Sheer Grit and Determination

When my younger daughter was 5 years old, she asked if she could join a ballet class. I enrolled her at one of the nearby schools and thought it’s just a phase as many of us wanted to be ballerinas at this age. She however continued to show determination and so much love for ballet.

With her very first lesson in ballet, her teacher said, “she’s a keeper and very talented too.” I must admit I was sceptical of the teacher’s praise, thinking how’s it possible to recognize talent at a first glance.  She continued her ballet classes and did some ballet show’s bringing myself and others to tears with her beautiful renditions of her ballet performances.

A few years ago, she did a ballet exam where she struggled to breath and perform at her potential, especially with grand jeté. Upon recommendation of our General Practitioner, we took her to a Pulmonologist that gave us the scary news that her lungs were functioning at only 50 percent due to asthma that was for a long time undiagnosed. We then realised what an amazing achievement and determination she had to still get through her ballet exam successfully, not to mention all the other occasions and ballet performances. Thankfully, her lung capacity has improved and she’s almost 100 percent.

Recently she sustained a hip injury and was scheduled for her Intermediate ballet exam. On the day of the ballet exam, to help relieve the pain, she had to be injected with a voltaren injection in the morning together with physio and then a second injection later that day. She showed unbelievable determination once again and she, despite the pain, got through her exams achieving a distinction.

Inspired and uplifted in body and soul

Pushing forward, persevering, whilst reaching her goal

Achieved by sheer grit and determination,

Yes, you are a winner!