The only thing I could hear was muffled laughter through the mist of snow covering my ears. He said he would teach me how I complained in my own head. My brother promised me I would be a professional snowboarder by the end of the season. I couldn’t comprehend how I would gain any skill if I didn’t have any feeling in my hands or feet.
            My face went red and chills shot down my spine the second I stepped on the bunny hill. I was surrounded by my entire family, all eyes focused on me. I looked forward, focusing on keeping my knees bent, head up, and arms stiffened. Yet when I started to move, my eyes shot straight down to the snow.
            “Keep your chin up, kiddo!” My dad shouted from the base. I listened and brought my head back up, but then my weight started to shift and I plummeted to the ground. Only on my butt, luckily. The gloves were cutting off circulation to the rest of my arms before I ripped them off. The only thoughts in my mind were how uncomfortable I was. I stood up and shook the ice off the back of my pants, but the smell of hot chocolate lured all of us inside the cabin. I sat down with a warm cup of Christmas spirit to defrost my hands and wiggled my toes to regain blood flow.
            “Why do you make it look so easy?” I questioned my brother.
            He explains to me, “I’ve been at this my whole life, it takes practice. Listen, this is only your first session. After a few more falls and snow to the head, you will get the hang of it”.
            I made my way outside to get my gear back on. My gloves still had ice cold snow inside that instantly shot goosebumps through my jacket and onto my damp skin. I sip the rest of my delicious hot chocolate and pull my bandana up over my nose. As I waddle to the top, I can see every slope in the resort. I felt so clear minded.
            “Take it slow and remember everything we said!” they supportively called from the side of the slope. I stopped thinking and went for it with full confidence. I wish I could explain what it felt like to carve down the slope without bruising my tailbone, but the next thing I remember is standing at the bottom still attached to my board. I did it. Every emotion I felt before this moment was worth it. The cold snow, the warm hot cocoa, the icy breeze against my red cheeks, it all was one moment.
I felt the same way right before my audition day.

"Number 34... Cadence Vuncannon, follow us!" I hear from outside the room. Prior to them calling my name, I felt anxious and excited. I could still taste my 'good-luck' Jimmy John's sandwich my dad bought for me. Most people think that acting is not a real job, that it doesn’t take any skill. They have never sat in this room waiting for their name to be called. I believed this until I was the one in front of the camera. The courage it takes to present yourself with such confidence is impressive as is. While I'm the center of attention, there are unlimited emotions running through my head. I always forget one thing.
“Keep your chin up, kiddo!” I heard my dad encouraged me. I swear I have heard that before. I forget to bring my eyes to the camera after my nerves shoot my eyes to the ground.

The smell of stage makeup and break food filled the audition room. I followed the large man behind the curtain onto the set. The tapping of heels and shuffling of sets drowned all the lines that were being repeated in my head. I told myself not to forget them. If I did, I could be a failure, so I memorized and memorized. As the man sits me down in the chair, I hear a recording of a crowd start to play. They were laughing and cheering so realistically I thought I was in an NFL stadium about to hike the ball, or about the shred down the beginner slope over Christmas vacation.

The sight of Ellen DeGeneres filled my body with goosebumps, as if powdered ice laced my arms and legs. She shook my hand and welcomed me to her set. The smile failed to fade off my face as reality set in that I was on The Ellen Show. I noticed the blue chairs were weirdly comfortable, and there was a slight haze of smoke over the whole set only appearing from the stage lights. I could hear the crew behind the cameras yelling from every angle, so Ellen knew where to turn her head to get her 'good side'. After some small talk before we aired, I realized she wasn't as generous as I thought she was going to be. She had a snarky tone and all I could smell was her nacho lunch from her break room. I could feel the saliva dwell in my cheeks as I saw the red light beam bright above all the cameras. We were live.

"ACTION!" called the director. I found myself staring at the floor again. That was the moment every line I had memorized for this moment decided to make their way out of my memory; however, I didn't need them. Ellen introduced the episode and began to thank everyone for being there. My feet went numb, and my mind went blank. Before I could process what was happening the cameras cut and I was being escorted back to the audition room. I did it. Every audition, every acting class, every nervous casting call was worth it. The journey was filled with so many fails, yet I got back on my board and tried one more time. Anyone who can snowboard will say it’s nothing like being in front of a camera, it’s harder. Little did I know I would become a professional ‘snowboarder’ that day.