Dancer, athlete, and leader Taylor Rothwell is always moving. Whether it’s across a stage, or towards her goals, Taylor puts her all into every stride she takes. As she begins her last semester here at Enloe, join us in slowing down to appreciate everything Taylor has done for our community.
Taylor says that out of every room in Enloe, she definitely spends the most time in the dance studio. A member of Enloe’s highest level modern dance class, dance ensemble, for two years now, her contributions to Enloe’s dance community are immeasurable. Her love of dance comes from a love of movement. She says, “I just love to move my body, and whatever happens happens. I feel a little more free in [the studio].” Although she prefers improvisation to choreography, she appreciates the process, saying, “Start to finish, it is very rewarding.”
In regard to Enloe’s dance program specifically, Taylor says her favorite part is how tight-knit the community is. “It’s very encouraging … you might not know somebody [in the program], but you know that they support you,” she remarks. Her favorite memory from Enloe dance highlights this community. She recalls how this year’s first Winter Showcase night started hecticly. She recounts, “Hair ties were breaking … things were flying everywhere.” But ultimately, Taylor says that performance was, “Probably the best run we ever did of that dance.” It showed her how even in the most stressful situations, their bonds will hold the dance together, saying, “It really reminded me that, it’s ok, ensemble is a community.”
Aside from being a skilled member of Enloe Dance Ensemble, Taylor is a pillar in the dance community as co-president of Dance Club. This year, Taylor helped organize the first dance halftime show at a basketball game. She says the dance club is special because it allows dancers who aren’t in classes at Enloe to participate in the Enloe dance program.
When she’s not at a dance rehearsal, you’re likely to find Taylor on the soccer field. A member of the varsity team since junior year, she’s a crucial part of Enloe soccer. While her position isn’t set in stone, she says her favorite to play is center mid. She says, “I can see the field more, so I feel more aware of what’s happening … People are always looking for you to be there to cover … [so] people rely on you more, which is stressful, but it’s like, ‘okay, you trust me to be here.’” Soccer is a way Taylor decompresses, saying, “It’s a break after school. Yes it’s competitive, but it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s have some fun.’” That being said, she says she does have a competitive side, “I don’t like the idea of being competitive, but I am … I like to compete, it’s less about winning or losing.” Taylor will return for her second and senior year on the varsity team, don’t forget to catch her at a game this spring!
Can’t find Taylor in the dance hallway or the stadium field? Try Mr. Busch’s room, where she could be working on the yearbook. As an editor, her work on the yearbook includes writing and formatting layouts for pages, as well as helping first year students in the class. Taylor says her favorite aspect of working on the yearbook is how it pushes her outside of her comfort zone. She states, “It’s really fun getting to talk to people you never would’ve talked to.”
So, as a leader in so many spaces at Enloe, how does she do it all? Taylor explains it through her life motto, “Junior year, I got a chalkboard for Christmas … I was in the junior year trenches, and the quote I wrote down on it was, ‘Dreams don’t work unless you do.’” She explains what the quote means to her, saying, “[It reminds me that] hey, you just gotta work hard, and the results will come … just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll see what’s in store for you.” Aside from working hard and trusting the process, Taylor says her biggest piece of advice for underclassmen is: “Don’t be afraid to try things, but also stay focused on the things you do end up liking.” She reflects, “I struggled a lot with finding a passion … My freshman year was like, let me just try a little bit of everything … eventually, it kept getting very specific to what I wanted to do.” Taylor’s close friend, Aathu Sutharshan, says her work ethic is something he admires about her, “I love that she’s very dedicated. She’s very passionate about everything she has to do at school.”
This year, Taylor decided she wants to study nursing. She says, “I started volunteering at a hospital last summer … It was the little interactions between visitors that made me realize, wait, I love doing this.” Her love of helping people has always shined through. “Her pursuing nursing makes sense, she’s just really kind and caring. She’s just a genuine person. She’s so personable, everyone around her wants to be near her,” says friend Chloe Light. Others share this sentiment: “She’s really good with people. So I think [nursing is] a really good pathway with her,” echoes friend Hannah Lloyd. “She cares, and it’s actually something she’s passionate about. I think she’ll do really well with the people part of it.”
Throughout Taylor’s time at Enloe, she’s never stopped working to make the school a better, brighter place. As she flies away from the nest, it’s no doubt she’ll succeed in every goal she sets.
