Once a top ballerina, Carrie Berk, 14, took a leap of faith to follow her heart—and discovered her next act.
From the time I was old enough to walk, I was dancing. I took my first ballet class in diapers, barely able to stand on tippy-toes. I remember pirouetting around my living room in a tutu, imagining what it would be like to be a real ballerina. I went through 10 years and five levels of pre-professional classes, eventually landing my dream role of Clara in a New York City production of The Nutcracker when I was 12.
As I took my bows on stage with the Sugar Plum Fairy, it felt like I had climbed a mountain and reached the top. This was everything I had ever wanted. But the next day and in the days that followed, I asked myself, “Now what?”
My ballet school had always been my second home. My friends there were my closest confidantes and we had so much in common—it was like being in a secret club or sorority. If I was having a bad day, they knew exactly what to say to lift me up. But as we progressed up the levels, the instruction got more intense, the hours became longer (I was in class five days a week)…and my love for ballet began to fade.
For so long, I had challenged myself to make it work. Sweating at the barre for 12 hours a week when I also had homework, tests and papers to write? Sure. Turning down parties, hangouts with friends and extracurriculars because there was simply no time for anything else? Of course.
But I’ll never forget the Halloween night I spent in pointe class, finally leaving in tears because I missed trick-or-treating with all my friends. It might seem like a silly thing to get upset over, but it felt huge to me at the time—like I was constantly missing out on all the little things that made life fun.
この記事は Girls' Life magazine の December 2016/January 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Girls' Life magazine の December 2016/January 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Now loading: Meditation mode
Haven't tried it yet? Here's your start-this-second strategy to find your center, no matter the strom.
Spread some cheer (here and there and everywhere)
You know that girl who's always bringing the holiday hype? Oh wait...that's you!
How to eat more vegetables (even if you truly hate them)
GOING DAYS—OR EVEN, YIKES, WEEKS—WITHOUT A SINGLE GREEN? THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.
THIS IS THE YEAR YOU CHANGE THE WORLD
It's exciting to be a part of the generation people say will transform the future.
NEW YEAR'S resolutions officially OUT
What's in, you ask? New Year's intentions, aka the strategy that'll *actually* make all your end-of-December dreams come true.
"Ugh! My family is so...
OK. we're just going to say it: It's valid to sometimes get furiously frustrated and downright disappointed with your nearest and dearest. (Take that as permission to feel *all* your feels rn.) Our gift to you? Breaking down these daunting holiday dynamics so you can get back to being a fa-la-la family again.
Dear Carol
CRUSHING ON A POPULAR BOY There is this boy I've been crushing on.
YOUR 2025 CONFIDENCE GLOW-UP
Sure, you could whisper some mantras, ask your besties to gas you up and listen to \"Bejeweled\" on repeat...or you could try these simple (but srsly effective) hacks for making 2025 your most confident era yet.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
Hunter L., 16, is really tired. Not the kind of tired when you stay up scrolling on TikTok, but tired of, well, being a teenager.
READ THIS before you hard launch
You and your crush are one what-are-we convo away from making it official...except for that one thing.