“But when my song started, for those three minutes onstage, I felt like I was where I belonged, and my shyness didn’t matter at all. I was never a good dancer, but somehow I still had the confidence to get up there and do my mediocre solo.
When I was done dancing, I instantly reverted back to my extremely shy persona. I looked down at the floor and told the children’s librarian Jane “Sorry I messed up a bunch, but I’ll practice more and do better if you let me in the show.” Jane was the kind of woman who radiated kindness. She had long white hair that she kept in a single braid down her back, and the most beautiful smile. She told me “I think that you did a very good job. For the show we should get a hard slate to put down onstage so everyone can hear you tap dancing. I would love to have you in the show this year.”

–Renée Nicole Gray for She Knows