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How Cheerleading Has Made Me a Better Person
Cheerleading story submitted By Kelly- "Through Cheerleading, I don't only have more school spirit, but I am a better friend and get along much better with others through my experiences."

How Cheerleading Has Made Me a Better Person
by Kelly

My mom's side of the family is FULL of cheerleaders. My cousins have all been cheerleaders in high school, and two of them were captains. I, naturally, wanted to cheer too. I went to a different school in 8th grade, and was so excited to cheer! However, I found out that I couldn't because the uniforms had already been ordered and the choreographer had already made up the dance for their competition later that year. I was very upset, but I didn't it get me down. Instead, I helped coach the 7th grade squad. Through doing that, I learned everything I needed to know to tryout for my Freshman year.

I remember showing up in the big high school gym for the first day of practice. I was so nervous, and walking along with my two best friends who had been cheering for two years, thinking about how they would make it and I wouldn't. Two days later, after tryouts, the phone rang. It was the Varsity coach. "Hi, we'd just like to congratulate you and welcome you to the JV squad." I was so excited, the first person I called was Sarah. She hadn't gotten a phone call. Neither had Jessie.

Camp was tons of fun. I met so many other girls from other grade schools that would be a freshman with me that year. We learned so much and had so much fun. By the end of the year, after soccer, football, and basketball seasons, I was already preparing for tryouts for the next year, which would be in May.

This time, I would be trying out for Varsity. My coach had urged all of the girls from the JV squad that were coming back to go ahead and try for Varsity. So all five of us did. Three made it. The other two, which were my friend Beth and myself, were left to take the load of handling the JV squad.

Camp this year, however, was a MESS! Beth was in Georgia, my friends Katie and Jackie, who had already been a cheerleader in grade school, did not know the cheers that we used, and then we were left with 8 new incoming freshmen. It was a nightmare. I was elected captain at camp, and I was so excited. I had wanted to be captain since last year! I thought everything was going to come together and I would bring this squad to the top. However, I was so very wrong. We were behind schedule by the time school started, I had to reteach cheers to the girls who had missed practices, I constantly fought with my co-captain, I hated every single one of those girls at one point in time, people were always late, they would get mad if they didn't get to fly the stunt they wanted to, the got jealous of each other, and pep rallies were worst of all. Then, a week before our last pep rally, Beth dropped off. We had to make up an entirely new pep rally (which, by the way, was soooooo AWESOME and totally showed the pommers who really has more talent at our school. But somehow or another, we pulled through, finally worked together, and actually had fun.

So here I am, sitting here typing away at my computer when I should be stretching!! I have tryouts this year, and this time, I WILL be on Varsity. As for the rest of you, don't be discouraged if you don't make it the first time. It's always worth going back and trying again. Just cheer your heart out, and most of all, have fun.

*Note: Special thanks to Kelly for submitting this story. Do you have a story or poem you'd like featured? Submit it here.

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