One of the first things people learn about me during our first meeting is that I’m a cheerleader. I am extremely proud of this fact. I’ve been active within this sport since I was six years old, and at 20, I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I don’t cheer because I like wearing the uniform or because all my friends do it. I don’t like the look people sometimes give me when they assume I’m dumb because I’m on the sidelines at the game, or the incredibly long hours I’ve spent practicing. I continue to cheer because I have a genuine love for the sport.

I knew when I was applying to college that a major factor in my decision would be whether or not I would be able to continue cheering. Being able to keep spreading school spirit while pushing myself athletically has been one of the best things to ever happen to me. Seeing the change in a crowd when I represent my university well on the basketball court or a competition mat is a truly amazing feeling. How many other people can say that they have the power to influence a crowd in the same way a cheerleading team can?

There’s no way I would have been as invested in Seton Hall as I am now without cheering on the Pirates every week. Seeing the way alumni perceive their alma mater makes me want to continue their legacy of excellence. Knowing that I have such big shoes to fill makes me work 10 times harder in and out of the classroom -- partly to live up to SHU’s standards of excellence, but also to prove that I’m so much more than just a “pretty girl waving a pair of poms around.” I’ve cheered alongside some of the smartest and most driven women I’ve ever met, and feeding off their studious energy helps lift my GPA spectacularly. And nothing compares to having my teammates support me in my other endeavors -- my teammates, past and present, again and again lift me up when I’m down and cheer me on when I’m doing well. Let's be honest, who else is sharing my ridiculous articles every week, or eating way too much pizza with me after practice?

Cheerleading has been one of the main constants in my life. Cheerleading has been there for me through the birth of two new siblings, my dad’s deployment, a car accident that landed him in the ICU, incredibly hard classes, awful teachers, and all the emotions that come with a new crush or two. My teammates and my coaches have kept my mind off of the confusing things going on in my life and kept me focused on advancing my skills -- and I pray every day that I have been able to do the same for them.

I am incredibly blessed to now possess some fantastic real-life skills because of my cheerleading career. Have you ever had to balance honors classes with two-hour practices five days a week and all-day competitions on the weekend? Well, that’s how I gained my time management skills. Ever had to scream at unresponsive fans until they finally look up from their phones and start yelling along with you? That’s taught me perseverance and the correct way to get someone’s attention. Have you ever landed on your face in front of a couple of thousand people? This has happened to me multiple times, and it’s taught me to get up when I fail and keep trying. My years and years of dedication to something that sometimes really sucks (I’ll never get over the trauma of the first time I ever did a routine full out) has taught me to look on the bright side no matter what. And all that stupid smiling I do in front of an audience hungry for me to fail? That has taught me to fake it until I make it, and that a positive outlook can truly change your day.

Some of the proudest moments in my life have been from cheerleading. Throwing (and landing) a new tumbling pass, hitting an advanced stunt, competing at a national competition have all made me incredibly proud. I feel most alive when I’m trying new things in the gym and performing in front of the crowd. But nothing has compared to seeing my coach’s face when we both find out that all the hard work has paid off. Knowing that they care about me and find just as much happiness in my skills as I do fills me with joy. At the end of the day, our hearts and souls have been left on the mat, and the sweat and tears have undeniably paid off. And that is why I am, and why I always will be, incredibly proud to be a cheerleader.