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13 MVP: Carli Meinert

Coronado dance captain thriving despite workload
Posted at 1:42 PM, Sep 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-20 03:05:09-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Time management can be one of the toughest skills to learn, but as a senior at Coronado High School, Carli Meinert has come pretty close to mastering it.

Meinert is the captain of the school's dance team. She also is valedictorian of her class, and after her senior year, she will have completed nine excelleraled courses.

She says the key to managing that workload is not to consider it work at all.

"My break is dance because I love being here and I love everything about that, and then I'm also a person who enjoys school. I try to look for the bright side of everything. It makes it so much easier to know why I am doing the things I'm doing," Meinert said.

This year, Meinert's teammates named Carli captain of the Coronado dance team, an honor she doesn't take lightly.

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"It was such an honor to get that position because my teammates nominated me instead of my coach, which shows that that's what they decided and that was really humbling and huge for me," said Meinert.

When you combine all the time she spends stepping and studying, it's almost a miracle Meinert can make time for friends.

"You'd be surprised. I do find the time. I'd say I lack on the sleep end, but social life, dance, homework, sleep for a few hours. I can sleep when I'm older," said Meinert. "It's not just about sending out a list of what you're doing that day or leading the team in stretches. I feel like the captain is so much more of a leadership position, and I feel like a captain shouldn't just be trying to work to do what the coaches want. They should be behind the scenes cheering girls on, making them feel better, and keeping the team culture the way it is," added Meinert.

She's willing to sacrifice some sleep to keep dancing with this group of girls she's grown so close.

"I love the girls on this team. I like how they are all like my sisters, and I can't imagine my life without them," said Meinert.

When it comes to college, Carli still weighs where she wants to go, but she has a good idea of what she'll study and what she wants to be.

"I want to major in communications and either minor in Spanish or education. So, I might end up being a teacher. I might be a community service representative for a corporation. I'm not quite sure, but I love people," said Meinert. "You work so hard, and it pays off. I don't know; I'll always remember the good times I had and the hard work I was able to push myself through to know that I can get through anything in life."

13 Action News will be recognizing a new 13 MVP before every Vegas Golden Knights preseason game and once a month after that.