It’s been four years since the last time that I’ve taken the mat at a competition. It seems like it was just yesterday that while everyone else was going on first dates, I was trying to learn new tricks. While people were holding hands, I was holding girls over my head. Even four years later, I can still remember the smell of glitter and hairspray in the morning.

I was in the fifth grade when I first started falling in love, but I didn’t realize just how far I had fallen until it was time to say goodbye. Aging out was like an eight-year relationship with the love of my life coming to an end because we were going to different colleges.

With this weekend being World’s Weekend, I’m feeling a little nostalgic. Seeing pictures of athletes now doing what I love reminds me of why I loved cheerleading so much.

I loved cheerleading because it taught me how to have sportsmanship. One of the most important life lessons that I learned from my coach was to clap for people even if you don’t like them. Thanks for that one, Brandon.

I loved cheerleading because it taught me the true meaning of teamwork. I learned that if I couldn’t smell the deodorant of the girl that I was stunting with then I wasn’t standing close enough to her.

I loved cheerleading because it taught me to never give up on my dreams. I spent endless nights in the gym pushing myself to be a better athlete.

I loved cheerleading because it taught me how to smile and support other people even when you’re in pain. One year I competed with the flu and another year with a pulled ligament.

I loved cheerleading because it gave me my best friend. We only cheered together for one season, but we’ve been friends ever since.

I loved cheerleading because praying before we never took the competition floor without praying before.

I loved cheerleading because it taught me how to be self-confident.

I loved cheerleading because I had a family of people that I could depend on.

I loved cheerleading because it taught me the importance of being dedicated and making sacrifices.

I loved cheerleading because of the coaches that became mentors to me and made me the person that I am today. Thank you, coaches, for the impact that you made on my life all of those years ago. Thank you for continuing to touch the lives of the athletes that have taken the mat since I left.

I loved cheerleading because nothing compared to the adrenaline that I felt right before the music started at a competition.

One of my biggest fears when I started college, was that I would never feel the way that I felt on a competition weekend ever again. Of course, I still do. It’s just not every other weekend like it was before.

Cheerleading, I miss you. I loved you. You were the best first love that a girl could have asked for.