It’s been awhile

Hello.

It’s been awhile.

How have you guys been? I know this isn’t the first (unintended) hiatus that I have taken this semester, and it probably wont be the last if I’m honest. However, I really hope that you guys stick around because I am not abandoning the blog! Life has just been quite crazy lately…

I have spent more hours in the school library than I can even count, and chemistry is definitely proving to be an “adventure.” I like all of my classes and professors a lot, but the work load/studying is much more intense and time consuming than previous semesters. I also took my SAT this morning, and I am beginning to narrow down universities that I want to apply/transfer into. I am really anticipating the score because it was my first time, and I really wonder where I will end up… On the other hand, I forgot to tell you guys that the college, where I am currently dual-enrolled, has selected me into The National Society of Leadership and Success!! I am incredibly honored to be a member of this reputable program, and I am so humbled for the opportunity.

Lastly, The Nutcracker will be brought to the theater in one month, so that is quite nerve-wracking. Rehearsals are well underway, but there is still a lot of work that has to be done! I will be sure to keep you all posted, and I hope that you are doing well. Also, an October playlist will be released very soon, so keep an eye out for that…

What have you been up to? How are your classes going so far? Are you a member of the NSLS? Are you planning on watching or dancing in The Nutcracker this season? Thank you for reading this super long post if you are still there!

*Photo: Flashback to last year’s family trip up to the apple orchard.

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Retourner

This week marks the beginning of a brand new season, and I am so excited for all of the amazing adventures that await. This is a very big year for me because I am a senior in the professional-trainee division, so this will be my final year with the academy. I have made so many great memories throughout the past five years, and I am so thankful for all of the wonderful opportunities that have had. The fact is, I am not certain where my future in dance leads because job contracts are so competitive. As much as I would love to dance in a company, nothing is guaranteed, so I am going to embrace every moment that I have in the studio this year. I am not going to complain about the fatigue, the stress, the aching muscles, the blistered toes, and the long rehearsal days… I am just going to dance my heart out, and enjoy doing what I love.

The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Professional Mixed Rep, Mulan, “an unwritten story,” and Night of Variations are all scheduled to take the stage, and I cannot wait to begin preparing for these productions. I know that this will be an incredibly busy season, but it will certainly be one to remember. I hope that you join me for another great year…

Thanks for reading!

Catching Up

I hope that you all had a great week and a blessed Ash Wednesday! I apologize for my lack of posting/reading, but I should be able to get back on track now. Midterm week finally arrived which meant extra coffee and cram-study sessions for me… That pretty much explains why I have been absent for the past few days.

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I went to an early mass this year for Ash Wednesday because it was the only possibility for me, so I wore ashes on my forehead all day. I was shocked by the amount of confused faces that passed me in the hallways at school, and I actually had multiple people tell me that I had something on my head. It was an interesting day, but I was not embarrassed. I used these encounters as a way to educate others and help them understand the purpose of the ashes.

“We can feel a little funny with ashes on our foreheads, but for Catholics, that is how we mark the start of Lent. Ashes don’t say we’re holy. They say we’re sinners. They don’t say we’re perfect, only that we’re willing to try. They don’t say we’re models of religiosity, but they do say we belong.”

~Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, RSM

Next weekend, we will bring “Flight” back to the stage, so be sure to keep an eye out for that post! I also just want to take a second to thank all of my loyal readers who continuously read/comment on my posts. You are all so positive and encouraging, so I will not desert this internet space anytime soon (despite occasional inactivity). You are all amazing, and I cannot thank you enough for that. Now, go be awesome!

Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

My Survival Kit

Lately, several people have asked me the same exact question, and I began to realize that this might make a really interesting blog post. People catch a glimpse of my overflowing list of of day-by-day tasks on my weekly planner and look at me wide-eyed…

“How do you do it all?”

My reply is always the same: “I don’t even know.” In reality, however, I guess there really is a method to manage this madness, but it is not easy! I will be completely honest and tell you that there have been many nights that I have gotten under four hours of sleep as deadlines crept up faster than expected, so I don’t want you to get the impression that I have mastered these strategies because that is far from the truth. For the most part, however, I think this survival kit has really been the reason that I have been able to “do it all,” so I thought it might be neat to share with you.

