Anaya (16) faced a major setback when health issues caused her to miss a dream audition. After surgery and months of recovery, she almost gave up on dancing. With support from her family, she fought back and was recently accepted to her dream university. Anaya shares her journey of resilience through her diary with TeenBook. Let’s read!

Dear Diary,

You won’t believe what happened today. I received an email this morning, and as soon as I opened it, I started crying. My admission to UNCSA (University of North Carolina School of the Arts)—my dream dance university—has been confirmed!

A dream delayed

My mind drifted from the present back to the past. I remembered auditioning for one of the lead roles at an international meet when suddenly, I felt thousands of needles piercing between my stomach and chest. It was as if someone had placed a plastic bag over my mouth, trying to choke me. I collapsed to the ground, breathless, and it felt like there was a hole forming in my throat that could be seen from across the room. 

I clawed at my stomach, hoping to ease the pain, but nothing helped. I thought I was going to die. After what felt like an eternity, I finally started to regain feeling in my limbs—but it was already too late. I missed my audition that day because of my health issues. 

Finally, the roles had been assigned, and I was out of the picture. I was devastated. I had spent the last six months preparing for that audition, and it felt like everything was lost.

Emergency surgery revealed I had gallstones, and the next few months were a nightmare, both physically and mentally. Due to medical restrictions, my ability to dance had hit rock bottom. My flexibility, strength, and stamina had taken a massive toll.

Family support

If it hadn’t been for the support of my family and friends, I would have given up on my dream of dancing altogether. After being rejected for my dream role and missing so many classes, my morale was at an all-time low. I was on the verge of giving up. It wasn’t until I talked to my parents that I realized giving up was not an option.

My dad would randomly come up to me and start flossing—it was the only dance move he knew! We would meditate together for 15 minutes every day, which helped me regain my balance. Playing table tennis with him gave me an adrenaline rush like no other! 

My mom would appear out of nowhere throughout the day, offering me positive affirmations. We spent time making cookies, solving puzzles, and watching comedy shows, which helped me take my mind off things. Praying with my mom every day brought me peace. 

Staying positive

We even took a trip to Jim Corbett National Park during that time, and it was one wild ride! My friends made sure to visit me, snapping embarrassing pictures of me drooling while I slept and coming up with the most ridiculous pranks, like wearing blankets over their heads to scare kids!

As my mental health improved, I started working on my physical health too. I wrote down everything I needed to improve and mapped out how I would do it. To regain my strength and flexibility, I began with beginner yoga, then gradually moved on to more intense forms of training. I made sure not to overexert myself, listening carefully to my body. The pain wasn’t a weakness—it taught me how to fight. 

New opportunities

Rejection didn’t just teach me how to deal with failure; it showed me that rejection often means redirection. That’s when I decided to apply to universities as a dance major, something I never would have considered if I had cleared that audition. When one door closes, another one opens.

As I reflected on all of this, I realized that everything in life happens for a reason. I felt proud of myself, and grateful for both the good and the bad. Staying optimistic is crucial when chasing your dreams, and I’m so glad I didn’t give up.