When I first started cheerleading as a little girl, I never thought the day I had to stop cheering would come. It was a day I dreaded for a long time when it became my senior year. I didn’t want to give up the one thing I’d loved my whole life more than anything. It’s not easy letting go of something you spent so much time being a part of.
When you're cheering, you don't really think about it ending. It's just something that becomes a part of your life. You get used to all the practices, competitions, travel and hard work. It usually starts as something you do as a little girl, but then it grows into something you love and can't imagine living without.
Never take cheerleading for granted, because one day it will end. One day you won’t be able to put on a uniform anymore and go out and complete a two-minute and thirty-second routine. You won’t get that adrenaline rush of taking the mat or the joys of winning a competition with your team.
Cheerleading will always hold a special place in my heart. It helped me become the person I am today and I will always appreciate my time as a cheerleader. Almost all of my best memories are from competitions and practices with my teammates.
The passion you have for cheerleading never really goes away, but you don’t get to feel it as often as you did when you were cheering. The love you have for this sport will never leave you. Watching Worlds will still be exciting and you’ll be proud of your old teams and gym when they win competitions.
But it will never be the same as getting to compete and practicing with your best friends. When you have a hard practice or you wish you could skip practice to go to the movies or a party, just remember that one day you won’t get to be with your teammates all the time. You won’t get that feeling of performing. You'll miss those tough practices and full outs. You miss hearing your coach yell "one more time" and knowing it probably isn't true.
If I could go back and do it all again, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'd relive every moment from my time as a cheerleader. I would go back and make sure I am enjoying every moment because it is so special to do something you love.
Cherish every moment you have because it won’t last forever. Always try your best and cheer with no regrets. Work on getting those higher skills and becoming a better cheerleader. Love your teammates, work hard, keep making your coaches and parents proud and always be thankful for your time as a cheerleader because it truly is a blessing.
