Seven Lakes High School’s Rosie Li Earns Statewide and National Recognition for Original Dance in PTA Reflections
Rosie Li, an 11th grader at Seven Lakes High School, has turned a deeply personal message into an award-winning performance recognized across Texas and beyond.
Her original dance piece, “I Am Human,” earned Rosie the Texas PTA Overall Award of Excellence for high school dance choreography—the top honor in her category. Chosen from more than 875 entries statewide, her choreography stood out for both its emotional depth and artistic execution. It’s a rare achievement: only one student per division and arts category earns this distinction each year.
Rosie’s success didn’t stop at the state level. Her entry advanced to the national round of the PTA Reflections program, where it was selected from more than 850 submissions to receive a National PTA Award of Merit—one of just five students in the entire country to be honored in the high school dance category.
Created in response to this year’s Reflections theme, “I Am Hopeful Because…”, Rosie’s piece tackled themes of self-acceptance and resilience through contemporary movement.
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“Imperfections are a part of me. They do not limit who I am,” Rosie shared in her artist statement. “Rather, I cherish and embrace my flaws, which make me stronger.”
In her dance, Rosie physically explored the weight of imperfection through grounded, expressive floorwork—representing the internal pressure to appear perfect. But by the end, her choreography rose into something more: a celebration of self-worth and transformation.
“In my dance, my numerous falls to the ground represent that imperfections can be discouraging under the pressure of being perfect,” she explained.
Now in its 55th year, the PTA Reflections program has long championed student creativity through visual and performing arts. Founded in 1969 by Mary Lou Anderson, then-president of the Colorado PTA, Reflections now sees participation from over 200,000 students nationwide each year. Students create original works in dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts—with a focus on positive recognition rather than competition.
At Seven Lakes High School, Rosie’s accomplishment has been celebrated not just for the awards, but for the courage and vulnerability she brought to her performance.
“However, I embrace my flaws and turn them into an outlook for creativity, which is represented by my adventurous floorwork,” Rosie added, offering insight into her creative process.
Her piece concludes with an intentional lift—both literally and symbolically.
“I finish the dance standing up stronger and taller off the ground,” she wrote, “embracing the fact that imperfections make me human.”
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For Rosie, the stage was a space to not only perform, but to speak her truth in movement. And for the judges, her message resonated loud and clear.
Families, educators, and students in the Katy area interested in exploring the Reflections program can visit the Texas PTA Reflections Gallery to view past honorees and get inspired for the upcoming 2024–2025 program cycle.
As Rosie’s story shows, expressing yourself through the arts doesn’t just lead to awards—it opens doors to self-discovery, healing, and connection.
Stay with My Neighborhood News for more inspiring stories from Katy ISD and opportunities to celebrate young voices through creativity.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
