I remember the first time I stepped onto that blue, carpeted spring floor. At the time, I was about three feet tall and I had a curly mess pulled back in a pony tail on my head with a bow tied in it that was bigger than my entire body. I remember the first time I smelled the rank smell of sweat and feet that had been growing on that spring floor. I looked around at the older girls flipping and twisting and flying and jumping. It was watching them that I realized, at four years old, I had found my place in this world. It was my destiny to be a cheerleader.

Now, I am 21 and about to enter my senior year of college. (Side note: no matter how scary you thought senior year of high school was, college is 100 times worse.) This year marks my transition from college student to adult. Sure, I'm terrified about growing up, starting a career, maybe a family, but the most terrifying aspect of them all is being without cheer.

I have dedicated 16 years of my life to this sport. That's over 2,800 practices, over 1,000 football and basketball games, 20 cheer competitions, and 5 cheer teams. My life has revolved around this sport longer than I can remember.

It may seem like a lot of time dedicated to just one sport, but let me tell you, it's worth every second. It has been worth every sprained ankle, every concussion, every sore muscle, every tear, every bad practice; all these things shaped me into the woman I am today.

I have a lot to thank cheerleading for. This sport has given me the ability to stay physically fit most of my life, something I would have struggled with, otherwise. It has given me the greatest friendships of my life. It's given me the confidence to stand in front of a crowd and yell my heart out for a team I am so passionate for. But most importantly, it has taught me some of life's greatest lessons.

Through my coaches, I learned that hard work pays off. I learned that when things get hard you have to keep going. When you fall down, you must get back up and try again. I learned that patience is key, even when you have a week to perfect a routine. I've learned that practice really does make perfect, but it's important to create memories in the process.

Through my teammates, I have learned that when you put a group of women together, crazy things can happen (some good, some bad). I learned that an army is greater than one man. I've discovered that in the past 16 years, I created everlasting friendships. The memories that we shared, from the beginning until the end, are my most cherished memories in my life.

Through this sport, I have learned to be confident. I learned to take chances and jump off that cliff. I have learned that a lot can happen in a three-minute routine. I've learned that forgiveness is always the right path, never hold grudges. I have learned to push myself to the limits. I learned to not let what others say affect my day. I think I could go on and on.

As I begin my final cheer camp of my entire life, I realize that it is the first of many last to come my way in the next few months. I just want to say thank you to the sport that shaped me into the young woman I am today.

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." -- Henry David Thoreau