A Thomas County Central High School student learned some new moves and gained insight into her chosen career field during a life-changing summer experience.
Current senior Christina Maggitas attended the Governor’s Honors Program, held on the Valdosta State University campus. Her selected field of study was dance.
“My experience at GHP was incredible,” Maggitas said. “Every day was filled with different challenges and activities that pushed me not only as a dancer but also as a person. GHP was a wonderful and fun experience that has taught me so many valuable skills and will always be very special to me.”
Participating in GHP for an arts field is different from attending for an academics field, she said, because “you are challenged to think in a creative and expressive way that values the individual’s perceptions of ‘art’ and the meaning behind it, producing works that can be freely interpreted and connected with on various levels.”
Her favorite part of the program was “the diversified information” taught. Styles of dance included during instruction were ballet, jazz, African, contemporary, and modern, as well as conditioning classes.
“I wasn’t confined to just one style of dance but was instructed in a variety of movements along with having the opportunity to take academic classes that taught me the importance of being a well-rounded and open-minded individual,” she said.
The program’s most challenging part to Maggitas was “the intensity.”
“The teachers were constantly pushing me to perform at a professional level through rigorous and intense sessions that forced me to strive to be the best I could be physically and mentally,” she said.
Being selected to attend GHP “means the world” to Maggitas.
“I feel it was an experience that has changed my life, encouraging me to strive for excellence and remember to believe in myself even when faced with challenges,” she said. “Participation in this program taught me what it truly means to dance and the unique responsibility I have been given as a dancer to connect with an audience and share my passion, inspiring others to do the same.”
Maggitas intends to major in dance in college and pursue a career in a company that supports all dance styles.
“The knowledge I gained from GHP is something that I will carry with me throughout my life as I pursue a career in dance, constantly reminding me of the importance of dedication, hard work, and never giving up on your dreams,” she said.