#Whatcheerleadinghastaughtme

Currently my twitter news feed is being blown up by tweets and retweets all with the hashtag #whatcheerleadinghastaughtme. I know for a fact that there is no way I could ever fit my thoughts into 140 characters but I'm pretty sure that I can do it here. Cheerleading has taught me so much more than I could ever imagine. I signed up for cheer in the 6th grade just to have fun but never expected that to have gotten to much out of it and learned so many valuable lessons, all lessons that will stay with me forever. These lessons could go on and on so I'm going to try and pin-point some of the most important.

1. Believe in yourself.  Everyone always says it but believing in yourself is not always an easy task. This is the absolute most important lesson that I have learned. If you cannot believe in yourself then others will have trouble believing in you. Once you know you are are capable of achieving your goals no one can stop you. In cheerleading as well as in life, you control your success and this comes from believing in yourself wholeheartedly.

2. Faith over fear. This is something I am still working on. After messing up my knee pretty badly this year from tumbling, I already know the first time I'm allowed to be back on that blue mat to tumble I am going to be a wreck. But this thought is something I am already beginning to work on. I know the faith I have in myself and my ability must be stronger than any fear my mind may conjure up. When fear tries to knock you down, all you need to do is have faith in yourself and know that you can overcome any obstacles in your way.

3. Dream big.  When I was younger, while I tried to fall asleep at night I would envision myself throwing round-off back handsprings all across the gym, thinking it was the coolest thing ever. Now I can tumble at a level I never imagined I could. Pick a goal and chase it. No dream is too big as long as you stay dedicated and determined.

4. Your team is family. I think every sport thinks this, but cheerleading really get this idea. In no other sport do you spend almost a full 12 months with your team. A cheer team is exactly like a family, you'll argue, you'll fight, you''ll see each other at your worst moments and at your best but when things come down to the end you are all there for each other. Your teammates are your sisters and for me it's like my old coaches are the older sisters I never had. I know I can go to my old coaches or former teammates for pretty much anything and they would still be there for me. As a whole the cheerleading community is a much larger family From websites like Fierce board, when and issue arise from needs prayers for a fallen teammate to needing votes in a contest or just sharing ideas, cheerleaders, cheer parents, and coaches are all there for each other. The bond within cheer teams are stronger than most sports teams out there.


Okay, those I suppose are the more sentimental lessons that I have learned, there are more but I think those can all spin off the 4 listed above. Now for a more comical but true point here are more lessons learned from cheerleading.

-"One more time" really means at least 5 more times. There is no such thing as one more time.
-ALWAYS catch your flyer. No excuses.
-How to make a perfect poof. Cheer hair is important.
-Pain is beauty. Push through the pain because in the end it is worth it.


-A angled bob hairstyle looks super cute with a big bow.
-Bows before bros.
-Anything can change in a second.  
- Hit, hit, hit, pull.




And about a trillion and two other things. I guess my main point is to take a change and try new things because in a few years when you look back you’ll be amazed at all the lessons learned and memories made along the way.