Recently, I have seen one video continuously revolving through all of my social media platforms in which the parents of a young girl, who didn’t make her high school cheerleading team, wrote a complaint letter to the school board. As a result, the school made a policy stating that everyone who tries out for the cheerleading squad will be allowed to participate. Of course, this threw me for a loop and even made me upset.
I think it’s completely nuts that parents will support their kids in this kind of behavior. If I was to complain to my parents anytime I tried out for a team, I honestly don’t know what kind of person I would be. I believe when other people tell us that maybe we don’t belong in a certain area it should tell you two things. One, maybe you should look into doing something else that you can excel at or two, just work a little bit harder and maybe your chance will come.
As an athlete myself, it took me a long time to figure out what I was good at and what was really is my passion. Most athletes have to work very hard to be great at their craft, sometimes even the best athletes have their moments. When I heard that this young lady felt this way I was in complete shock. I am no cheerleader but I understand how they must have felt when the schools said someone should have the right to be on that team for no good reason.
Most athlete’s train very hard in order to make a team, many for a number of years. When this school board decided to just let anyone who wanted to participate on the cheerleading team make it, they set off a chain of reactions. Most girls who train very hard to be part of this team feel robbed of all the time and effort they put in. Most people have been responding to this event very negatively. They all agree that this new policy is incorrect and it sends the wrong message.
Most people would say that not making a team in high school really taught them some important lessons. To me, it taught me to never give up and if I want something I have to work for it because it will not just be handed to me. Also, I learned I cannot be good at everything if everyone was good at everything the world would be very boring. We wouldn’t be special in our own ways.
Parents need to understand that tough love is needed when teaching a kid about how to handle life. If we just let kids get things handed to them, what would they be able to learn?
Our parents prepare us for the real world. There are those who say tough love is the way to go, while others say that putting a pillow under your child is the best method. I believe it’s should be a mixture of both. Parents should be supportive of their kids but when the time comes they need to let tough love take its course.
