When this picture came out in her 3rd year of High School - everyone saw Aliah in a different light.
Somehow this photographer had captured her spark and because of it she was mentioned in
Who's Who of High School Students.

And then when Aliah quit High School Performance Dance after being so known for it -
everyone thought she was ruining her wonderful dance future.

Yet Aliah wanted to dance to her own music - so she was very focused on that vision...
and knew she would still dance all her life - it was not just about High School.

Fortunately, she took a yoga class at Phoenix College instead -
the youngest in the class (16) as a senior in High School and it changed her life forever.
Yoga strengthened her body and took her connection to dance even deeper.

The following year at Phoenix College's Annual Talent Show
Aliah's solo dance to ELO's "Just Take A Pebble"... won 2nd place.

She was playing in the Jazz band with her sax and playing her own songs on piano at the Lunch Concert Series at Phoenix College.
Her plan that was to ruin her life in many people's eyes before was just the live she wanted.
This taught her to go for it and that there will always be those who think you should not do "it" (whatever your dream)...
yet in the end you must live with "it"... it feels better to at least make your own mistakes
rather than doing what others say - and then not having it work out
and always regretting you never tried what was in your heart.

When you do, your rewards are really yours - you have earned them every step of the way.
This is where real self esteem comes from.
We can only give this to ourselves and when we know that it does not matter what happens because no matter what -
no one can take "it" from you either.
This is what we take with us when we go - to have walked the edge of the waters... this is what life is really all about -
facing our fears and following our bliss - so follow visions and allow them to empower you!