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Mia Moumdjian
Mrs. Davenport
English 9 Honors
28 March 2016
Misty Copelands Ambition
Imagine being the first person to accomplish something that has never been done before.
To be able to do this, one would have to have a lot of positive ambition. Misty Copeland reached
her goal with a lot of hard work and ambition. Misty Copeland is the first African-American
performer to become a soloist and principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her ambition
helped her through all of her obstacles
Growing up poor, she did not have many opportunities. She started ballet at the age of
thirteen, and shockingly started dancing on pointe after only three months of training. It was
remarkable that her ankles become strong enough to hold all of her body weight, after just three
months. Mistys first role was in Firebird, playing the firebird. She was so determined to nail
her performance that she danced through an immense amount of pain. She had six stress
fractures, in her feet and legs, and still danced beautifully on her toes.
Mistys African-American aesthetic was thought to hold her back. In the famous
masterpiece, Swan Lake, Odette Odile is normally played by a fair-skinned, white girl. However,
Misty proved that any race can be beautiful on stage when she played Odette. Her drive to be the
best is what gave her the role. No one expected to see an African-American women playing a
white, pale swan, but Misty showed everyone that the color of the swan does not matter; it is
what the swan can do. When told that she would not be able to reach her dreams because of her
race, she was empowered to try harder. How would you feel if you were not able to do
something because of who you are? Wouldnt you feel hopeless?

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Mistys passion, besides ballet, is giving back. She works with charitable organizations to
help mentor boys and girls. In 2014, she received an Honorary Doctorate from The University of
Hartford. She received the award because of her contribution to diversifying ballet. Shes set new
limits to the ballet world, and is broadening the horizons for many young dancers. Because of
Mistys positive ambition, she was in Time Magazines top one hundred most influential people.
She also became one of the faces of Under Armour in 2014, with her I will what I want,
campaign. Lastly, Misty was one of Glamour Magazines Women of the Year, in 2015. Kerry
Washington, 2013 Women of the Year, said, "She's blazed her own pathand proven that you
don't have to bend to society's expectations because you look a certain way."
Misty is much like Phineas, from A Separate Peace, by John Knowles. They both faced
an obstacle that got in the way of their dream. Phineas love was sports, and because of his
accident, he wasnt able to play sports anymore. In A Separate Peace, on page 107, Finny says to
Gene, Did I ever tell you, that I used to be aiming for the Olympics? He was very hopeful
about his legs healing, so he did not want to throw away his dream. Misty wanted to be a
professional ballerina, but her skin tone seemed to be an obstacle. In an interview with Glamour
Magazine, Misty said, I was on a path. I was going to be a principal dancer. I never let my mind
rest. Both of them showed ambition as they worked to overcome their obstacle.
Misty is also a lot like Scout from the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Scout
is very confident, and she does what she wants, no matter what other people think. In To Kill a
Mockingbird, on page 101, Atticus says, No matter what anybody says to you, dont you let em
get your goat. Atticus raised her to be herself. Misty is also very confident and brave. She
became a ballerina when everyone said she couldnt be, and she didnt care about the negative
things people told her.
How do you think Misty Kept her positive ambition, when society told her African-

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Americans cant be principal dancers? Septime Weber, ballet artistic director, said, We have
made a real effort to send out a message to the ballet world that this is an organization that
welcomes dancers of all cultures and complexions. If Misty was able to go from living in a
crowded motel room, to achieving the impossible, you can accomplish whatever you work for.
Misty is now one of the most ambitious people in the ballet world.

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Works Cited
Knowles, John. A Seperate Peace. Agincourt: Book Society of Canada,

1966. Print.

Laeze,Lisa. "The Official Website of Misty Copeland." Misty Copeland. Starving Artist Web
Design, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Hachette Book Group, 1960. Print.
Morris, Alex. "Ballerina Misty Copeland On Breaking Barriers and Loving Her Strong Body."
Glamour. N.p., 29 Oct. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.