This Is Me Anonymous

The lights were blinding. The stage felt cold. But I knew this was my moment. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, as the audience was roaring and cheering us on. I felt nervous, so I looked over at my teammates. I knew that we were in this together, so seeing a smile on their face managed to put one on mine. Holding my Khunda (wooden dance prop) up high with my sweaty hands, I got ready to begin performing. Bhangra served as a passionate way for me to connect to my Punjabi roots.

I always had an inevitable smile on my face, both during practices and performances. I knew that all aspects of life, both good and bad, should be pursued with perseverance and dedication. Having a smile on my face served as a coping mechanism for me to overcome all obstacles. After all, why trudge through life with a frown when one had the option of conquering it with a smile?

It was at 3 AM when I realized how powerful Bhangra really is. I had hundreds of SAT vocabulary words and definitions to learn, and an upcoming Chemistry test in just a few hours. Although I finished studying, I felt stressed and restless, unable to fall asleep. In order to replace all of these negative feelings, I wanted to feel the powerful adrenaline rush of...