~Myles Stephens, Class of 2029

Our story starts in the middle of summer with me deep in thought.

The sun was up and shining on a beautiful Sunday in Massachusetts.  Air was crisp and I could smell pancakes sizzling away in the kitchen. I hopped out of bed and ran to brush my teeth. Then it struck me like lightning. I dropped my toothbrush and watched it clatter to the floor. 

I was going to do a show today, today, today!

The rest of the day I was so stressed thinking about my breakdancing debut.  Was I going to mess up? Have I practiced enough? How would the audience react to my performance, will they cheer or will they throw tomatoes at my head?

A wave of relief came over when we finally got to the theater. That relief did not last long. 

I was sweating up a pool the size of my house, so was everyone else in tonight’s performance. I tried to focus but I was too anxious and worried. I wondered to myself should I really have gone through with this? I want to be home with no worries at all.

  BUT NOOOOO, I was minutes away from making a fool of myself in front of everyone. 

I entered the theater, getting ready to do a  big breakdancing show with my brother. The stage was well decorated and we were in complete black from head to toe. 

Then a crackling voice came over the PA system and said in a soothing tone. “Those in tonight’s breakdancing show please report backstage, thank you.” 

Then we all got up and filed onto the dark stage.

We were all sweating now, I wasn’t sure if it was from  anxiety or stage fright. Suddenly the curtain swished open revealing hundreds of eager faces. The show has started……

Our show was the most action packed fifteen minutes anyone could ever imagine. With flips, rolls and headstands. Next we each got a solo. I went first with an amazing performance, if I do say so myself.

  Everyone else’s show was incredible. The crowd kept on applauding as loud as thunder.  Then we all went up and took our bows and the crowd cheered even louder. The show was so exhilarating and probably one of the most stressful moments ever.

Our story ends with me thinking that without this show I never would have first, gotten this confident and second learned how to breakdance.