Graduating from NAFA x Lameness Overtaken

After 9 tedious years in NAFA, I've finally graduated!!!
I have really mixed feelings about this though. On one hand, I'm extremely glad to reduce the financial burden on my mum and have more time every weekend. But on the other hand, I'm really sad about not meeting my usual group of girls every Sunday.  We often take these little things for granted. We don't cherish the time we have with our loved ones until it's gone.
NAFA is not an easy place to be in. They are insanely strict, not just with their rules (no nail polish, no flashy ear rings, no colourful rubber bands, etc) but also with their punctuality and the way they teach dance. When your hand needs to be in a certain position, of a certain angle, there's no deviation. It doesn't promote creativity, but it looks neat and perfect. I agree that it's quite stringent, but honestly NAFA has taught me so much about discipline. It's a dying trait amongst teenagers. Now that I'm not in NAFA anymore, I think my discipline level has decreased significantly.
Oh and thanks to these 9 years, I've learnt so much more about time management. It's not an easy task balancing school, dance and work. Trust me. Especially when your performance dates clash with the exam period. Sometimes, it makes me want to quit. But I know I'm better than that hahaha.

Zou Lao Shi is one of the few people in my life that has helped me drastically. She's really really really strict, but she helped me realize my potential. And she always allows me to showcase and exceed it. I really appreciate her guidance along the way, although sometimes she makes me want to put my head through a wall.

These girls :') (Franny is missing from this picture) What I appreciate the most from all these years of dancing are the friendships formed along the way. All the stupid little jokes and nonsense. Being so bloody noisy in class. Helping each other warm up. Ugh I'm gonna miss this bunch.
PS: I'm still dancing in the People's Association. They have so many opportunities for performance cuz it's a government-based association, and we get to paid to dance so that's lovely. In some ways, I think PA is better than NAFA....... They're not so strict in terms of attendance, and they allow more creativity cuz they're not so stringent in terms of the movements. I've learnt so much about emotions, and how to really place yourself IN the dance to exude the right emotions out.
We had a little group gathering to celebrate Murong's birthday :-) It was great seeing them again haha super fun to disturb the guys.

Welcoming Coleman into the group hehe (Franny's boyfriend)

Full attendance YES
Ah but we haven't seen Minying in a while :-(