Q&A with Niceville HS dance team member Sophie Gonzalez

NICEVILLE, Fla. — A Q&A with Sophie Gonzalez who is a multi-sport athlete at Niceville High School.

Name: Sophie Gonzalez

Age: 14

School: Niceville High School

Grade:  9th

Sport: Dance

Team/s: NHS Eaglettes (Dance Team)

Sports participated in: Dance, Track, Swim

Years in current sport: 3

What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?

Sophie Gonzalez: My personal goals are to grow as a dancer, gain confidence, believe in my abilities, and develop positive self-talk so that it can help me for my future like trying out for a school of arts or even a college dance team. Another personal goal would be to have a double state title this year with the NHS dance team.

What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

Gonzalez: A big challenge in my sport that I struggle with is definitely the pressure to perform, and comparison. In dance it’s very hard not to compare yourself while watching so much talent around you. A way I manage this is by using it as motivation for what really matters as in watching the other dancers and applying some of their strategies to myself. The pressure to perform can be intense. Normally, what I do to help the pressure before the performance is to take deep breaths and say a quick prayer.

What was the best advice you were ever given? 

Gonzalez: The best advice I was ever given was actually from my mom. She told me that the people who correct you or help you to get stronger physically or mentally are the people who really care about you the most and want to help you be the best.

What do you love about your sport?

Gonzalez: There is so much to love about dance! I love that through dance I can tell a story without speaking words and that it allows me to express myself in any way I want. I love the environment and my friends on the dance team, and I love to perform our routines.

Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?

Gonzalez: Yes, the first ritual or tradition is that before we go to nationals, we write letters to all our teammates, just to be encouraging, and basically saying how much we love each other. We give it to them the night before nationals and we all read them together and it’s a very sweet moment. Secondly, before the team performs especially for state and nationals, we always say a prayer before we go on.

What do you like to do outside of your sport?

Gonzalez: Outside of my sport I like to run, I take dance classes at a studio, and I love hanging out with my friends. I am very active in my church and participate in the leadership program.  I also enjoy traveling with my family. We love building memories together.

What has being a member of a team taught you?

Gonzalez: Being a member of a team has taught me so much. It has taught me how to work really hard, staying positive throughout the season, and how you are all focused on the same goal, so you have to really push each other and we all work as one.

What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?

Gonzalez: A piece of advice I have received from one of my old coaches is that “Success is never owned; it is rented, and the rent is due every day”, which means that if you want to be successful, or in my case, reach a goal, you have to work for it.

Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.

Gonzalez: Last year was the first solo I’ve ever had. At this showcase I forgot the complete ending of my solo but instead of just standing there and letting the crowd think I forgot it I improved my way out of it. Improv is a dance term for making something up. So, it really helped me because I got in my head and forgot it, but I grew (dance-wise) from it so I’m very thankful for that.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Gonzalez: The verse Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse has been really encouraging throughout my years through dance because things can get tough but God will help me through it.

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