Everyone has some part of their life that they feel defines them. For me, cheerleading was that thing.

People constantly told me they didn't see me as a cheerleader, or that they didn't think I would be into that kind of thing. From the time I was in kindergarten to college, I was always going to practice, or getting ready for practice, or just thinking about practice. I spent so much time and money trying to improve myself to only be mediocre at something, but it was easily my first love and it has defined who I was, if only to myself, for 15 years.

Going into my junior year of college, I decided to quit. In fifth grade, I chose not to cheer. I thought that would be the end. I couldn't stand it anymore, but I told my mom I wasn't going to cheer in middle school. I told my middle-school coach that I wasn't going to cheer in high school. Four years later, I refused to try out in college, but eventually did. Two years later and I really did it. I actually quit.

I recently threw out my cheerleading shoes. They were my first pair of "real" cheerleading shoes. They had a huge hole in the bottom. When I walked on concrete, the hole would eventually rub a hole through my sock, but I still refused to get rid of them. As I was cleaning out my closet, I put them in a trash bag and haven't looked back, because it didn't make me happy anymore.

To a girl, a pair of shoes can mean everything. My mom even kept my first pair of ballet slippers, long after I had quit. Throwing out my shoes symbolized the real end. It means that if I want to go back, I have to purchase another pair of expensive shoes.

When something that defines you no longer makes you happy, you can choose to walk away from it. Towards the end of my cheer career, I was miserable.

So, I could continue for my last two years, or I could make a hard decision.

At one point in my life, cheerleading consumed me and every part of me loved every minute of it; then one day, my feelings changed. A lot of people feel trapped in what they do because it has always been a part of them, but it's OK to let go of the things that once made you happy.

Getting rid of my uniform, pom-poms, and shoes was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was also one of the most freeing feelings, because I made a choice for myself that I would no longer define myself by what I do as an "afterschool activity."

Now I can turn my time, energy, and money (lots of it, might I add) towards finding a new love.