“Ballet and pre-med? That’s an…interesting combination.” The response I got, nearly verbatim, from every single person who found out the studies I had chosen for college. And an interesting combination it was. From a long day rehearsing Swan Lake, I would dash to calculus across campus, or chemistry lab, pulling on my lab coat as I went. Some days, I would return to rehearsal with the marks of lab goggles around my eyes. I often camped out on a bench near the ballet studios, sitting in the splits while I solved statistics problems on my laptop. When everyone decided to go out Friday night, or hold a Bible study, or make cookies, I stayed up completing lab reports, studying for exams, or writing papers. I was straddling both worlds, and often I thought it would tear me apart. Every night I went to sleep feeling as if I hadn’t worked hard enough, hadn’t pushed hard enough to be successful. However, all that changed when I received the award for Highest Achievement in First Year Chemistry. Never in my life had I been compared to my peers in terms of grades or academic accomplishment. Afterall, I grew up homeschooled and had little to compare besides ACT and SAT scores. I was never sure if I was good enough to be successful in college, and I certainly wasn’t sure about my chances of success doing ballet with the rigorous courses required for pre-medical studies. When I found out that I had gotten a perfect score on the American Chemical Society standardized exam, I was stunned. I had never dreamed that I could achieve high enough scores to qualify for the award for highest achievement. The part I was most proud of was the fact that I had been participating in a demanding ballet major during the time that I received that award. If I could do that, than I could truly accomplish my biggest dreams. For my sophomore year, I hope to use my dedication and determination in the field of service, as I facilitate a new dance program at the community outreach center the Lord’s Gym. I will also serve as a community outreach coordinator for the UC service program A Moment of Magic.