Personal Narrative: My Experience At The California State Summer School

To my astonishment, tears filled my eyes as I packed the car and uttered my final goodbyes, leaving behind what felt like had become my home. I never imagined that I would miss attending the ten hour days of rigorous dance classes, eating mediocre cafeteria food, and constantly feeling on the brink of physical and mental exhaustion. As German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche cleverly stated, “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” This proved to be absolutely true throughout my four week experience at the California State Summer School for the Arts at CalArts where I learned the imperative life lesson of perseverance. The first week of the intensive was definitely one of the most physically and mentally exhausting weeks of my life. On the

Sardines in a can had nothing on the amount of choreography crammed into my brain. However, the strength of my character persisted, giving way to a richly rewarding experience. We spent the last three weeks preparing for our performance, where we showcased the product of our blood, sweat, and tears. It simply turned out beautifully. We all met at Joe’s Cafe afterwards to spend our last night together, relieved that we made it through four weeks of intensity yet also heartbroken about leaving behind our little CSSSA family. I was going to miss several things, but most ironically, I was going to miss Dawson’s rehearsals. He forced me to flourish so much as a dancer but more importantly as a person. The last day, everyone gathered in that once dead silent black walled room to hear some well deserved tear filled praise from our instructors.
My experience at CSSSA was certainly unforgettable and life changing. From that moment on, perserverance plays an important role in my everyday life. I also learned to be more open minded and live outside my comfort zone. I truly appreciate this experience and how it has shaped a small part of who I am