Since I was three years old, dancing has been a constant in my life. Dance is a release on my reality. It helps me to focus so much it's effortless and relieve my body and mind of all tension. There was never a question on whether I would stop dancing once I got diagnosed with diabetes, it was just delt with. Over the past three years I have created and choreographed a solo that I compete in regional and national competitions. This year I decided to use something I love completely to celebrate my tenth diabetes anniversary. I danced to Nick Jonas's song "A Little Bit Longer", which is about his life with diabetes. As I thought and planned out this dance I decided to make it a complete suprise for my mom. She is by my side constantly helping and supporting me with diabetes and everything else I do in my life. She's my biggest fan 24/7. My little sister, Savannah, helped me to record my voice talking, which she blended into the song. It talked about my life with diabetes and how much I appriciate my friends, family, best friend Phoebe, and of course my mom. It truly sounded amazing once it was complete! After weeks of keeping secrets and working my butt off dancing more than normal to get the dance completed and perfected, it was time for the competition. With careful preperation with the help of my close family members and best friends, my mom was in the audience with no idea. She didn't think anything of it because I had taken classes all day at the convention part of the event, and now it was just time for the competition that night. She just thought we were there to enjoy the show. Backstage I was strangely calm; my two best friends being more jittery and nervous than I was. It was time to dance, and all went off without a hitch! When I found my mom in the audience she was crying and pretty much hyperventalating in her seat next to my dad. It was the first time I had really seen my daddy cry! :) My mom was so shocked, and was amazed that almost everybody knew accept her. No matter what award I was given that night by the judges, I won. I won because I went there and accomplished all and more than I had hoped. It was an evening I will never forget. It was almost like I conquered my diabetes as well. So when you put your mind to it, you can do anything! My solo is on YouTube under "A Little Bit Longer" Solo; and my username is danzngirl5678. If there is trouble finding it, let me know and I'll give out a link. :)

I didn't do it for a trophy... I did it for myself...