Cody+Personal+Narrative

I chose this personal narrative for one of my formal essay choices because I felt that I fulfilled the taske asked of me in this assignment. I wrote about something that I was passionate about, which made this essay easy to write. I put a lot of time and effort into this essay to make it the best of my ability. It was the first formal essay we had to write, and I believe that I did a very good job using descriptive adjectives, adding details, and adding dialogue. I got a good grade on it and feel that this was the best essay that I wrote. My First Pair of Pointe Shoes It was December of my sixth grade year when my ballet teacher told us that we would be taking the “pointe test” next Thursday. Just hearing those words gave me butterflies in my stomach. I wanted a pair of pointe shoes more than anything in the whole world! My technique class was right before the pointe class, and I would beg my mom to let me stay for just five minutes so I could watch the older girls. The way they danced was so different from the way that I did. It was more graceful and more beautiful than anything I had ever seen before! I did not quite understand how they could stand with one leg so high in an attitude on the support of only their toe, but I was bound and determined to find out just how they did it. I practiced in class, at home, in school. Any where I went I was standing on my toes. My teacher, Mrs. Dunaway, told us that we would receive a pair of pointe shoes if she thought that our arches and feet were strong enough to handle them. I was going to make sure mine were! My poor mother had to deal with me constantly asking her,” Do my feet look like they are strong enough?” As I asked, I would go up on demi-pointe, in second position, and try to stay as balanced as I possibly could. She would examine me like I asked of her, but the answer would always be the same, “You will get your pointe shoes, Cody.” Although I knew the answer would not change, hearing that response every time made me so happy and confident! By the end of the week I was sure I would get a pair. The week seemed to drag on so slowly. The anticipation was killing me! Thursday was so far away and no matter what I did to try and keep my mind occupied, nothing worked. Why couldn’t we just skip three days of the week? No one would mind. I have been waiting for it my whole life…. well, actually, just since I had started dancing, but it felt like my whole life! Finally, after what felt like years of waiting, Thursday came, and guess what? I had to wait some more! I still had a whole day left of school. It was so boring, and the clocked ticked so loudly; it was almost as if the clock was broken and it just went back and forth instead of in a circle like it was supposed to. All I did was go through the motions. I did not care if I got a good grade on my test, or if my teacher called on me. I was just waiting for that three o’clock dismissal. When Mrs. Standish told us we could go home, I darted out of the classroom and jumped in the car with my mom. I ran into the house and changed as quickly as I could. When I was done, I begged my mom to drive me to class. I got to the studio a half of an hour before class had started because I wanted to be as warm and ready as I could possibly be when Mrs. Dunaway called us over to take the test. As the other girls began to arrive, and time elapsed, I started to get the butterflies back again. Thoughts started to race in my mind. What if I mess up? What if I can’t stay balanced while she is watching? I had been so sure I was going to get a pair of pointe shoes three days before, why was I so afraid now? My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of music playing in the studio. Mrs. Dunaway called all of the girls in to begin warming up as a class before she gave us the test. When we were finished warming up, the ten girls, including myself, were told to line up on the tape. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I felt sick to my stomach. This was the most nervous I had ever been in my whole life! As we began to perform the steps that Mrs. Dunaway gave us, I started to feel a little more confident when I realized I was doing a good job. I was going up perfectly on the balls of my feet, keeping great balance and poise. Then, the final task was asked to be done; standing on demi-pointe, while keeping one leg in an attitude. It was extremely difficult, and I did not think I would be able to do it, but when I raised that back leg and stood on releve, I blocked everything else out, concentrating fully on staying balanced. I did it! For thirty seconds I was able to hold that difficult position. At that point I did not even care if I got my pointe shoes. I had done the best job that I could and felt good about it. We waited for ten whole minutes while Mrs. Dunaway and the other teachers talked. It felt like a century until they began to walk towards us. We had to stand in a line while she came to each one of us. She had handed four girls a pointe shoe key chain until she got to me. “Cody,” she said, ” You have improved greatly in the past few months, and by watching you today, I feel that this key chain belongs to you. Congratulations, you are now ready to become a more experienced dancer.” Yes! I did it! I had gone through a whole week of butterflies in my stomach, practicing hour after hour, constantly trying to be the best that I could possibly be and I did it. I achieved my goal of getting my own pair of pointe shoes! The key to experiencing new ways of dance and becoming a better dancer all the way around was in my hand! Now, all I had left to do was get my mom to take me to Dream Makers, where I could get my pointe shoes. I begged her every hour of the day to take me. I just could not wait until those beautiful shoes would be on my feet. She finally gave in, and we were on our way to Dream Makers. The lady at the counter asked, “ What can I do for you today?” and before my mom could even answer, I said “I’m here to get my first pair of pointe shoes.” All she could do was look down at me and smile. She said.” I have the perfect pair for you.” She went into the back as I sat in the waiting room taking it all in. I felt as if I had died and gone to heaven. All around me there were different kinds of pointe shoes, Capezio, Bloch, so many brands I had never heard of before! She finally returned with a box in hand. They were Grishko 2003’s and the color was European pink. I knew as soon as she put that beautiful pink satin shoe on my foot, wrapped the silky ribbon around my ankle, and tied it in a bow, that these were the ones. They were absolutely perfect, and they were all mine. They fit so well, and I felt invincible in them. As I stood on my toes for the first time, I looked over in the mirror and it was beautiful, everything that I dreamed it would be. I tuned everyone else out and examined myself from every angle. I knew I wanted this for the rest of my life. I was meant to be a dancer. This was my defining moment, the day I truly became a real ballerina, with her very own pair of pointe shoes.