MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Twenty-four-year-old Carolyn McClinton has been dancing since the young age of three - and had big dreams of one day dancing in the city of stars.
"I knew I was going to be a Laker Girl or a Honey Bee, or some type of dancer for a professional basketball team," said McClinton. "I knew it."
But that dream was put on hold - when she got pregnant three years ago. McClinton admits the news was heartbreaking for the entire family.
"A lot of times in my life I let my parents down," said McClinton. "When I had my son and then I had my second son, I felt like I let them down."
Unmarried and still living at home with her parents, McClinton did what many feel forced to do. She got a full time job working at Chase, so that she could provide for her family.
"I'm not the type that would leave my kids," said McClinton. "So I said I had to do something else."
But ideas of dancing still bounced around in McClinton's head - so she quit her job and put on her dancing shoes.
"That's when I decided, hey I can open a dance school, and I can teach these little girls, this is not the end, just because you have two babies it's not the end," said McClinton. "You can do whatever you want to do."
McClinton did her own thing and opened a dance studio last year in May called Carolyn's Danceland.
Despite the tough times, her mother - Carol McClinton, and business partner said she always had faith in her daughter.
"I knew dancing would not fail her," said her mother. "It was something that was in her heart, and I believed it would be successful and that's why I'm helping her today."
Today Carolyn's Danceland has nearly two hundred clients.
"Two or three years ago I would be saying: I'm going to be a Laker Girl," said McClinton. "This is so much better!"
Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:11 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:11:30 GMT
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - One person has died, following a collision between a train and a car in northern Ouachita Parish. Also, another person is injured after that wreck.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - One person has died, following a collision between a train and a car in northern Ouachita Parish. Also, another person is injured after that wreck.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:27 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:27:15 GMT
TALLULAH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Board members at Madison Parish Hospital put the CEO on administrative leave earlier this month and they told us why on Tuesday.
TALLULAH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Board members at Madison Parish Hospital put the CEO on administrative leave earlier this month and they told us why on Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:45 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:45:59 GMT
SHREVEPORT, La. (KNOE 8 News/AP) - Shreveport police have arrested a 32-year-old woman in the death of a toddler who was brought to the hospital on Monday.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KNOE 8 News/AP) - Shreveport police have arrested a 32-year-old woman in the death of a toddler who was brought to the hospital on Monday.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:36 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:36:16 GMT
WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) – Wednesday, Governor Bobby Jindal signed bills into law aimed at improving gun safety and protecting Second Amendment rights.
WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) – Wednesday, Governor Bobby Jindal signed bills into law aimed at improving gun safety and protecting Second Amendment rights.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:03 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:03:32 GMT
EUNICE, La. (AP) - The "sexting" case against former Eunice High School teacher Jackie Fruge, originally filed in Eunice Municipal Court, is likely to be upgraded to a felony and moved to the state district court.
EUNICE, La. (AP) - The "sexting" case against former Eunice High School teacher Jackie Fruge, originally filed in Eunice Municipal Court, is likely to be upgraded to a felony and moved to the state district court.
