I still remember my first day of cheerleading practice, it was third grade and I was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. Despite joining two weeks late, I was immediately welcomed. Fast-forward to 10 years later as I stood backstage at my last all-star competition, taking it all in, shaking out the jitters, putting a smile on my face and taking the mat for the last time.
Dear Cheerleading,
You have hurt me more times than I can even count. I have had bruises the size of baseballs, mat-burns, black eyes and I have you to thank for the way my hips crack every time I move even slightly during a silent lecture. You’ve battered and wounded me but you’ve also given me everything, so thank you.
Thank you for teaching me perseverance and strength. Each time I got knocked down, I had to get right back up and try again, over and over, until I succeeded. Each time I faced an obstacle, I was taught to face it head on and never give up. This has been that attitude that has carried me through some of my darkest days.
Thank you for my second family. My team has given me unconditional love and a place where I can be the most honest version of myself. They have picked me up in tough times and cheered me on through my success. I have made some of the most amazing friends through cheerleading, best friends that will last me a lifetime. I know that these people will be at my wedding one day, and I’m sure that we’ll all be wearing Nike-Pros underneath our dresses.
Thank you for teaching me about dedication. Throughout high school, instead of going out with my friends I would spend long hours in the gym, working the same stunt over and over again or throwing full-outs until I wanted to puke. As my friends attended parties and sports games, I walked out of a late practice sweaty and sore. Giving up social events for a grueling practice wasn’t easy or fun, but I did it for the sport that I loved. I learned that in order to achieve greatness you must be willing to sacrifice. As I move into the rest of my life, I carry that with me.
Thank you for teaching me about teamwork. It is by far the most important thing in cheerleading because, without it, there is no chance of success. No team will be successful unless every single athlete on the mat is giving 100 percent. I’ve learned that no matter what my struggle is, I have to give my all, for my team.
Thank you for introducing me to my coaches. They have been some of the most influential people in my life and they have shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned so many things throughout the years from my coaches and could never put into words what some of these people have meant to me.
Thank you for giving me a community. It is an incredible thing to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and for me, that was the cheer world. It’s been a place where I fit in and where I have built connections based on a mutual love for something.
As a new competition season begins and new routines are debuted, a wave of nostalgia hits me like a truck. Cheerleading was by far the biggest part of my life before coming to college and it has taught me lessons that I will carry with me wherever I go. I have made memories that will stay with me and I am eternally grateful to have been raised in the world of cheerleading, the world that I love.
So thank you, cheerleading.
Love,
Me
