The Weight of Wings by Janae

The Weight of Wings by Janae - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

One of the biggest lessons I've learned from feedback came while preparing a contemporary dance solo. The piece told the story of a young bird struggling to use its wings for the first time. Every movement represented the bird's fear, determination, and eventual freedom. I was excited to perform such an emotional piece, but bringing that story to life proved much harder than learning the choreography itself.

Throughout rehearsals, my instructor regularly gave me feedback. She pointed out that my arms looked too controlled and that my movements didn't fully capture the desperation of a bird fighting to fly. She encouraged me to make my wings feel heavier at first, to let my body show the struggle before showing the strength. I was always open to hearing her advice because I wanted to improve, but I didn't always take it well. After rehearsals, I often replayed every correction in my head and wondered if I was disappointing her or if I simply wasn't capable of performing the solo the way she envisioned.

Eventually, I realized I was focusing too much on the criticism itself instead of what it could teach me. Instead of treating each correction as proof that I wasn't good enough, I began treating it as another piece of the story I was trying to tell. I recorded my rehearsals, studied my movements, and experimented with making my "wings" feel weaker, heavier, and more uncertain before gradually becoming stronger. Rather than asking whether my technique was perfect, I started asking whether someone watching could understand the bird's journey without hearing a single word.

By the time I performed my solo, I wasn't thinking about every correction I had received. I was thinking about the story. I let myself fully commit to the struggle, knowing that the moments of failure made the final flight feel meaningful. The feedback that once felt overwhelming had become the reason my performance felt authentic.

That experience changed how I approach learning. I still don't always enjoy hearing what I need to improve, especially when it's something I care deeply about. But I've learned that feedback isn't a judgment of who I am, it's a tool that helps me grow. Whether I'm dancing, learning in the classroom, or facing a new challenge, I now try to listen with curiosity instead of self-doubt.

Learning from feedback taught me that growth doesn't come from getting everything right the first time. It comes from being willing to listen, reflect, and try again. Just like the bird in my solo, I learned that finding my wings wasn't about avoiding struggle, it was about using every lesson to become stronger.