Freshman year you couldn’t have paid me to stand for 30 hours, let alone dance for that long. I didn’t think Dance Marathon was for me. However during the lead-up to the event, I watched as profile pictures were changed, Northwestern students woke up early on game days to can for change outside of football and basketball games, and slowly but surely Dance Marathon crept closer. The night before Dance Marathon, I watched friends from my dorm hallway pack their best neon clothing and every, yes every, pair of socks they could get their hands on. Fifteen hours after the marathon began, I walked over to Norris Student Center and entered the big white tent that held over 1,000 dancing students to visit my friends. Aside from noticing the smell, which is what you would expect from 15 hours of dancing, I noticed that my dancing friends were smiling. They were so happy to be there. I saw their faces and I saw the amount of money that was raised through their efforts: I knew that I would one day have to cross DM off of my NU bucket list. The next year, as a sophomore, I signed up. After collecting all of my neon items, a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, and a lot of socks, it was my turn to enter the tent.
I lucked out that year. Maybe my shoes were tied just right or the music was just loud enough, but those 30 hours were truly the most amazing hours I have ever spent at Northwestern. Being surrounded by many different groups from all across campus united for the same goal was amazing. This past weekend, I danced for my second time. This year wasn’t so easy — I don’t think my old senior self was ready for the physical toll Dance Marathon can take on your body. The final hours came (relatively) quickly, however, and as our team was standing in a circle swaying to a Beatles song all of the foot pain melted away and I remembered why I was there. I danced to raise awareness for the beneficiary. I danced to reconnect with friends and a greater Northwestern community. I danced for an incredibly unique event that my peers worked so hard to put on. It’s that dedication and stamina that make me proud to be a Northwestern student.
–Taylor Billings