It hasn’t really been that long since I’ve seen you, but whenever the wind starts to pick up a little and the leaves seem like they’re about to change colors, I start to miss you and high school cheer a little more. There is something about fall that makes me nostalgic for pasta dinners and Friday nights under the lights. Through my four years of high school, you were my coach, but more importantly, you were my friend, and you taught me more than just perfect motions and how to put up a solid lib.

You were the first teacher I met in the high school, since the cheer season started the summer going into freshmen year, and knowing that I could go to you if I ever needed anything was a huge relief. Over the years, I remember coming to you about everything. Whether I was having trouble with math (shout out for being the best Pre Calc teacher I could’ve asked for), having friend drama, or just needed a person to hang out with during my free period, I was always popping my head into your classroom or the math office. I came to you with any problem, and you always had a story to tell me in return or a piece of wisdom to share. I could think of a million things to thank you for, but here are just a few.

Thank you for teaching me how to work with others. Being on a team and being a part of a team are two incredibly different things. You didn’t simply tell us what to do and when to do it. You gave us a certain amount of freedom and responsibility. You allowed us to work together and make our own decisions. While it wasn’t always easy to find compromise, we found a way to come up with the best solution every time. I don’t think I would be as efficient in group work without this experience. Through cheer, I learned when the right time to step up is and when I need to let other people take care of things that are beyond my jurisdiction.

Thank you for teaching me creativity and organization. You are an insane combination of artistic and systematic, and that makes you a force to be reckon with as a coach. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I would be as proficient at multitasking or as hardworking. You taught me how to organize information in a clear and logical way. Not only does this help with making cheer routines, but it helps with all types of tasks. Being organized and drawing things out has helped me in an array of disciplines. You also taught me that systematic organization alone does not always work. Creativity and artistry also increase the quality of all work. Without your guidance, I would definitively not have been able to make beautiful posters and signs using only some paint and glitter glue. It might sound silly, but I use these skills more than you would think.

Thank you making me a better athlete. When you took me on the team, my stunting ability was not the strongest. After some trial and error – and a lot of practice – you made me into a strong base who hit her stunts every week at the football games and competitions. You also knew how to cultivate the skills I already had, helping me to improve a bit every year. You pushed me to be better, while also reassuring me that I was doing the best I could and that you appreciated it.

Thank you for giving me confidence. Without cheer, I would not have nearly as much confidence as I do today. I used to get so nervous to perform in front of people, but as I grew from a freshmen to an upperclassman, that fear started to go away. By my senior year, there was nothing I looked forward to more than taking the field every Friday night or getting in front of the school during a pep rally. The best part was that I could apply this confidence to all areas of my life.

Thank you for teaching me how to make things fun. Yes, we did a lot of work during the season, but it never felt like it because I enjoyed every second of it so much. Laughing and smiling came easy because I genuinely loved being there and doing what I had to do. You never overburdened us with pressure, but rather you made us want to be the best we could possibly be and have a fantastic time doing it.

Thank you for teaching me how to do my hair and makeup. This in particular has helped me through my college cheerleading experience. While sparkly blue eye shadow and eyeliner is not the look I’m usually going for anymore, I know how to make myself look game ready and presentable thanks to the years of game day prep in high school. Although, if I’m being honest, you usually just ended up doing it for me, I still remember all the tricks you tried to teach me!

But most of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to have all of the experiences that I did. I loved high school, and most of my favorite experiences involve cheerleading. I met some of my best friends in the entire world on your team. Being on the sidelines and supporting our football team was a privilege that I don’t think I fully appreciated until it was gone. When I think back to high school cheer, I only have found memories. Even though I had to wake up at 7:30 in the morning during the summer for practice, I have no regrets. I miss the long bus rides, the feelings of hitting a perfect halftime to a packed home stadium, wearing my uniform to school on Fridays, and finally getting to do the routine for the first time on the field, with music. High school cheerleading was an amazing experience and it’s all thanks to you. I’m incredibly grateful to have had such a wonderful woman as my coach and I am even more grateful that you keep welcoming me back when I come to visit because I don’t think that'll stop any time soon. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me and just know, I am missing you a little extra during these fall days.