...to my sister Onila. When I was about eight years old, like every little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina. My sister must have seen something in me because for my birthday she gave me ballet lessons. I know that the lessons were very costly for her, but she made sure that I was at that studio every Saturday morning. When the series of lessons were over, the director of the school asked my sister and I to his office. He asked me to do a few steps and then lifted me up into the air like a prima ballerina. The director said I had talent. My sister sensed he was correct because at the rehearsal for our school recital, my instructor pulled me out of line and had me dance in front of the whole beginners' class which consisted of at least 80 students from age six to eighteen. I could see how proud my sister was sitting in the front row watching the rehearsal. I also remember how upset my sister was because she could not afford to continue the lessons for me - she has never gotten over it. I have tried to tell her that as much as I love to dance, a ballerina I would never be. The fact that the director wanted me to lose weight should have given her a hint. I can never thank my sister enough for those lessons. They taught me discipline, posture, gracefulness and most of all a love for dance that I have always carried with me.

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