When I first started cheering, I decided to participate because of two reasons: my mom forced me and my older sister, who I modeled after, cheered. As I got older and began to think for myself, I had engaged in cheer for so long that it became a habit. If my mom did not demand that I partake in cheer, I would not have been able to go through situations that sparked personal growth and knowledge. Cheerleading has given me opportunities to guide and interact with younger kids, which has influenced my decision to become a pediatrician. Four years ago during the summer before my first year of high school, I started volunteering as coach of a fourth grade cheer squad with three of my friends. We needed to teach twenty-eight girls a one-minute dance and a hello cheer before their first game. I went into that first practice very naive, believing the girls would listen and do as I say. That practice turned out to be a complete mess. The kids jumped all over me, would not pay attention for more than three motions, and repeatedly asked me random questions about the things I liked. That two hour practice was one of the most hectic and frustrating moments I have experienced, but, at the same time, it was new, exciting, and entertaining. The past years of coaching have allowed me to form strong relationships with these girls to the point where I see them as my little sisters. Being their coach involves more than just teaching them cheers and dances, sometimes I have to settle their differences, comfort them, and let them have fun. When the girls reached sixth grade, the team started to go through drama. One practice, two girls …show more content…
My mom forcing me to cheer was one of the best things that has happened to me because it has caused me to figure out my direction in life after high school. Cheer led me to discover that I want to become a pediatrician because I can help kids and impact their
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Show MoreWhen I was about six or seven years old, I started cheerleading because my older sister, Tiffany, was a cheerleader (and what little girl doesn’t want to be just like their older sister?). Thanks to Tiffany, and, of course, my mom for signing me up and getting me where I need to be, I found a love and passion for something I would cherish for the rest of my life.
Movies portray cheerleaders as the popular girls that everyone likes and aspires to be. But when reality hits at Salem High School, it’s a completely different story. Cheerleading was taken as a joke by the other athletes and even students. It was considered a hobby, but to me it was a passion and something I worked hard to be. Being on the cheer squad in high school was difficult to deal with in school because we were constantly being snubbed by the other athletes and students in our school ever since we were kids in junior high which should not happen because everyone has the right to do what they love and they should not be judged for it being different than everyone else. It was always us versus them up until my junior year of high school when we finally earned the respect of our peers.
I’ve been doing competitive cheerleading since the third grade. Competitive cheerleading being the third most dangerous sport in the world, I was going to get injured at one point or another; it just depends on when and how bad the injury is. Most cheerleaders hide injuries from coaches and other athletes to continue with the season, like if the athlete has a broken rib, jammed finger, sprained ankle, or wrist. Some injuries just cannot be ignored, like a torn ACL, achilles, obvious broken bones, concussions, or a jammed back. No athlete wants to be injured, but sometimes that’s the best thing that can happen to them.
Next year, as I embark my first year at university, I hope to fully integrate myself into the community by getting involved in the Students' Union, joining the cheer team, volunteering where I can and making many new friends along the way. At university, I hope to maintain a high grade point average, granted that my education is extremely important to me and that I am extremely ambitious about achieving my goals.Therefore, I will commit lots of my time to my studies in hopes of being a successful student. Nevertheless, I am still looking forward to being a part of the community by devoting my extra time to helping those around me. In classes, I intend on being an active learner, a respectful student, and a helpful classmate; someone who is always willing to lend a hand to others. Through engaging in my community, I hope to bring joy to others around me by spending my time supporting local events, volunteering for fundraisers, and helping plan and organize campus activities.
Cheerleading began as a male-only activity to cheer on their schools sports teams. Today it is a world-wide co-ed sport that incorporates leadership, athleticism, and entertainment. Cheerleading focuses on teamwork, dedication, and skills preparing participants for future challenges in life. It helps cheerleaders practice communication skills, confidence, and crowd management. Cheerleading has come a long way since the 1800s and is now a very popular sport in the US and a few parts of other countries around the world.
Last year, during one of my high school’s football games, a couple of students approached my friend and I. “Why do we need cheerleaders?”, “Don’t you think you guys are sort of distracting the football players?”, were the questions directed towards us. Because of my timid freshman self, I was unable to answer their question at the time. Why exactly did Cheerleaders matter? As the year went on, I couldn’t help but notice the drastic effects the
Cheerleading was one of my favorite activities to do. I have been a cheerleader since Kindergarden. I use to push myself again and again to make sure all of my routines and chants looked as good as they could look. Since I was younger I have always been hard on myself and failing/not making the team wasn't an option. From the minute I got home I practiced until my arms hurt from tightening them to get a perfect motion.
