Unexpected

While approaching the start of my senior year, I began to think about what my future in twirling may hold. One of my best friends who I had twirled every year in high school with, Parker, was beginning to start her freshman year in college at East Tennessee State University as a majorette. Ever since I got news of her making the renewed majorette line, I knew I wanted to pursue this after high school. Although I felt my skills were almost advanced enough to be able to make the majorette line after my senior year, I wanted to advance my skills even more to ensure I would be ready in time for tryouts. I attempted various workouts and practice techniques to improve my skills on my own without seeing any result. I had been praying to the Lord for so long to give me anything that would renew my confidence. Eventually, I gave up on my dreams of becoming a college majorette and decided altogether I would never be ready for tryouts.

We’ve all heard that God works in mysterious ways. I can say first hand that God not only works in mysterious ways, he works in extraordinarily unfathomable ways that makes me marvel at his glory and uncountable blessings. The way he puts people in our lives right when they’re needed most makes me unbelievably grateful that I serve an almighty God. My family spends majority of our summer weekends on Norris Lake. One late night on the lake after we docked our boat, my mother ran into a man my older brother used to work with and his wife. While my parents were making conversation with him, I began to speak to his wife. She asked me the usual small talk questions, “What school do you go to?” “What grade are you in?” After we had talked for awhile she asked me if I played any sports. I replied, “No, I’ve never been one to play sports, but I’ve been twirling and dancing my whole life.” Her eyes suddenly widened and she smiled from ear to ear, “I’ve been a competition twirler since I can remember when. I’ve competed all over the country and I’ve won hundreds of trophies.” Her words were music to my ears and I couldn’t resist to ask, “Would you be interested in giving me lessons?!” She agreed to give me lessons as soon as possible and we parted ways. As I laid down in my little bunk bed in our camper, I smiled realizing what had just happened. The Lord put the perfect person in my life right when I needed her. Tears began to well up in my eyes as I began to think about the incredible blessing God had given me and how good he is even though I do not deserve it.

True Blessing

Baton twirling is an activity that is practiced and adored by many young girls all over, including me. I began twirling at the age of three in our local twirling school and have loved it ever since I twirled my first "pancake." I continued twirling for the next seven years, deciding at the end of my fifth grade year to step away from twirling and focus on other activities. For the next three years in middle school, I hardly picked up a baton and had forgotten almost every skill except for basic twirls. As I was approaching my freshman year in high school, it came to my attention by my past twirling instructor that our local high school marching band would be having its first auditions for majorettes in seventeen years. After hearing the news, I knew that this opportunity would give me a chance to pick back up the sport I once loved and become a more advanced twirler. When I decided to tryout for the Lee High majorette line, I knew I had a lot of work to do to prepare for tryouts. I had never auditioned for any sport before and I was more nervous than ever when the day of tryouts arrived. I was even considering backing out of tryouts because I was so sure I wasn't going to make it. Thankfully, God gave me the courage to push through tryouts and blessed me with the gift of making it on the majorette line. Practices started soon after and they were nerve wracking; i was extremely shy and intimidated by the other girls on the team. Little did I know, in about three months we would all become the best of friends and spend almost every day of summer together. Being on the majorette line gave me a new sense of confidence; it gave me the ability to showcase my talents and express my love for twirl and dance. Becoming a majorette truly was the best thing that ever happened to me; it gave me an opportunity to discover my true passion and make the best friends I've ever had. I'll forever have God to thank for bringing such a blessing into my life.