My First Pole Dancing Competition

One week ago, my friends and I packed up our cars and made our way down to Connecticut to compete in the 2016 Northeast Pole Championships. For most of us, it was our first competition and we couldn't have been more nervous or excited.

I'd never done anything like this in my entire life. I grew up playing sports like football and soccer, games that needed a full team. But with this routine, I'd be competing all by myself. I competed on Sunday, while almost all of my friends competed on Saturday. I must admit that I was a little jealous of them. I was so nervous and my nerves seemed to grow by the minute. Part of me just wanted to get the routine over with while the other part of me wanted to savor every possible second of the experience.

Category: Dramatic, Level 2

Song: Daylight by Maroon 5

I was even more nervous because there were many more people in my category as there were in my friends' categories. So I tried telling myself that since there wasn't a great chance that I'd win, that I should just try to take the pressure off of myself and enjoy my performance. But then I felt bad because I didn't want to go into the competition thinking that I wasn't going to win. So I reminded myself that it didn't matter if I won or lost. What mattered is that I spent months working incredibly hard on this routine and that I was doing something that was completely out of my comfort zone. I've loved pole dancing from the second that I started doing it but having the courage to actually compete was something that I never actually thought that I'd attain. Even now, a week later, I'm still a little surprised that I actually did it. Sometimes it feels like a dream.

I was so afraid that I was going to fall on stage or mess us drastically but I didn't. Sure, the routine wasn't perfect. I had a few small hiccups but nothing really even noticeable to anyone but me and my instructor. I am incredibly proud of myself for even competing, even though I didn't win or place. I know that I left my heart and soul on that stage and that I did the best that I possibly could have.

I'm also really glad that I went just because it was a really amazing, fun road trip with some great memories and even better friends. I'll never forget them and all of the laughs, wine and good times that we shared together. I know that when I'm older I'll look back on this experience and feel really lucky that I got to do what I loved to do with some really fantastic people. I'm so glad that we all pushed ourselves and grew together.

And I can't wait to compete again.

-Chelsea