Sydney Tam, a recent graduate at Bellevue High School, has been dancing for as long as she can remember. After twelve years of classes, competitions, and performances, she just closed out her final year of high school with some of her biggest achievements yet, and she has no plans to stop dancing anytime soon. Sydney started dancing when she was just six years old. “My older sister had been doing dance for a couple of years and I always loved watching her,” she said. “I begged my mom to put me in any class she could.” That first class ended up becoming the beginning of something much bigger. What started as following in her sister’s footsteps turned into a personal passion and a huge part of Sydney’s life.

Today Sydney trains and performs with her studio team, where she’s built strong friendships and learned from inspiring teachers. “The people I’m surrounded by every day inspire me the most,” she said. “I wouldn’t be the dancer or person I am today without my friends or my teachers. Our community at the studio is really special to me.” For Sydney, dancing with her best friends every day makes the hard work feel worth it. But that hard work is no joke. Between long rehearsals, competitions, and school responsibilities, Sydney has had to learn how to manage her time well. “Dancing for 12 years has taught me that time management is super important,” she explained.

“Whether I’m balancing other extracurriculars, schoolwork, or spending time with friends and family, I’ve learned to always stay productive and use all the time I can to get things done.” She also added that procrastination only makes things harder. Staying on top of everything is a skill she’s had to build, and it’s something that will stick with her, even outside the dance studio.

One of the biggest challenges Sydney has faced in dance doesn’t have anything to do with choreography or technique. “Comparing myself to others is a constant battle,” she admitted. “When you’re surrounded by so many amazing dancers, it’s easy to criticize yourself and think you’ll never be as good as they are.” She said her mindset has been one of the hardest things to deal with. But over time, she’s learned how to change her perspective. “As I’ve gotten older, I realize there are so many amazing qualities in myself I should remember, and that everyone is unique and special in their own ways,” she shares. It’s something a lot of dancers struggle with, and Sydney hopes to continue encouraging others to appreciate their own strengths.

Even with those struggles, Sydney has had some incredible accomplishments in the past year. One of her proudest moments was winning the highest scoring soloist at Hollywood Connection Nationals in 2023. More recently, her group routine earned the highest overall score at her final competition with her team. The recognition reflected years of hard work, and the experience was especially meaningful because it marked the end of a long and memorable chapter in her dance journey.

Now Sydney is looking ahead to college, and she is not ready to leave dance behind. “I would love to continue dancing in college,” she said. “The University of Michigan has an amazing competitive dance team, so that is a big goal of mine for the future.” Being part of a team is something she hopes to find again in college, and she is excited for the challenge of adapting to a new environment while continuing to grow as a dancer.

Outside of dance, Sydney is also looking forward to the next chapter of her life. “I’m excited for all the college experiences,” she said. She is excited to live in a different state, meet new people, and overall become more independent. While a lot is about to change, she says dance has been her everything for so long she cannot imagine life without it.

Sydney’s story is one a lot of students can relate to. Whether it’s dance, sports, music, or any other passion, sticking with something for over a decade takes a huge amount of commitment. Through all of her highs and lows, Sydney has learned about discipline, self-confidence, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who support and inspire you. As Sydney moves on to college, her dedication to dance remains as strong as ever, continuing to grow with each new opportunity ahead.