We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Bergeron recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachel , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
When I was 15 years old, my dad passed away unexpectedly. I’m an only child, so me and my parents were very close. When he passed, I watched my mom get up every day and put one foot in front of the other. When I saw her bravery and persistency to be happy and push forward, I realized I could do that too. Ever since then, I kept that same attitude towards everything in my life. It has made me realize there is nothing I can’t conquer, and my trust in myself to keep going is unwavering. It gave me the courage to follow my dreams, paired with the tenacity to believe I can make anything happen.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My whole life I have always felt drawn to art and music. When people meet me and find out I am a dancer, they ask if i’ve been dancing my whole life. It’s funny to me because I don’t have an extreme technical dance background, but I realized it was music that I have always loved. Music is the one thing that can completely change my day. During covid, I discovered a true passion for dance & when I realized I could do this with my life I knew I had to make it a reality. I moved to LA two years ago, and hit the ground running. I knew I had to put in some serious hours to advance in my craft (dance), so I truly devoted all of my time and energy to invest in myself. It has already paid off in so many ways. Sometimes I forget how much I have accomplished, so doing this interview is very reflective for me. Something most people don’t know about me is that I also have a passion for writing…short stories and poetry. That is something I usually keep close to my heart, but who knows! Maybe this year I will share some of my writing as well. 🙂
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Self-awareness and confidence are everything. Anyone can develop skill over time, but knowing yourself is rare and magnetic. In the world we live in, more often than not, everyone is trying to be someone else. The only way to truly shine and excel in whatever matters to you, is to believe in what you have to offer the world. Wasting time trying to imitate someone else or trying to be something you are not is iust pushing you further away from your true potential. You can never be the better version of someone else. Lean into what makes you YOU. Be proud of that and capitalize on it.
Consistency and true hard work are the only way to develop. Putting in the hours, even when you don’t want to. Holding yourself to the standards you have set in your work and life is so important. Being realistic and honest with yourself & knowing that maybe you aren’t where you want to be yet, but trusting yourself that you make the right decisions every day to get there. I think it’s important to be kind to yourself, but you can be kind to yourself while also pushing yourself.
I am still learning and growing every day, but the best advice I could pass along to anyone who is starting on their journey is that it’s best to leave no stone unturned. Experience everything for yourself, and be selective with whose opinions you place value on. An “oops” is always better than a “what if”. Trust yourself. You are capable of so much more than you even know, and the only way to know is to try. Don’t be afraid of trying. Don’t be afraid of trying and failing. And even better- don’t be afraid of being seen trying and failing. Open yourself up and give yourself grace. You will get farther much quicker this way.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful things my parents ever did for me was let me be myself, and let me struggle.
I know that sounds a little dramatic! What I really mean is everything I have done and built in my life, I can confidently say I did on my own from the ground up. I have always had the support and love of my family, but they have pushed me from a young age to be independent. I will always be thankful for that, because without experiencing what it feels like to fall, I would never know how capable I am of picking myself up. They have always created an environment for me to feel loved while navigating my way through life and I am forever grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rach_bergeron_/
Image Credits
Unedited photos by Wes Klain
