As a freshman, this was my first experience at THON and wow—all I can say is wow. I am so lucky to have experienced such a life-changing journey as a Dancer Relations Committee Member (DRCM) with my wonderful dancer, Rachel. Needless to say, my eyes were opened to a whole new world and a whole new perspective. I now can see the true power of THON and the magic that it brings to all of those that get to experience its glory. And I could not be more thankful.
As a DRCM, I was responsible for the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of one of the 700 dancers staying on their feet for the entire 46 hour dance marathon. I was basically the support the dancer needed throughout the entire journey. When I signed up to be on this particular committee I had no idea what this entailed. Help keep a dancer motivated? Yeah I can do that. Make sure the dancer eats and drinks? I like to eat and drink, so yeah I can definitely do that. But what I did not realize was to the extent that each of these roles played in making THON possible and helping the dancers get through this hard journey.
Helping the dancers through the journey did not mean just check on them every few minutes but instead be there for most of the time—just about 36 hours—jumping around trying to keep the dancer’s spirits high. Alls I heard was I would be there for 30 hours. Not sleeping for basically an entire weekend. Yikes. My initial feelings were self-pity as I could not help but feel sorry for myself for the exhaustion and pain that I was going to go through. Boy was I selfish.
The second that I walked into the BJC Friday night, as I entered my first shift on the floor, those selfish feelings immediately changed completely. The moment that I opened those doors and felt the energy that pulsated through the entire building, I knew that this was not about me. As I saw the thousands of Penn State students jam-packed in the stands, all together for one amazing cause, I knew this was not about me. As I saw the smiles on the little kids’ faces as they got to be real, normal kids for a weekend, I knew this was not about me. As I carried my dancer on my back to the training station to get her calf wrapped, I knew this was not about me. Nothing about this weekend was about me and the slight pain I may have felt in my feet or the sleep deprivation I was fighting through did not existed when I was in the BJC fighting for those that cannot fight themselves and fighting for those little kids who may be fighting a battle with cancer as we speak.
THON is not about anyone but the kids and those that are battling, have struggled and fought in the past, or lost their fight with cancer. The dancers are not doing it for the glory of saying that they did it and the pictures they might take as proof. They are not there for themselves. They are not there because standing on your feet for 46 hours is pleasant. No. They are there to help fight this disease that is taking too many kids away from their loved ones and the futures they will never get to live. They are there to give the children and their families a place to feel at home for the weekend where they do not have to mope around in a hospital bed but instead play with water-guns and blow bubbles like normal kids that are not battling cancer. They are willing to go through the pain of dancing for 46 hours because they know it is nothing compared to what some of those kids go through.
Even through the hardest times of the weekend, where my dancer was losing depth perception, feeling in her ankles, and memory, my dancer continued to have a huge smile on her face. She continued to smile and play with every little kid that was in sight even through the pain and exhaustion. Right before the final four hours she possessed enough strength and motivation within her to go onto stage with her dance company and do their routine for the entire BJC. I have never been so proud. Tears were brought to my eyes as through the hours the BJC was still filled with a sea of chanting frat boys, dancing sorority girls, singing org members, and observant spectators all together for the same cause -FTK! Nothing mattered but the kids.
Everyone always said how amazing THON was and how it will change your life but what I guess I never realized was how it would totally change my perspective and outlook on life in general. The suffering and pain I might go through is minute in comparison to the struggles that many young children have to go through each and every day. THON is about the unity that it brings such a large university all together for an amazing cause and an amazing event in general. THON has changed my life entirely. Cherish every moment you have in life because life is full of wonderful things even during the though times if you can just smile. 🙂
Check out these articles to learn more about THON 2015!
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/thon/article_2310f0f6-bb07-11e4-a33f-13ff0e4369f4.html
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/2015/02/22/Penn-State-s-Thon-sets-new-fundraising-record/stories/201502220218