Trust MY Process by Chavi

Trust MY Process by Chavi - September 2026 Scholarship Essay

I used to believe that in dance I had to be perfect in order to be enough, I had to be skinny to even be considered a dancer, shrink my personality to fit in, and be hard on myself because “no one wants a lazy dancer.” I was always under the impression that being a good dancer meant being impossible to overlook. I thought I had to fight for the front row, work for the solo, and make every movement perfect to prove that I belonged. I always found myself comparing myself to others, the more I compared myself, the more I disappeared inside my own head. I spent so much time in my own head that sometimes my biggest obstacle was not the choreography in front of me, but the doubt that weighed on me.
Over time dance has taught me a learning method that has changed the way I approach both dance and academics. Instead of expecting myself to be perfect, I learned to break things down, learn from my mistakes, be myself, and most importantly trust my process. I also had to learn that every dancer is different! Take choreography for an example, a choreography tends to look different on everyone because not everyone moves and interprets the dance the same way. When I was learning choreography, I stopped expecting myself to memorize an entire routine perfectly after only having one class to learn it. I have to break it down and take it one section at a time. I repeat the parts I don’t understand, pay attention to corrections, watch myself, and try again. I realized that learning in school is the same way. Instead of looking at an assignment thinking “I can't do this,” I start breaking it into smaller pieces. I focus on one step at a time and allow myself room to make mistakes as I learn.
The most important thing that dance has taught me is that “struggling does not mean you do not belong.” There have been moments where I sat to myself and wondered if I was talented enough, confident enough, let alone capable of reaching the goals I have for myself. I used to view mistakes as proof that I was not good enough, but I slowly learned to see them as part of the process of becoming better. Every time I practiced a difficult combination until I understood it or walked into a room even when I felt nervous, I proved something to myself. I did not have to be the best person in the room to deserve to be there. I just needed to be willing to learn.
That realization not only changed me as a person, it changed me as a student. I no longer hold myself to the expectation of understanding everything all at once, and I have learned to be patient with my own process instead of comparing my journey to someone else's. When I receive a grade that is not what I hoped for or struggle with a subject, I remind myself that mistakes do not define my abilities. Just like dance I can look at what I did wrong, make adjustments, and try again. The mindset has helped me become more disciplined, resilient, and confident in my ability to overcome challenges.
Dance gave me more than just passion. It has taught me how to learn, how to handle failure, and how to believe in myself when I am still growing. I used to think confidence came from knowing I will succeed, but now I understand that confidence can come from knowing I will keep going even when I am discouraged. I may not always feel like I belong, and I may not always feel as if I am good enough, but I have learned that I do not have to be perfect to take up space. I just have to take the next step, keep practicing, and trust MY process.