Allison Holker

And it's no one else's fault. It's not a wife's fault or a partner's fault or the children's fault or their loved ones or their friends, but they've been hurting inside and been too scared to reach out to someone. And that through what I've experienced and my family's experience, they decided to make the choice to get help or to talk to someone about it. And it's helped them so much.

And it's no one else's fault. It's not a wife's fault or a partner's fault or the children's fault or their loved ones or their friends, but they've been hurting inside and been too scared to reach out to someone. And that through what I've experienced and my family's experience, they decided to make the choice to get help or to talk to someone about it. And it's helped them so much.

And so this really is like a testament to all those people that are starting to stand up for themselves and be brave and speak out and seek out help. And there really are so many resources out there that I was not aware of either that I'm trying to advocate for and trying to promote other people to feel safe to reach out to.

And so this really is like a testament to all those people that are starting to stand up for themselves and be brave and speak out and seek out help. And there really are so many resources out there that I was not aware of either that I'm trying to advocate for and trying to promote other people to feel safe to reach out to.

Well, I remember I started dance a little bit later than most girls start dance. A lot of people start dance when they're about three or four years old. I didn't start dancing until later. Like it was like in my early like 10s, you know, like nine, 10 years old, I started dancing. And, um, my father was really struggling for work at the time. So he was going overseas a lot.

Well, I remember I started dance a little bit later than most girls start dance. A lot of people start dance when they're about three or four years old. I didn't start dancing until later. Like it was like in my early like 10s, you know, like nine, 10 years old, I started dancing. And, um, my father was really struggling for work at the time. So he was going overseas a lot.

And so he was gone a lot of my childhood. Like when I was, you know, like those really, um, crucial years of connecting with your dad and your parents. And my dad was gone a lot, but it's cause he was, it wasn't a bad thing. He wasn't trying to want to like run away from us. He was just trying to like care for us in the best way he could. Right. But he was gone still struggling.

And so he was gone a lot of my childhood. Like when I was, you know, like those really, um, crucial years of connecting with your dad and your parents. And my dad was gone a lot, but it's cause he was, it wasn't a bad thing. He wasn't trying to want to like run away from us. He was just trying to like care for us in the best way he could. Right. But he was gone still struggling.

And, um, I was still in dance and that was kind of like my safe place. I I felt really alone with my parents both working and being gone. So dance gave me this place of friendship and my teachers kind of became my parents in that kind of role for me. That when my dad came home one time, I was like, we cannot afford this anymore. I was devastated.

And, um, I was still in dance and that was kind of like my safe place. I I felt really alone with my parents both working and being gone. So dance gave me this place of friendship and my teachers kind of became my parents in that kind of role for me. That when my dad came home one time, I was like, we cannot afford this anymore. I was devastated.

And so I went into my dance studio owner, Cheryl Dowling, with my mother and I was like, we can't pay for this, but thank you for everything. I love dance. It's not you guys. I just, we have no other options here. We can't afford it. And she was like, give me a second, let me work this out. And she said to me, she was like, would you be willing to clean the studio?

And so I went into my dance studio owner, Cheryl Dowling, with my mother and I was like, we can't pay for this, but thank you for everything. I love dance. It's not you guys. I just, we have no other options here. We can't afford it. And she was like, give me a second, let me work this out. And she said to me, she was like, would you be willing to clean the studio?

And at that time, so I'd only started dancing for a couple of years. I was I think like 12 or 13 when she was like, would you be willing to clean the dance studio? And I was like, anything, I'll do anything as I love it so much. Even though it only been a couple of years of dancing, I knew that this was my purpose for life. I knew I was supposed to do this.

And at that time, so I'd only started dancing for a couple of years. I was I think like 12 or 13 when she was like, would you be willing to clean the dance studio? And I was like, anything, I'll do anything as I love it so much. Even though it only been a couple of years of dancing, I knew that this was my purpose for life. I knew I was supposed to do this.

And so I literally gave up my childhood and every single night I would, you know, after school, I would go to my dance classes. I'd be there till about 9.30 PM. And then I would clean the dance studio for an hour and a half every single night. And I would go in on the weekends and have to do a deep cleaning of everything and dusting of the studios.

And so I literally gave up my childhood and every single night I would, you know, after school, I would go to my dance classes. I'd be there till about 9.30 PM. And then I would clean the dance studio for an hour and a half every single night. And I would go in on the weekends and have to do a deep cleaning of everything and dusting of the studios.

And I did that all the way till I graduated high school at 18 years old. And I look back at that and I do not regret any of it. It taught me work ethic. It taught me that I was doing something for the right reasons. It gave me dedication. And it also taught me that I love something so grand that I'm willing to give up so much as a child to be here.

And I did that all the way till I graduated high school at 18 years old. And I look back at that and I do not regret any of it. It taught me work ethic. It taught me that I was doing something for the right reasons. It gave me dedication. And it also taught me that I love something so grand that I'm willing to give up so much as a child to be here.

And then it also made me really respect my dance teacher seeing so much of me, giving me that opportunity. Because let's be real, I probably wasn't the best at what I was doing. Yeah. But she worked with me and made it possible for me.

And then it also made me really respect my dance teacher seeing so much of me, giving me that opportunity. Because let's be real, I probably wasn't the best at what I was doing. Yeah. But she worked with me and made it possible for me.