I'm at the Patterson School of Ballet in Millcreek. Young people come here with dreams of someday performing with the biggest ballet companies in the country. Today, a former student has come back for a visit. She currently performs with the most prestigious ballet company of them all.

I’m watching Sierra Griffith interact with young ballet students. She once was a student here at Patterson School of Ballet. Now, she's teaching a masterclass. The little girl from McKean who began ballet at the age of five is currently a professional ballet dancer with the New York City Ballet. She's living her childhood dream and is happy to share some of the things she's learned in New York with these young students.

"It's interesting to be back and see the young kids from a different perspective,” says Sierra. “It feels good."

Sierra took ballet classes at Patterson School of Ballet from age 10 to age 15. She was guided by Artistic Director Michael Patterson, who once was a professional ballet dancer himself, with the Philadelphia Ballet. Sierra applied to the New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet (SAB) at age 15. Many students apply. Few are chosen.

"I know it took a lot to get there. I didn't really feel it was in reach necessarily. It kind of felt like it was beyond what I was ever capable of,” she recalls.

Sierra was accepted at the school. She studied ballet there for three years and took online classes to get her diploma from General McLane High School. Being a student at SAB is not a guarantee of getting into the New York City Ballet. However, Sierra who is now 20, was accepted into a one-year apprenticeship with the famous ballet company. Sierra says the apprenticeship is granted to maybe four dancers a year and again there's no guarantee that it leads to a full time position. However, in August of last year Sierra was hired as by the New York City Ballet. Her former teacher is very proud.

"She worked hard, which is the key to being successful at anything. It's her work ethic that really set her apart,” says Michael.

It was a long road from McKean, to the Patterson School of Ballet, to the New York City ballet. However, Sierra Griffith is living and sharing her dream.

"Yeah, it's crazy. it's crazy,” she says.

Sierra explained to the young students about the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that is needed to become a professional ballet dancer. Her schedule includes four weeks of shows in the fall. Then six weeks of The Nutcracker starting the day after Thanksgiving. There’s six weeks of shows in the winter and six weeks of shows in the spring.