1: Staying Organized:

My agenda/weekly calendar is actually color coded so that I can quickly see the homework load for each class. I also write down the important projects, papers, quizzes, and exams for that week in a black pen and highlight it in bright yellow so that I don’t accidentally miss them or forget to study. My friends think I am a bit crazy, but I actually color code my notes as well by the units or lectures.

2: Managing Time:

I always go to the campus library at least 30 min (sometimes even an hour) before my class begins to get a head start on homework for that day. I use every free moment that I have to get things done, so I frequently work Friday nights or even weekends as well. Time management is extremely important, so use extra time to your advantage!

3: Routine:

I also think following a routine helps me a lot because my body has gotten use to the wake/sleep times. This doesn’t mean that I am never tired, but it just means that I don’t feel like a walking zombie everyday because my body has gotten into a relatively consistent schedule.

4: Support:

Family and friends have significantly influenced me to keep working hard because I know they believe in me. This ultimately helps me believe in myself too, and it really does feel good to have someone there to encourage me through difficult times with a “you can do it!” attitude.

I also wanted to let you all know that I am scheduled to get my braces off on March 15!!!

I hope that you enjoyed this post, and thanks for reading!

How do YOU manage your schedule? Would you like to know my tips for studying late at night without getting tired? What was it like to get your braces off? 

A Day In My Life

Hey everyone! Today, I thought it would be fun to share “A Day In My Life” and allow you to have a small peak into my routine throughout the week. I wanted to try something new and a little different on Maysa Rose, so I hope that you like this post!

7:00 AM: I finally decide to roll out of bed after pressing the SNOOZE button on my alarm at least twice.

8:00 AM: I load my backpack, lunch, dance bag, and purse into the trunk of my car and head to school.

8:40 AM- 1:15 PM: I arrive at school and bounce from class to class listening to lectures. My favorite time of day… (not really)

1:20 PM: I begin my 30 minute commute to the dance studio.

1:50ish PM: I finally reach the studio, do my hair, get changed, and cram food in my mouth before I head to class.

2:15- 5:30 (occasionally 6:30 PM): Ballet class and rehearsals

6:00 (occasionally 7:00 PM): I get home, eat dinner, shower, do laundry, and prepare for the next day.

8:00 PM- 12:30 AM (typically but varies): Homework and study

There you have it; this is the average day in the life of me! Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this or if there are any posts that YOU would like to see… Have a great Wednesday! 🙂

~Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

Vision & College

With lots of twists and turns (literally), this past week was definitely an adventure. From taking my college dual enrollment exam to setting my very own choreography on a group of outstanding dancers, it definitely put me through a lot of stress.

Despite of all it all, I am absolutely elated to know that the hours of late-night studying/ preparing actually paid off, and I have exceeded the standards on my college entry exam. I am really looking forward to starting this upcoming school year as a dual enrollment student at the college, and it is going to be an awesome experience to take on-campus classes (working around my studio schedule).

Nonetheless, I also learned that choreography is much harder than it may appear to the eyes of the audience. A dance takes a lot of work to create, and there are many moving parts to keep track of at one time. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to work with such talented peers, and I appreciate their patience and ‘flexibility’ tremendously. It truly is amazing to see a vision actually come alive. I am very pleased with the result of this piece, and I think that it will definitely be something that the audience will remember…

Wishing you all the best!

Balancing Life

Wow, I apologize for my lack of activity on WordPress this past week! Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to read your posts or write my own lately. Not only that, I had to read and write so much for school that I temporarily lost all motivation inspiration to blog; however, I am back now! I should be able to “balance” my schedule a little better after working a full weekend, and I hope to be super active next week to keep you all updated on the pre – performance posts (as usual). I have no doubt that I will have a lot to say and rant about as the weekend looms closer. I hope that you all are doing well. Happy Saturday! 🙂

*Also, good luck to all of my friends competing this weekend! After all of the hard work, I have no doubt that you are going to shine under those lights. I am super excited to hear the results, and I will keep you in my prayers.

