“Honestly, I have had many more than just one success in my life. But one of these successes stands out the most. Acting. I used to be a shy, timid, little girl out on the big stage. The bright lights and fired up parents made me nervous. Of course, this was a little while back (second grade to be exact). I had just gotten the main role of “Tiger-Shark”. Seriously! THE MAIN ROLE! Which meant I had to memorize LOTS of lines. In the end I achieved this goal. I completed the play and memorized everything. Fast forward to 2016: Elm Street. Elm Street Arts is a little acting theatre in an old building in a town I just moved to (Woodstock). I had taken several acting classes at Elm Street and now was my big time to shine! My mom took me to “The Little Mermaid” play auditions and I had to sing a solo in front of so many people. I was so nervous I would not get a part. Eventually I found out I got an amazing funny role as Ariel’s sister mermaid. Yay for success and bravery!”
Category: SLAE Stories
Adriana finds her rhythm
“What I am most proud about is making the dance team this year. I used to be on a dance team in Buffalo, NY (Future Dance) and when we moved to Georgia we could not find a studio that we really loved. I started at Rhythm Dance last year and it was really a learning experience. When I started, I was always put in the back. It made me feel kind of bad, but I thought it was because I was tall, so that gave me the confidence to keep trying hard and giving it my all. By the end of the year, I moved up to the front and I know it was because I really worked hard and showed my teachers that I could improve. If I didn’t dance I would probably not be where I am today because it taught me how to work hard for the things that you want. I started dance when I was 3 but I really did not start feeling confident in it until I was 10. I really found my inner self”

Emily comes out on top!
“I was really proud of the first time I hit my liberty stunt during cheer leading. We always worked so hard as a group to get it. When I finally stuck it, it made all of us so happy. I have been dropped, kicked my base in the face, and have fallen many times… But in the end it was all worth it to finally stick it!”
Emily – 15Gowanda, NY

Peyton makes the grade!
“All year I struggled in my Global Studies class. I didn’t understand it very well and when it came time to take my exam, I was nervous I would fail because I didn’t think I knew enough to pass. I was very happy a few days later when I got my exam grades back and it said that I did actually pass and I would not need to retake the test in August. I was very proud of myself and it taught me to be more confident in the things I do know and not focus on the things I don’t.”
