How is Montauk in the summer?

How to convince your parents to let you do a summer intensive?

• I really want to do a summer intensive for ballet this summer, but my parents have a really, "We'll discuss it, but we're leaning towards no" attitude about it. I'm 14 years old, I really can't afford to wait any longer, but they keep saying stuff like "You'll benefit from it more in a couple years," even though in a couple years, I'll be 16, and I'm supposed to be finished training!! Also, this intensive is the Jillana School, specifically geared for the young pre-professional (my dad's argument to this was, "And I'm assuming there's others, geared towards older people?"), and for four weeks, it's only $2860 (that's 40 hours of instruction per week, 3 healthy meals every day, and we stay in condos). I already have nearly $800 of my own money, and I'll have a lot more by summer. They offer merit scholarships, but I'm not sure how likely it is that I'd get one, because I don't know how many they give, and I don't have any basis to compare myself to. So anyway, I'm not sure if what I said is babble or not, so here's a basic list: My parents' problems/arguments with it: -I'm too young to go away for a whole month -I'll benefit more from it in a couple of years -It's too expensive And my arguments for those points: -It's no longer than any other summer camp other kids go to when they're 7 or 8, and its not across the country (it's about 325 miles away). And I'll call them every day. -It's geared towards younger people, so I'll benefit from it more NOW -I already have a quarter of the money, and I'll pay at least half of the cost myself *****I don't have the guts to tell them that I want to be a professional dancer, honestly (I think they're under the impression that I want to work in national security, because I've read a number of books about it. But it's just a hobby - and I'm terrible with computers). I've been taking challenging classes, but I'm not sure how to convince them to let me take more. My sister is an artist, so it would be hypocritical for them to be disapproving, but I remember my mom making this whole speech about how "You're a GENIUS," (which I'm not - school just isn't very difficult, and I understand things quickly) and "you have to do something that will help the whole world." Also, this affects my arguments for the summer intensive. I really need some advice...

• Answer:

  you need to tell your parents how much you really want this. if you are aiming to become a professional ballet dancer, then you need to dance as much as you can, and that includes during the summer time. you should tell your parents about how you will benefit from participating in a summer intensive. for their arguments: "you are too young" -- tell your parents that you are mature enough to study ballet on your own for a month. tell them that you have been very mature throughout your whole process in learning ballet, and you would be able to handle it. "i'll benefit more from it in a couple of years" -- you need to make it clear to your parents that you cannot wait any longer to get more training. you need to tell them about how at the age of sixteen that most dancers who are trying to become professional are done with their training. also tell them at the age of sixteen, dancers are taken in as apprentices in the corps de ballet at a company. "it's too expensive" -- tell them how much you already have saved up, and that you will have around that amount by the time the summer intensive rolls around. tell them that you will pay for most .. if not all .. of it. if you want to become a professional dancer, now is the time to tell your parents. they are under the impression that you want to work for the government, which you don't, and they aren't thinking about why you actually want to participate in a summer intensive. if you do not tell them about wanting to pursue a dance career, then they won't be able to give you the motivation you need to reach that goal, and they will never be able to help you. don't be embarrassed or shy about revealing what you want to do with a part of your life. it is your life, and it is what you want it to be. if you want to be a professional ballet dancer, than you should have the guts to tell it to the world. when you go back to discuss this with your parents, appear confident when you tell them that it is what you want to do with your life. tell them that ballet dancing is a passion of yours, and that it would be amazing if they supported you in your journey. good luck in convincing them, and i hope i helped!