DOWAGIAC — On Tuesday, students from third grade all the way up to seniors in high school took to the stage at Dowagiac Middle School to participate in a performance learned in three short days.

As students sang, acted and danced, they infused their own creativity into songs, poems and choreography they crafted. Throughout their performance, they were guided and joined by members of the Young Americans, who came to Dowagiac to help students learn self-confidence, self-esteem and respect for others.

Lacey Fry, a senior at Dowagiac Union Schools, has gone through the Young American Workshop four times and said getting close to the Young Americans can make performance day bittersweet.

“You get so close to these people so fast. It’s so hard to watch them leave,” Fry said. “The last day is always the hardest.”

While Fry does not struggle with stage nerves, she said the workshop teaches confidence in many areas — not just in singing and dancing.

“It makes you a better person and less judgmental on what others do, because they are not going to judge you on what you do,” she said.

Performing on stage next to students, Amanda Craft, a Dowagiac native, who has been with the Young Americans for more than two years, sees the students as a reflection of herself.

“I see these kids, and it’s like a reflection of myself because this is where I came from,” she said. “It shows where I’ve been and how much I’ve grown since them.”

This year was Craft’s first workshop back in her hometown where she performed in front of family, friends and the community. Throughout the three-day workshop, Craft said she witnessed growth in students of all ages. 

“The first day, there was this one girl who was really shy,” Craft said. “By the end of that first day, she was dancing and laughing.”

For older students, the workshop serves as a way to hone their skills, but it still provides challenges that lead to improvement.

“Every time the Young Americans come back, almost everything is different,” said Isabella Ruiz, a student at Dowagiac Union High School. “You get to learn an entire new show every time. That’s where its challenging, but [it is] one of the best experiences you can have.”

Ruiz, who has actively participated in band performances and school musicals, remembers how her first Young Americans Workshop helped her become the performer she is today.

“I remember my first time doing it. It really brought me out of my shell,” Ruiz said. “I used to be really shy, and now I’m the loud kind of jokester — basically, the class clown.”

Ruiz’s peers said they never knew her when she was shy. She responded with a smile.

“Well, thank the Young Americans,” she said.

All students, including 10-year-old Mallory Bakeman, were challenged to write their own songs, poems and choreography. One group created a song about the online videogame “Fortnite.”

On the first day, Bakeman volunteered to sing in front of the group, which she called, “scary,” but taught her to get over her nerves.

“I love that I can be creative and dance and sing,” Bakeman said.

Avery Lyons, 7, of Dowagiac, also was excited to perform on stage, as dancing is her favorite activity.

“Whenever I dance, sometimes it makes me feel better and calms me down,” she said.

As the students wrapped up their performance, they joined hands with the Young Americans and took a bow, preparing to say a last goodbye to their new mentors.