NHSDA Gold Award Essay student 4

by NIKITA GOYAL

I have always struggled with my identity. Born and raised in America, I often found myself "too Indian" or "not Indian enough", making it difficult for me to ever really feel like I belong. So, when my parents decided to introduce me to Bharatanatyam at the age of 4, I finally found a safe space to embrace my heritage.

To me, Bharatanatyam is more than an amalgamation of movements; it is an incredible feat of strength that showcases poignant tales with emotion and grace.

Through this dance, I have been able to truly understand the stories I heard about as a kid, ones with powerful deities, love, remorse, and anger. Even more, I could learn how to showcase them with my eyes and actions, becoming a person more in tune with my body. The rhythm of the music that plays in

the background serves as a guiding force, giving me just enough room to display my own interpretations of every story while also helping me garner patience with my own mistakes.

Dance has also provided me with an outlet from my life where I can pour every ounce of

energy and emotion I have into a process that ends with my acceptance of myself. Every time that I feel dissatisfied with myself, I am able to dance at the end of the week at the studio and release the stress I hold in my shoulders. I am also grateful for the community, which has shown me that every performance truly is a team effort. Every dance is only as strong as the weakest link, and I have learned how to sustain teamwork and communication, even in the most stressful of times. I also appreciate being surrounded by girls with whom I can share my culture and experiences because I always feel some shared sense of understanding in the Shishya community. Because of them, I am proud of my heritage and have the confidence to share it with my school community!

In the future, I am excited to continue sharing Bharatanatyam and its incredible culture

with every community I join! From college to beyond, I hope to continue dancing and guiding

younger students interested in starting. Even more, I want to empower students with the

confidence to embrace their background and express it fully! Whether this is through dance

workshops or even simply sharing my thoughts, I hope to contribute to a world where every

young student caught between identities can become someone unapologetically proud of who they are.