“Everything Happens For a Reason” by Mia T

Ever since she was little, everyone would always say everything happens for reason. A simple mistake could be a lesson learned or an odd idea could be a brilliant plan, either way it was suppose to happen. She didn’t really take this seriously until one day at her first dance audition.

            Everyone told her she wasn’t going to get it because she was “too old” in the dance world and just not good enough. She put the negativity behind her and went for it.

She arrived at the studio 45 minutes early to stretch and prepare herself. Online people always say to wear something that would make you stand out, and well she did. The dancer was wearing a fire red leotard with flesh tights and her hair middle parted into a slick bun. Everyone else had on a black leotard with colorful ballet skirts and hair accessories. Once she reached the front desk to check in, the worker handed her a number and whispered to her, “You’re a little old aren’t you? Well older.” She didn’t let it get to her and politely walked away somewhere where she could warm-up. 

As she got out her shoes and began stretching, she started to think this was a mistake and she should have listened to everyone else. But then she remembered exactly what everyone said. Everything happens for a reason. She didn’t come all the way here to back out and leave before she had the chance to dance. So she tied up her pointe shoes and got ready until they called her number.

After two hours of watching dancers walk in and out the door in tears or with joy across their faces, she was finally called in. There was a panel of three judges seating along the mirror. She greeted herself to each judge then took her position. Before starting the music, one judge asked her age. She responded with, “25”. The panel all looked at each other then proceeded to wave the pianist to start the music.

The music began playing and she began dancing. The judges didn’t look to impressed by her skills as she finished. They told her thank you and that she would hear from them soon for consideration. She left the studio with her head up high while a tear streamed down her right cheek.

A week later the dancer had received a call from a ballet company in New York. They were interested to have her in their ballet production of Swan Lake opening next spring. She paused and took a small gasp of air then quickly answered back with definite yes.

            Once she hung up the phone she realized all the voices of negativity and people telling her she couldn’t were gone and forgotten. A mistake that she once doubted was a miracle and chance that she had found. The dancer finally learned everything does happen for a reason.