nationals, it's hard to ever feel "ready." Yet, the thing that we need to remind ourselves is exactly what we're getting "ready" for: we've been preparing a great routine, and we are now "ready" to do it the best that WE CAN. Who cares how high that stranger's toe-touch is? So what if that random girl can do a quad? We've worked HARD. We've MADE ourselves better, we've FOUGHT to get where we are, we've IMPROVED, we've given it our ALL, and it wasn't easy.
From looking frazzled in our fouette sequence, to achieving picture-perfect timing, DT 09-10 has come a long way. We've come even farther since I joined the team back in Fall of 2007, when the team was still a year away from competing on the Nationals stage. The incredible part about experiencing each season is seeing the growth on the team as a whole and within each of us as individuals. We progress as dancers, mastering things we never even thought of attempting. I am so proud to have learned all that I did on this team, and thankful that my coach took the time to really teach me. On Dance Team, we become stronger people, pushing through the breathlessness, muscle fatigue, soreness, bruises, bad turns, tendinitis, sprains, stomachaches, homesickness, papers, midterms, and jobs of the day to end on a good note as we have our cool-down and realize that it IS a great day to be alive and an even better day to dance with your best friends under a coach who cares.
In all this, we grow closer to one another to an unbelievable degree. We've helped each other to get this far, and more importantly, our coach has helped us each step of the way. She has instilled in every one of us not only the desire to be great, but the belief that we can be, and the pathway towards reaching that greatness.
After countless practices, both good and bad, DT is poised for its grand finale. Remember, readiness does not entail ease. Rather, our team is ready because we are willing to fight through the hard spots, and we know how to make it all the way to the end of a stunning performance. We are ready because all of our hard work has always been set against the backdrop of a deep love for what we are doing and for who we are doing it with. >We're ready, and we can't wait to use our technique, flexibility, cleanliness, determination, energy, desire, and close bond to harness our adrenaline, conquer our nerves, and take over the dance floor, together, up on that Nationals stage.
My time on this team has made me the person that I am today. It has helped me to fight through all the tough spots that come my way, and it has given me a second family that I would do anything for. These girls have rocked my soul, and it's heartbreaking to think of them competing at Nationals without me next year. One thing, however, makes me smile, and that's knowing that I'll be at the bottom of that stage next year, cheering on my strong, beautiful, talented best friends, forever reppin AUDT. For the mean time, let's go get it girls. DT on 3! =)
<3 always,
Francesca Roley
