When Emily Sowell first stepped onto the Summer Creek High School drill team, she wasn’t just looking for a way to keep dancing; she was looking for a new home away from home. After years of dancing in a studio, she joined the Starlettes, hoping to fill that familiar rhythm in her life while also finding a way to be involved at Summer Creek and show her school spirit.

“I joined drill team after studio because I was looking for something that would fill that void for dance as well as the desire to be involved with my school,” she said. “I care for Summer Creek deeply and I love the ability to serve my school.”

That passion and dedication led her to become one of the team’s leaders, a military officer. As a military officer, Emily has become a leader within the team.

“Being a military officer to me means having the ability to be a positive role model for the younger team members,” she said.

Her path to that position wasn’t always easy. Adjusting from studio life to the demanding world of high school drill team required hard work and dedication.

“The biggest adjustment I had to make was the workload,” she admitted. “Accommodating both the amount of performances we have as well as the demanding practice schedule was a challenge.”

Despite the challenges, Emily has thrived, not just as a dancer but as a leader and teammate.

“Looking back, I’m most proud of the bonds I’ve been able to form with my fellow Starlettes,” she shared. “Before being on the team, I was a quiet and reserved person. I’m very proud I was able to allow my teammates to bring me out of my shell.”

As Emily continues her final year on the team, she hopes to leave an impactful legacy for the younger team members behind her.

“For the younger team members, I hope to leave behind the legacy of my dedication and commitment to the team as well as the hard work associated with a great team,” she said.

After graduation, she plans to attend university and major in pre-dentistry, with dreams of becoming an orthodontist. Wherever she goes, her passion, leadership, love for dance, and lessons learned from the team will continue to shine, proof that once a Starlette, always a Starlette.