The Life of an Aspiring Dancer
At 5:24 A.M on January 9th, 1986 in Fort Worth, Texas, Karen Denise Bennett gave birth to a little baby girl named Katrissa Mikhail Bennett. This little ray of sunshine quickly grew into a fun-loving child who had a passion for life, playing dress up, eating colored crayons, and dancing.
Even at the young age of two, Katrissa would put on high heels and her mother’s nightgowns and beads to become an imaginary princess in her little play world. Always a drama queen or an “actress” as her mother puts it, Katrissa was making a scene wherever she went.
As Katrissa grew older, dance became a major part of her life. As an aspiring dancer, Katrissa has always had the dream of becoming a professional dancer in a jazz company. Her first big step toward her dream was when she enrolled in the NC School of the Arts. She went to UNC Greensboro her freshman year and began studying dance and theater.
After finishing her freshman year there, she transferred to ECU where she is now a senior and is working toward a degree in Public Relations. Realizing today that dance was something she should have never gave up on. She has a secondary dream to open her own wedding planning business.
Katrissa’s mother, Karen Bennett, claims she has a terrible memory but desperately attempted to remember her daughter’s crazy escapades. Mrs.Bennet believes Katriss is a super-sensitive but passionate young woman who needs to take things in life slower and come closer to God. But Katrissa’s mother also understands that growing up in an extremely religious family eventually put a strain on her daughter. Katrissa felt that religion was being shoved down her throat so she decided to walk away from her youth group and church to find her freedom.
Katrissa’s mother only wishes that her daughter would stop living the “wild” college life, give her problems to God, and go to church.
Katrissa’s father, William Bennett, is an electrical engineer in Franklin, Virginia. He recently move to Virginia last Thanksgiving when Katrissa’s parents, married for twenty-one years, decided to go their separate ways. “Our relationship has been very hard on Katrissa. She only wanted us to be happy together so she could feel happy. Katrissa always felt that her mother and my problems were her fault and always strived to get us back together as a young child,” says her father.
Mr. Bennett made it very clear that he is so proud of his daughter. “Katrissa is such an over-achiever and a motivated student. I have no problem paying for school because she makes wonderful grades and is going to go far in life,” says her father.
Mr. Bennett expresses his unconditional love for his daughter and wishes he could spend more time with her. He stated that he only wanted what was best for her and knows that she is “growing into a mature woman.”
One thing William Bennett wishes that she had more control over is her financial situations and her dependency on men. It seems that Katrissa has a true love for shopping and shiny plastic credit cards which in turn has thrown her deep into debt. She also often finds herself in unhealthy relationships that she can’t seem to find the strength to get out of. When she finds someone to love and care for her, she rushes into a serious relationship. Currently, Katrissa is single and her family couldn’t be more ecstatic about it.
On another note, Katrissa had a series of love relationships throughout high school, but a particular one with a marine eight years her senior shocked her family and friends. At the young and restless age of 17, Katrissa decided to venture out to Cherry Point, a military base located in Havelock, N.C. She quickly met Aaron Harvey who at the time was twenty-five. The two wasted no time with falling in love and rushed right into engagement. Unfortunately, and not the least bit surprising due to her bad luck with men, Harvey walked out on Katrissa to head for Kansas City, his hometown.
With a wedding ring, a wedding gown, a church, and weeks left until their wedding, this left Katrissa scarred and devastated, causing her to return home from her freshman year of college.
“I wish I had never left her,” said Harvey. “I wish that we had gotten married. I will always love her no matter what.”
Even thought Harvey regrets his past decisions, the two still communicate on a weekly basis and continue to remain good friends.
“She was such a big part of my life and I can’t let what happened years ago affect our relationship. She will always be my best friend,” Harvey continued.
Harvey is not alone when it comes to thinking highly of Katrissa. Another close friend, Laura Long, had much to say about their close friendship.
“She is a very loyal friend. She’s the friend that makes you go out on a random Monday night because you have no other excuse not to. We both love to go somewhere fun for the weekend, like the beach, and I can always count on her to come up with the idea first and make the plans.”
Katrissa has become a very strong individual although living the life of an emotional roller-coaster. It seems that as soon as she rebuilds herself, she is knocked down again. However, each and every tribulation she has overcome, her friends and family have been there with support and love for her.
Filed under: Classmate Profiles