Before I started cheering, both of my parents never knew how much goes into being a cheerleader. Though soccer was the sport I grew up playing, I ended up quitting to try out for cheerleading in seventh grade. I made the squad that year and I immediately became attached to cheerleading, though my parents did not know how to react exactly. Of course they were happy for me since it was something that I wanted to do, but it was not soccer. My dad did not consider cheerleading to be a sport in the beginning, claiming that “there is no team quality to cheering.” It was safe to say that he did not necessarily like that I quit soccer to take up cheering since he did not consider cheerleading to be a real sport. I have learned that going against tradition and conformity is difficult, but is worth it in the end.
I have been a part of multiple pep rallies and being a role model to younger students. One moment, in particular, stands out to me on how much difference I can make in younger children. My new cheer coach had asked if anyone would be interested in volunteering their time to help the middle school squad learning the cheers. Being Varsity Cheer Co-Captain, I was more than happy to oblige. It was a no-brainer to help out because cheer is one of my favorite things. As I laced up my cheer shoes, I glanced up and I noticed the fresh-faced cheerleaders who timidly walked into the gym. They reminded me of me at that age, afraid that they didn't have what it took to be a cheerleader. However, as practices went on, they became more confident in their abilities. Volunteering my time was well worth it, I got to see the cheerleaders grow into more confident cheerleaders and
I have been a part of multiple pep rallies and am a role model to younger students. One moment, in particular, stands out to me on how much difference I can make in younger children. My new cheer coach had asked if anyone would be interested in volunteering their time to help the middle school squad learning the cheers. Being Varsity Cheer Co-Captain, I was more than happy to oblige. It was a no-brainer to help out because cheer is one of my favorite things. As I laced up my cheer shoes, I glanced up, I noticed the fresh-faced cheerleaders who timidly walked into the gym. They reminded me of me at that age, afraid that they didn't have what it took to be a cheerleader. However, as practices went on, they became more confident in their abilities. Volunteering my time was well worth it, I got to see the cheerleaders grow into more confident cheerleaders and people.
I could not wait to get away from the people who had everything in life handed to them. I felt bad for them as they had no idea what the real world was like. Thanks to my mother, I was prepared for the worst. I had a great work ethic, knew how to budget my money, and most importantly, I knew what it was like to cheer on others. I realized that while I cheered throughout high school and experienced losses on the field, my mom was experiencing losses in her life. This led to the conclusion that cheering on the sidelines was not the only kind of cheerleading that I did. I was indeed my mother’s cheerleader. As I lead my classmates to victory, I was attempting to do the same for my hopeless mother. In order for this role to be filled, I had to go through my “grueling tryout.” The tryout was everything life and my greedy friends from school had taught me. I was not able to be a cheerleader for my mother until I knew what the real world was like. As I am now in college and away from home, I leave my mother alone to go through her tryout. I giver her this time to find herself while I stand in the bleachers cheering her on from afar. I dream that her tryout will someday lead to a personal victory and will therefore inspire others as I did for
While signing up to tryout for 8th grade cheer when I was in 7th grade, I never knew how much of an impact it would have on my life. I live for game days and the long bus rides just to cheer on our athletes. Cheer has very quickly became the biggest part of my life. Although it is a ton of fun, it comes with it’s challenges. My proudest accomplishment by far is making the varsity cheer squad.
Cheerleading is an important tool for promoting both genders’ self-esteem. In an article by Lee Purvey in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Giannia Kustra expressed how cheerleading helped her as a person to “become more outgoing” (Purvey). In high school, cheerleading gives students an opportunity to support their teams proudly, build teamwork, and improve character and work ethic (Bernstein). This new “business” helps to improve the spirit and morals of athletes and fans alike.
In the majority of sports, you’d do anything to avoid being on the sidelines, but that’s where cheerleaders thrive and where I have learned some of the most valuable life lessons. My academic and professional goals include earning a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, attending medical school and obtaining a job in the medical field as a neurologist or neurosurgeon. The skills I’ve developed through cheerleading will be invaluable to me on this endeavor.
...for my first cheerleading squad, in the seventh grade, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. In fact, the try outs were so hard and so demanding I did not make the cut. This did not discourage me at all; it only gave me motive to try harder. Next season I came back with a bang; I made the cheerleading squad. Cheerleading is an experience that I would never give up for anything in the world. I learned more lessons on teamwork here than any other sport I played, because in cheerleading I mainly had to communicate with the other cheerleaders. Cheerleading involved much work and effort from me and my team mates. When I first started cheering I was a fairly fat cheerleader; by the end of the season my body was perfect enough for a show all bikini, and this is the one change that made me genuinely realize, “yes, I am an athlete; cheerleading is a sport.”