I know a girl whose life is a manifestation of the quote “Don’t dream your life, live your dream.” Though she is petite in stature and quiet in manner (probably because she never got enough sleep at night), whenever she hits the dance floor, she always takes the center stage.
When I met Hillson, she was a business student by day who spent any time outside of school dancing. She covered odd jobs to pay for her own tuition, commuted daily two hours back and forth to school, and rehearsed late into the night for weekend dance gigs.
GROWING UP, HER FAMILY WAS ADAMANT IN THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF HER DANCING. THEY WITHHELD THEIR SUPPORT AND TOLD HER THAT IF SHE WERE TO TAKE THIS PATH, SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT ALONE.
Those who knew Hillson, knew that whatever her lot, she could take it all and carry it with exceptional grace. Growing up, her family was adamant in their disapproval of her dancing. They withheld their support and told her that if she were to take this path, she would have to do it alone. Even her friends were skeptical and convinced of the impracticality. Yet despite the chorus of discouragement, she decided that her passion was worth pursuing anyways.
After years of hard work in dance camps, practices in rehearsal rooms, and struggling as she lived paycheck to paycheck, Hillson finally made her mark in the dance industry. Now, when you walk down the streets of Hong Kong and ask for the short girl in oversized sweats who dances, people will know exactly who you’re looking for.
With everything going on in the world today, it’s a pulsing reminder that there is still a lot of room for change and progress, especially for women. But celebration coexists with struggle and now, more than ever, we want to celebrate the remarkable resilience of women, individuals who find the strength and passion to go on despite their circumstances.
Tell us about a female figure in your life (who’s not your mom, because we all know they’re #1 in our lives) that embodies remarkable resilience at hello@matterprints.com