More like a Family
November 20, 2023
Writer: Bella Goldberg
Editor: Zoe Harris
In 8th grade, I tried out for my high school dance team after a lifetime dedicated to the sport. For some reason, I felt as though all my hard work had culminated in this very moment, and, to my surprise, when the list came out I ended up being one of only two 8th graders selected for the upcoming school year. Joining a team filled with mostly upperclassmen left me anxious about how I would adapt to this new team and concerned if I would be able to make new friends.
Thankfully, going in knowing the other freshmen on the team helped to ease my nerves, and this new opportunity showed us a friendship like no other. We became inseparable, devoting nine hours a week to practice and countless additional hours on the weekends for competitions. We became sisters. We knew everything about each other. We understood the social significance of sacrificing classic high-school experiences so often for dance, but it simply didn't matter because we had one another. This tight-knit friendship made this brand-new environment that we had worked so tirelessly to join so much more enjoyable. Knowing I had Hailey throughout every challenge and obstacle we would face is something that I will forever be grateful for.
As the years went on, seniors graduated, new freshmen went through the same trials and tribulations of joining early on, and the team just evolved. It had been the two of us for so long that I became uncertain about how this change could impact both the team’s dynamics and our friendship. My junior year on this team, however, is one I will forever cherish. So many new girls had made the team, and little did I realize that some of them would become like family to me. No matter how much the team makeup shifted, the love, support, friendship, and sisterhood among us was unwavering.
This team became my second family, teaching me that these familial bonds run much deeper than just blood. With so much time spent together facing the same challenges and similar experiences, being a part of this team forged unbreakable connections. These friendships provided me with a sense of belonging, validation, and support that helped me navigate high school and never failing to be an outlet for anything I may have needed. It created a sense of community for all of us — the dance room was our safe place; these girls are my best friends.
Going into college I knew that creating bonds like the ones I have created over these past four years on the dance team will be hard to attain. Even now, I keep in touch with these girls every day, keeping them updated about everything that is going on in my life and I make sure to visit them on breaks at home before anyone else. I will never let these friendships fade, since they played such a crucial role in my high school experience. While I can never let go of those friendships I’ve made in high school, they have taught me how to create lasting friendships in college. Despite not having that one thing that brings us together and the different dynamics of college life, I know what I'm worth in a friendship and what I need out of a friend.
And for that, I am forever grateful for my family that dance has brought me.