Swan Lake… Flying Fast

It is absolutely crazy to look at the calendar and be able to say,

Swan lake will be onstage exactly two weeks from today…

Time has managed to escape so quickly, and we are racing the clock to finish all of our choreography before our upcoming performances. With all of the snow and ice taking away precious days of work, we have officially reached crunch time. It is going to be a chaotic next two weeks…

Mystery Blogger Award!

“What is the Mystery Blog Award?

It’s an award dedicated to bloggers out there who are deserving of their undying love and passion for what they blog about. That somehow inspire you and motivate you when you read their blog.”

I am incredibly thankful to have been nominated for this award by one of my lovely followers, May. I love reading her blog, Ballet.to, and I highly encourage you to go check it out! Also, be sure to visit the creator of this awesome award here!

RULES

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog
2. List the rules.
3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
4. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
6. You have to nominate 10 – 20 people
7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)
9. Share a link to your best post(s)

3 interesting things about me:

1) I love to travel, and by the end of summer I will have been to 20 states.

2) I have been deep sea fishing, but I quickly learned that I get very sea sick.

3) I have been stung by a jellyfish when we were visiting Key West one summer… I was pretty young, so I remember screaming to my mother and telling her “a puffer fish got me”.

I frequently find that many of my followers do not like to be nominated for awards/tags. Therefore, I nominate any of my readers who would like to participate! 🙂 Please feel completely free to attach your post in the comments section so that others can read your post.

5 Questions for me:

• Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

In 5 years, I hope to be in a professional ballet company. I hope that all of my intense training in this professional trainee program will get me where I really want to be… Dancing full time as a company member.

• What is your favourite place on earth?

I absolutely LOVE the beach. I visit the beach as often as my schedule will allow, and I enjoy every second of the salty midst, the sand between my toes, and the fresh ocean breeze…

• Why is your passion your passion?

I have a special connection with ballet… I am not even sure how to describe why it is my  passion, but I just feel like it is what I am meant to do. I feel like it is a part of me, and I couldn’t see myself ever being the same without it.

• Where (a place) does your heart draw you to?

THE THEATER!! I absolutely love dancing on that stage, and my heart leaps whenever I hear the audience roar. As much as I perform, it never gets old. Every performance brings something new, and I don’t think that I will ever get tired of it.

• What is the wildest dream you ever dreamed?

Quite honestly, I am not sure!

5 Questions for my participants:

1. What is the story behind your blog name?
2. Where is your dream travel destination?
3. Do you prefer the mountains or the ocean? Why?
4. Would you rather live in the city with skyscrapers and busy streets or the country-side with corn fields and cattle?
5. Food choices: Sweet VS. Sour. What would you choose?

My Best Posts:

I have placed a few of my recent top-hit posts below in order of the most views/likes.

1st Place: Standards

2nd Place: Escape

3rd Place: Motivation on Monday!

4th Place: We dance

5th Place: Flash Back Friday

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Thank you so much for reading!!! I hope that this has encouraged you to participate as well, and I am looking forward to reading some of your posts. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🙂

*Photo credits to my great friend and wonderful editor. (This turned out lovely! Thank you.)

‘On My Toes’

I was literally “on my toes” this past week, as rehearsals and school crammed my schedule FULL. From a NYC Ballet choreographer setting a piece, 8 hours of rehearsals today, and doubled up schoolwork resulting from Hurricane Irma, this week was pure madness. Even now, I am staring at my half-sewn pair of pointe shoes that have been sitting on my dresser for two weeks now… Please forgive my frequent inactivity on Maysa Rose! It gets hard when I don’t have much time during the day, because it comes down to order-of-importance. As much as I love my blog, it isn’t on my MUST list. I hope that you all are doing amazing, and I am looking forward to reading your posts. I appreciate that you all have stuck with me through all of these times of silence, and it means so much that you all are continuously supportive and understanding through it all.

*High School Homecoming is getting close!! (October 7th). I am going dress shopping tomorrow, so I will post my dress if I find a good one. It may be a process…. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!!