As she hits the final pose of the dance, freshman Audrey Nielsen performs the Talonette team jazz for the first time this season. From an early age, Nielsen’s love for dance was evident – She took her first ballet class at just three years old and instantly fell in love with movement. Later, Nielsen said this carried her passion throughout high school.
“I started dancing when I was three years old, and I took ballet class,” Nielsen said, “Which I loved ever since.”
Nielsen is a member of the drill team and Hope Squad. Nielsen started her drill team journey in middle school.
“What drew me to the drill team was my coach in 7th grade (Alex Shepherd) she was so nice and made me want to join the drill team,” Nielsen said. “Then I just fell in love with the drill team.”
The Talonettes season begins in late July and doesn’t end until May. The drill team participates in football season, then transitions into contests and their spring show.
“For drill team, we have 7 a.m. practices Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Sometimes it varies, though,” Nielsen said. “I usually wake up at 6:00 a.m. and leave my house at 6:40 a.m.; then I go to drill team for morning practice.”
Nielsen said she understands that managing her mental health is essential.
“I balance my time by making sure I take time out of my day just to have some free time,” Nielsen said. “Whether it’s laying in bed on my phone or cleaning out my room because it can get overwhelming with the amount of activities I have to do.”
In addition to her commitment to dance, Nielsen finds fulfillment in her work with Hope Squad, a program dedicated to spreading kindness and mental health awareness.
“I like how in Hope Squad, we spread kindness toward others,” Nielsen said. “The teacher is such a great role model for all of us, and I also have a lot of friends in Hope Squad, so it makes it a really good and safe environment to talk about.”
Hope Squad members are chosen through nominations made by the students. Nielsen said she’s had many memorable moments since she joined the organization.
“I enjoyed setting up staff coffee in Hope Squad because we made posters and interacted with the staff,” Nielsen said. “It was so enjoyable that they were all so happy to get their coffee, and I just love how we give back to the community a lot.”
While her schedule may be packed, Nielsen remains focused on her goals, both academically and in her extracurricular pursuits. She dreams of becoming a physical therapist and is determined to keep her grades high while continuing to develop her talents in dance and leadership.
“My goals for dance are to push myself to be the best that I can at all times,” Nielsen said. “I really wanna put my best foot forward. My academic goals would be to keep my high grades, get into a good college, and maintain my GPA.”
Her journey has not been without its challenges. In 7th grade, Nielsen suffered a painful ankle injury during a dance competition. She said the recovery process was difficult, but it taught her the importance of perseverance and self-care.
“It was very hard for me because I kept missing my tricks, and it was a tough situation,” Nielsen said. “I had to go to physical therapy and make sure I was working on my ankle so it would not happen again.”
Despite these obstacles, Nielsen’s passion for dance remains determined, and her involvement in both the drill team and Hope Squad has shaped her high school experience.
“I love the drill team because it gives me a community to build with,” Nielsen said. “Almost all my friends, whether they’re in middle school or high school, I found through the drill team.”
As Nielsen continues to navigate high school, she said she remains grounded in her mission to balance her passions and responsibilities.
“Hope Squad has let me spread awareness about mental health and show that it really does mean something,” Nielsen said. “Hope Squad does a lot of things that many people don’t even realize.”
