Fall Semester 2019

This semester was harder than I ever expected, but I learned more life-lessons within the past sixteen weeks than any of the other semesters combined. Looking back, I am not really sure how I made it through everything, but I couldn’t be more thankful for the experiences that helped me become who I am today despite the challenges.

I always use to tell myself that nothing is impossible and that I could do anything I set my mind to if I was determined enough. This helped me achieve great things in the past, but this semester humbled me to realize that some things truly aren’t possible. I was pushing myself harder than I ever had before, and I was setting unrealistic expectations for myself. This year, I took a full semester at the college through dual-enrollment while dancing full time as a professional trainee ballet dancer. Though I had done this before, my academic courses were more difficult this time, and the demands were a lot higher. I was only getting about five hours of sleep every single night just to keep my feet on the ground, and the exhaustion/stress really started to take a toll on my health.

I learned that “you can do anything, but you can’t do everything.”

The problem was, I was trying to give 100% effort at both school and dance because I didn’t know where I would end up or what I even wanted anymore. A professional career in ballet is extremely competitive, and universities are also highly selective; I needed to be perfect at both. It was about mid-October when I realized that something had to change because I physically couldn’t do everything anymore, and I was wearing myself out… I had some big decisions to make. After thinking everything through, I decided to no longer pursue a professional career in ballet after Nutcracker which was one of the hardest decisions that I have ever had to make. Even though it is a huge change in my life, I know that I made the right decision, and I did what it best for me. Since then, I am so much happier, and I passed all of my classes!

Through it all, it truly was bittersweet to walk off campus for the last time knowing that some of my friends wont return in January… From the coffee shop shows, Friday morning laughs, “flying squirrel” (inside joke), study groups, and hot chocolate chats, I couldn’t have hoped for a better group of people to hang with. I made some great friendships, and I am so thankful for all of the wonderful memories! It certainly wasn’t an easy semester, but we got through it together. The Fall semester is officially complete. I can’t believe it, but we did it!!

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Just Beachy

A blanket of sand covered our toes, and the cool water brushed our skin.

Everything was just beachy.

I used to drive by the beach on my way to school everyday last year, and I would always gaze out at the peaceful solitude. Birds would occasionally fly through the wakening sky, and a light layer of fog would gently settle on the water. The sun would peek through the clouds while boats danced with the waves… I would long for that freedom as I sat in traffic preparing for another lecture-filled day. After months of fantasizing, I finally stepped into the water for the first time this summer, and I was so lucky to have had such great company. I had so much fun; thanks y’all! 

Do you enjoy going to the beach? Anything exciting coming up? What is your favorite thing to do during the summer? Is there something that you often find yourself longing for? 

Embarrassing Moments

We have all had those moments where our faces turned bright red, and all we wanted to do was hide in a corner and pretend like nothing ever happened. After some time, though, our embarrassing moments become quite amusing and are quickly developed into stories that we laughingly share. I am constantly embarrassing myself, and I have more embarrassing stories that I can even count. However, for the sake of your reading (and my reputation) I have narrowed it down to 4 embarrassing moments that I will share today, so I hope you enjoy…

“Maybe a hundred bad days made a hundred good stories
A hundred good stories make me interesting at parties”

“100 Bad Days” song by AJR

/Parking Problem/  

It was only the first or second week of school, and I did an absolutely terrible parking job (crooked and literally on the line) right in front of the building. Then, another car came and parked on the other side of me which completely pinned my car in. I got dangerously close to the cars with every attempt that I made to move, and the driver of the other car paid no attention to me. I hollered out my window to get some random kid to help because I was desperate and had to get to class. Considering how big our campus is, I thought I would never see him again, but he happens to be in my English class this semester. We are actually really good friends now, but it is never ideal to be remembered by lack of parking skills when you formally meet someone for the first time.

“Oh, I remember you…” 

“Yeeeeah”

“Walking” on a Red Carpet

I made a grand entrance to my first prom by nearly face planting and tripping twice on the red carpet… I will admit that I constantly trip in the hallways at school, stores, and pretty much everywhere else, but who trips going into prom?

Direct Flight

I was at lunch with a group of people that I had just met, and we didn’t know each other very well. We decided to eat outside, and less than 10 minutes passed before a bug flew directly into my eye. I didn’t make a very big deal as I tried to handle it myself, but everyone was at the table started freaking out as they caught sight of my eye. All I will say is that it was a big bug. The waitress even ran over to see why they were all so upset as I quickly/embarrassingly fled to the bathroom to wash out my eye. It was swollen, red, and burning for the remainder of the day... Talk about embarrassing! Honestly, I still cringe at this memory.

