For my senior year, I have been given the unique opportunity of being on a team with my two sisters. When people first hear that out of my small team of 16 girls I’m related to 2 of them, they immediately start asking questions like: “Don’t you guys fight?” or “ Don’t you wish you had your own sport?” My answer to both of these questions is no.

Being on a team with my sisters has opened my eyes to the fact that there truly isn’t that much of a difference between a sisterhood and a team. In this, I have found that my dance team IS a sisterhood. We push each other to our greatest potential, offer support when someone needs it, struggle together, and celebrate each other’s successes. I believe that every team should be tight-knit in order to perform to the best of their ability. A team dynamic can change everything.

Not only is being on a team with my sisters shining a light on the importance of a positive team dynamic, but it has also allowed us to grow closer. Sometimes I even forget that they are my sisters and not just close friends. (Inevitably, there are days that we fight.) Our entire lives, we’ve danced at the same studio and seen each other improve, but we’ve gotten few opportunities to actually dance together. That is why this year I am fully embracing it.

I never thought the day would come that I would be competing beside my sisters on the same team. Growing up, we choreographed full dance productions in our living room, and seeing each other’s passion for dance ignited our love for the sport. Despite our differences, that was one thing we always had in common. It is such a full circle moment, ending my dance career the same way it started, beside my sisters. 

This season, I have made a commitment to treating every girl on my team as if they were my own sister. I have been on teams where there is tension and cliques, and have also been on teams that are close and supportive. I have found that the stronger the bonds on the team are, the more motivated and successful the team is as a whole. 

This is why teams should emphasize team bonding. This can be done by doing team challenges that encourage teamwork, for example, friendly competitions and team dinners can create an atmosphere that promotes support and appreciation for each other. Team bonding can have an immediate effect on the success of teams and should become a priority for high school sports teams.   

Dancing for my entire life, there are destined to be ups and downs. Throughout the years, specifically on LFDT, I’ve learned that progression may not always be linear, hard work pays off, and the importance of leaning on your teammates. 

Being part of a team that every single girl relates to you in a way has been a blessing, and I encourage everyone to soak in every moment of their season, enjoy their sport by being a team player, and celebrate each little success along the way! If you ever find yourself in a rut with your sport and in need of motivation, I encourage you to look around and remember that everybody is in it together. Enjoy the season while it lasts, because in an instant, you could be like me: in the last season of dance ever, dancing beside my little sisters, a moment that I never knew would come so fast.