Communication

            

 

Being able to communicate using words has been difficult for me because sometimes, I tend to say the wrong thing or give people the wrong idea. But the best and most effective way for me to communicate is through dancing. Sometimes when I am with my friends trying  to join the  conversation, they never understand me and just take it as a joke. It always made me feel sad so I became the silent one. I never knew that a person's talent can change the way others view them until I showed them what I was made of. My school always has a talent show each year and so in my junior year I decided to try it out. After my performance people were shocked and I started having a breakthrough from my past. Now everyone wants to see me dance and I show them true emotions and with my energetic dance moves I was able to get their attention. That's all I ever wanted- for people to pay attention to me and know that I am not a waste. 

 

Since I was a little girl, I have always had this passion of moving with the beat. I came from a country of dance also known as ulo egwe. In my country, Nigeria, dancing is not something we play with, instead, we take it really seriously. In my family everyone is a good dancer once you can be able to move and feel the beat, for me, I take dancing to another level. Dancing is not only being able to move your body and feel the beat as some people think it is. For me, dancing is part of life, it's being able to express emotions,  to breathe, to have fun, to be free,  to invent,  to be happy, and most importantly to communicate.

 

I have been dancing since I was three years old and I started performing at graduations and different ceremonies when I was seven years old. I was even the lead dancer in my fifth year of school. A well-regarded parish priest from my church saw my passion for dance and he decided to put me in a music video that went viral in the state. But after a while I stopped dancing because I came to America and of course, I had to start all over again. 

 

After my performances at school, I gained my confidence back but I did not do it alone.  With the help and encouragement of my friends, teachers, and parents, I was able able to understand myself and my future. They made me realize that not all talents should be a waste instead be used  for good.  I decided to give back to kids younger than me by teaching them dance, to help them realize that life is about changes and helping each other.  I spent my summer helping kids who want to learn how to dance.  This way I was  able to show people that anyone can learn new things they never thought they could and has a secret talent they never knew they had. Through dance, I was able to break free and have fun with others. I was finally able to communicate without being misunderstood or misheard.