Where Is All The Popcorn?

Please tell me that I am not the only one who almost always drops popcorn down my shirt at the movie theater…

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Can you relate to any of these? Which moment did you find the most amusing? Feel free to drop some of YOUR embarrassing memories in the comments below (if you would like to). Also, photo credits to my friend, Claire! I know this has nothing to do with the theme of the post, but I still thought I would share because it is a pretty neat capture of my rehearsal. Have a fantastic week, and thanks for reading this lengthy post!

Guilty Confessions

It’s guilty confessions time! Many of you have been waiting on this post since you voted in January’s blog post poll, so I am super excited to finally release it. This is where I confess four shameful things that I am guilty for and hope that you don’t judge me too harshly… Here we go!

1: I have typed wrong my entire life.

I actually didn’t even realize this until about two months ago when my mom pointed it out. My left hand was typing fine, but my right index finger was literally stretching to hit every letter on the other side of the keyboard. I am currently trying to break this habit after years of incorrect typing, and it is definitely not an easy task.

2: I have a childish fear of needles.

This is painful to admit, but I am absolutely terrified of needles. Even sitting in a doctor’s office makes my body tremble, and I have cried several tears (even as a teenager) because of this childish fear.

3: I am a really bad nail biter.

I have been guilty of this for years, but it is actually much better than it use to be! Honestly, I use to bite my nails until they would bleed, so I am definitely making progress.

4: I gave my friend her birthday gift three months late.

Yes, this actually happened. I got the gift on time, but I kept leaving it at my house whenever we would see each other. I felt so bad, but I finally got the gift to her three months late.

What are you are guilty for? Can you relate to any of these things?

Photo credits: Thank you, Grandma Gayle, for capturing this awesome in-between moment when I was least expecting it.

My Experience

That’s right. I am dabbing in this ballet photo shoot (more to come) to celebrate my amazing experience with blogging and the evolution of Maysa Rose from its birth in 2013! I never thought so many people would genuinely care about all of the random thoughts that I document on this public diary, so I am absolutely astounded with its growth especially within the last year. This space gives me so much joy, and I am incredibly thankful for this site and everyone who reads it!

The Story: 

I began Maysa Rose back in 2013 as a highly talkative fifth grader with an ink pen who filled entire notebooks with stories and poems. My dad recognized this budding passion for writing and he suggested that I begin a blog so that my words could actually be read. I jumped at the opportunity, and I really kept up with blogging before I practically neglected it about a year or two later. After awhile, I decided to pick it back up again, but I didn’t want to start where I left off. I completely redesigned my site and actually deleted all of my old posts to get a clean slate. I started posting very frequently, and I really began to find joy in writing again. Blogging has been my absolute obsession ever since!

My Experience: 

I don’t even know where to begin; being the author of Maysa Rose has been such an amazing experience, and it has significantly changed my life for the better. My writing has matured so much through the years, and I have met so many amazing people who continue to inspire me every day. This site is filled with so much positive energy, and the encouragement has really helped me through life’s unpredictable moments. Sometimes, all it takes is ONE positive comment to turn the entire day around, and a couple bloggers have written such beautiful words that I still remember to this very day! I actually cannot recall any offensive or negative comments, so I am very blessed for that. I never imagined that Maysa Rose would grow as much as it has, and I am so thankful for this opportunity to share my passion with the world. Thank you all so much for everything, and I cannot wait to see where this goes from here!!

Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

Do you have any questions about blogging? What is your blogging story or experience? Did you enjoy this post? 

Something about 17…

Now, it is official. I had been anticipating this day for weeks, so I am very happy that I can finally say that I am seventeen years old. As much as I don’t want my childhood to end, this is a super exciting milestone because it is the perfect balance between the youth of sweet sixteen and the maturity of adulthood. I was literally counting down the days, and I can’t even tell you how happy I am that it is finally here. Some people are still confused why this is such a big deal for me, and I honestly don’t exactly know either. There is just something about 17…

Confetti flew as I made a wish, blew out the candles, got a little wild, and turned another year older. I had a fantastic party on Saturday, and I was so thankful to celebrate with everyone. I even got a super cute cup that made me feel extra special (thanks, mom). I had a blast, and I will never forget that one moment where everything was perfect. I looked around the table at all of the smiling faces, and I remember wishing the clock would freeze at that exact moment in time. Family and friends were all gathered together, and I just wanted it to last forever… Every single one of those amazing people are so special to me, and I don’t think I could ever fully explain how much they have changed my life. My heart is so full, and I can’t thank everyone enough for everything.

