Sweat rolling down your face. Bruises that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Your entire summer revolved around learning new skills, choreography and conditioning for the new season. You've spent long days in the gym, just to come back that next morning and do it all over again. The sport that does not have an off season. Cheerleading. Before we argue about whether you believe it is a sport or not, there was lot more to it than just shouting "RAH! RAH!" at a large crowd. The 13 years I spent doing all-star and school cheerleading made me into who I am today. These are the seven things that have stuck with us cheerleaders the most:
1. Dedication.
There is nothing more satisfying than finally landing that tumbling pass you have been working on for what feels like and may even be years. Your feet hit the mat instead of your knees. Any cheerleader will understand that learning a new skill takes a strong will to succeed and the dedication to do so. Cheerleading taught me the will to work my ass off for what I want.
2. Teamwork.
Every cheerleader knows that each and every single member of her team is just as important as any other. Missing one team member can break an entire performance. Without working together, there would be no stunts going in the air. You don't get to World's without working together. Teamwork does in fact make the dream work.
3. Integrity.
You have been at practice for three hours. Your cheer gym is over 100 degrees in the summer. You've been doing cardio and abs for the last hour after going full out for the two hours before that. You feel like you could pass out or throw up at any minute, but you still have 25 more push ups and 50 more laps around the mat to go. What do you choose? It takes integrity to not cheat yourself and your teammates. To do 25 instead of 22 pushups. You chose to be true to yourself and fight through the pain because it will just make you that much better.
4. Mental strength.
We've all had a girl on our team or been that girl on our team who has a mental block. There is nothing worse than being absolutely terrified of something you have done for years without thinking twice about it. You have to be tough enough to step up and do the scariest thing you will probably ever do in your life because your team is depending on you. This is something you will carry with you for the rest of your life.
5. Problem solving.
Your stunt group has been working a full-up to heel stretch all summer. You've been hit in the face, punched in the stomach, and suffered countless shoe burns. It takes a lot of thought and problem solving to see what needs to happen to make this stunt work. You even come up with some pretty strange looking hand placements that work for your stunt group and your stunt group only. You are forced to work at this until you solve the issues within all areas of your group down to the placement of your front-spot's pinky toe. The need for a resolution to all problems becomes a part of you and you become good at finding solutions in all aspects of life.
6. Courage.
There is nothing a cheerleader will not try. You have literally thrown your body under your flyer to keep her safe from hitting the ground. You pull your ass over your head on a regular basis and it does not phase you. You aren't afraid because you're not allowed to be. Cheerleaders are some of the most courageous people you'll ever meet.
7. Love.
You love your teammates more than life itself. You have spent most of your life with many of these girls and you would not change that for the world. Cheerleading has taught many of us what it means to care about someone other than yourself and have respect and appreciation for others. You work hard together and succeed together because you have so much love for you cheer family that you would never want to let them down.
