When I first decided I wanted to take dance seriously, I knew it wouldn't be easy. I had the passion, the drive, but that wasn't enough. If I wanted to make it in the industry, I needed to push myself even further. That's when I made one of the most important decisions of my life: to audition for a major entertainment company.
JYP Entertainment was one of the biggest companies in the industry, and it was where I knew I'd have a chance to grow as an artist. I remember the first time I learned about their auditions. I didn't really think it would be possible for someone like me to get in, but deep down, I knew I had to try. So, I prepared for the audition. I practiced every single day, working on my dance, my vocals, and my overall performance. I wanted to stand out, and I was willing to give it everything I had.
When the audition day finally came, I was nervous—so nervous that I almost didn't want to go. But I forced myself to push through it. I told myself, "This is your shot. If you don't take it now, you'll regret it forever." I walked into the audition room, and it felt like everything slowed down. There were so many people there, all of them hoping for the same thing. I could feel the weight of the competition, but I tried not to let it get to me.
I did my best, trying to stay calm and show the judges everything I had worked on. It wasn't perfect, but I gave it my all. When the judges told me that I had passed, I couldn't believe it. I was in. I had become a trainee.
But as happy as I was to be accepted, I quickly realized that the journey was far from easy. Being a trainee was a lot harder than I had anticipated. It wasn't just about being talented; it was about having the right mindset, the ability to withstand intense training, and the perseverance to keep going even when things seemed impossible. I was living in a dorm with the other trainees, and the training sessions were grueling. We had to wake up early every day, work long hours, and practice non-stop.
I remember days when I was exhausted—physically and mentally. There were moments when I felt like I wasn't good enough, when I questioned whether I had made the right choice. I wanted to be the best, but the constant comparisons with other trainees made it hard to see my progress. Some trainees had been dancing for years, and it was hard not to feel behind. The constant feedback from the trainers was both encouraging and discouraging at the same time. They would point out my mistakes, and I'd try to correct them, but there were times when I wondered if I was ever going to get it right.
The isolation was also tough. I missed home, missed my family, and there were days when I felt lonely. I didn't have the luxury of going home after a long day of training, and that distance made me miss the comfort of familiar faces. But I kept pushing forward. I reminded myself why I was there and that I had made this choice for a reason.
The most important lesson I learned during my time as a trainee was resilience. It wasn't about being perfect—it was about improving, step by step, and never giving up. And even though there were moments when I felt like quitting, I always found a way to keep going. This was the start of something bigger, something that would eventually lead me to Stray Kids. But at that point, I didn't know what the future held. I just knew I couldn't stop trying.