I also want to make it very clear that I was not drinking under age, and soda was the only thing that filled that glass. I am not that bad you guys!

ANYWAYS, Cheers to 17!

Weekend in Wonderland

I had such a fun weekend performing in Alice in Wonderland, and I am already missing the sound of laughter that erupted from the audience. Acting was a major part of this comical ballet, and I really got to enjoy myself in each of my roles. I have to admit, it was quite difficult to not laugh at myself when I portrayed a crazy maid with an extremely defiant attitude. From pouring salt in my mouth and choking on chili to stomping across the stage with my tongue out at the dutchess, it was hard to keep a straight face with such an amusing role. I honestly don’t know how I did it! It was a great show, but it was also very stressful as we had constant quick changes and responsibilities backstage. Overall, everyone performed beautifully, and I am so proud of the entire cast. I managed to snag a quick photo with these lovely ladies in my deck of cards costume, and I was so happy to meet my friend after the show! I hope the audience enjoyed their experience in wonderland as much as I did.

Backstage Secrets

The house lights start to dim, and hushed voices lead into silence. The orchestra begins to play the first few notes as the curtain rises. The show has begun. Audience members witness the artists’ story, but the other side of the stage remains hidden from them. Behind the backdrop, beyond the Marley floors, and in the depths of the wings lays an unknown world filled with secrets that only dancers share… until today. I have selected my top 6. Enjoy!

Toothbrush Trick: Believe it or not, I blend my hair together with a toothbrush before shows to to remove the dreaded streaks from a wide toothed brush/comb. Gel and hairspray makes hair stick together, so this trick is lifesaving. I have a specific toothbrush dedicated for this purpose, and it has never been used in my mouth. I thought I should clarify.

Calamine: We always have to apply a light layer of calamine onto our new pointe shoes before a performance so they don’t reflect the bright stage lights. Most directors would agree that shiny shoes can be very distracting.

Butt Glue: It isn’t ballet related (DO NOT use this with tights), but this is crucial for contemporary/modern shows when we are only wearing a leotard. We put a line of butt glue on the edge of our leotard so that it doesn’t move onstage. Trust me, it has spared us from countless wedgies. Enough said.

Securing Ribbon: It is practically impossible to tie all of the pointe shoe ribbon around ankles, so the remaining ribbon is tucked in under the knot. However, they occasionally fall out, so we always have to sew them to the top layer with a few stitches with thick thread (dental floss works too).

Weird Words: This was actually my idea, and a few of my fellow dancers still think this is a bit odd… During a long corps de ballet section, we are continuously going on and offstage, and it can be intimidating to run offstage with ten seconds to remember which part of the dance comes next. I create weird words or letters so that I don’t blank out in the wings before my next enterance. I still remember the Friends dance of Copellia was “SAP D-G.” The first time I went offstage, I came back on with my Solo… ran offstage for a few seconds and waited for the Adagio section to begin. I continued to go through SAP D-G until the end of the dance!

Rosin: We often coat the back of our heels with rosin so that our pointe shoes don’t slip off of our feet if they feel loose.

Thanks for reading! Did some of these things surprise you? What are some of YOUR backstage secrets?

New Year 2019

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”

~Brad Paisley

2018 is packed with so many great memories that I will never forget, and I feel like the experiences have really helped me grow as an individual. I am so grateful for all of the people who impacted me, both negatively and positively, throughout this past year because I learned a lot from each of them. Aside from personal life, this blog of mine has grown so much, and views have topped 6,000 for the year! I am so incredibly thankful for each and every one of you readers. Your comments/likes mean so much to me, and I greatly appreciate the tremendous amount of support and inspiration that you have continuously given me. I also really enjoyed discovering new blogs and meeting so many talented writers in the past year. I truly cannot thank everyone enough! I hope 2019 brings even more wonderful memories.

Happy New Year to you all!

Merry Christmas 2018!

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD.”

~Luke 2:10-11

Happy Holidays to all of my dear readers!

SURPRISE! After a few attempts, my friends and I finally (somewhat) built a human Christmas tree in the second picture. The peak of the tree is clearly missing, but I am honestly just happy that none of us got hurt.
Hopefully you are able to spend the day with loved ones and reunite with distant friends and family, but no matter how you choose to celebrate, I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!