I still remember standing at the edge of the stage, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure the audience could hear it. It was my first dance rendition, and every part of me felt unsteady—my hands trembling, my timing uncertain, the music almost overwhelming. I kept thinking everyone could see how nervous I was, how close I felt to messing everything up.
Now, almost graduating college, sitting through long nights of studying, I catch myself thinking back to that moment. It doesn’t feel like fear anymore. It feels like something braver—like the first time I pushed through the doubt and did something anyway. I thought I was being judged, but maybe I was just learning how to show up.