Growing up as a dancer, it took me a while to truly appreciate ballet. I used to dread warming up at the barre and practicing the structured combinations and choreography. Over time, however, I began to see the value in the discipline ballet instilled in me; it shaped the dancer and person I am today. When I was finally placed in the pointe ballet class, I was ecstatic. It felt like a milestone that marked me as one of the older, more mature dancers in my studio. Learning to sew my own pointe shoes was a rite of passage that made me feel accomplished. I quickly discovered, however, how much effort and pain pointe dancing requires. While the movements are beautiful to watch, they are incredibly hard on the body, especially the knees and ankles. Breaking in pointe shoes was a painful process, and the pressure on my joints eventually led to a knee injury that cut my pointe journey short. Despite this, I cherish the time I spent dancing on pointe and the elegance it brought to my performances. Watching ballerinas perform on pointe still takes my breath away, and I hold immense admiration for their artistry and strength.