Cheer has been a major part of my high school journey. It is a part of me.
I walked into high school with no plan of cheering what so ever. I did not want to do any sports at all. I remember going to the showcase in 8th grade (an open house for middle school students) and running into Whitney, a cheerleader. She handed me a flyer with information, but the second that she was gone I tossed it in the trash.
That was how I entered high school. One of my friends was cheering and was trying to convince me to cheer. I like to please people, so it was pretty easy to convince me to go to a game with the girls.
That was all it took.
I was sold. I fell in love fast.
There was only a few more games left in the season, but I became apart of the team. I worked after practices learning the cheers for the last few games. I quickly fell in love even more. I loved the girls that I was with. It was more than just a team, it was a family.
Competitive season started right after football. I had no idea what it was, but I was going to do it anyway. I found out very fast that I had a lot to learn. My coach was very patient and taught me step by step. Our practices were goofy, but we had so much accomplished.
Our first competition was one of the most nerve racking things I have ever done. All the older girls kept telling us freshman that we would be fine and "you got it." The first meet was at home. I was shaking. I had this huge fear of being in front of crowds. The national anthem played and the teams were announced. When it was our turn for Round One we took the floor. So many thoughts were racing through my mind and I was trying to remember everything I had to do. I did it though! Round two and three passed by quickly. I think from that day
I knew that there was no more giving up cheer. It was a part of me. The girls were more than just people in my school, they quickly became my family. We had drama, fights, but we had some of the best crazy times that I could have ever asked for.
My coach was the best.
I gained my sisters and friendships that still exist to this day.
I could go on forever just listing everything that has been apart of this...there are numerous memories...the girls from the other teams..the stunts, practices, sleepovers...everything. Our conference was so friendly. Yes, we competed against each other, but we became friends. Practices were crazy and every single day was different. Whether it was racing each other in warm ups just to make it seem fun, or screaming BIRTHA in the middle of our splits. The caroling, hot tub parties, or the car rides. Cheer was my favorite part of the school year...
Freshman year was football and competitive.
Sophomore was both once again.
Junior year I opted out of football and only did competitive.
Senior year I was able to do football and was not given the option to do competitive
Freshman Year:
-Football Season
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| The first game attended |
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| Team dinners |
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| They became friends fast |
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| I never stopped smiling there |
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| Dancing to Cupid Shuffle before the games! |
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| Banquet <3 |
-Competitive Season
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| Games before scores were a blast |
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| Walking on to the mat! |
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| GIMME FOOD |
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| Prayer Time before every round |
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| That is how we do |
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| Two of my seniors(: |
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| We rock that floor |
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| Final Stunt in round 3 |
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| First meet, round 3 |
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| I love my team more than anything |
Sophomore Year:
-Football Season
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| The team <3 |
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| My stunt group |
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| Kates and I |
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| We got distracted |
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| pushups...over 200 one game |
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| Photoshoot! |
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| We went on TV one night! |
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Team Dinner...yes I am in flip flops
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-Competitive
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| Finally finished! |
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| I love these girls. We made it through a ton. |
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| Gifts? Yes please |
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Into it.
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Junior year
-Competitive Only
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| My abby. My little. |
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| Friends for the past three years. |
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| Beginning of a round |
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| Ready to stunt |
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| And she is up |
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| Gosh, I love balloons |
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Up she goes again
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Senior:
Football cheer only
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| My girls. |
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| Splits. |
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| These girls are fantastic |
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| My girls |
Right now I am supposed to be doing competitive cheer.
And I am not.
That has just not sunk in yet. I refuse to think about it. Inside though, it hurts. Cheer has helped formed me. I was able to get over my stage fright and come out of my comfort zone. It encouraged confidence to appear. I met girls who are a part of my life to this day. I hate when people say that cheer is not a sport because
IT IS. It is dangerous and it takes a ton of work. There is no time outs. Tons of flexibility is involved. Timing has to be perfect. Motions have to be in a specific place. There has to be a certain amount of steps taken, formations, jumps...ect.I could keep going. But it doesn't really matter.
Cheer is important to ME.
Not being able to cheer my senior year...those are not words that I never expected to hear. I think it hurts more because I did not know that last year was my last year of competing. I was counting on this last year to wrap it up. I was doing gymnastics constantly working for this year.
I won't get my senior night at my school, or my home meet night. I do not get to feel the nerves I felt standing on the edge of the mat or the rush of adrenalin as I was on the mat. I do not get to have the dance parties with my conference in between the meet and judging.
When I think about it the list just seems to go on and on.
I know that I will be ok, but I know having to be on the sidelines this year is going to be harder than I thought.
For some reason God's plan is different than mine. I don't get it. I wish I did. Maybe it would help. That is my thought process. As I have been thinking about all of this I tried to let this go to God. I didn't. I took this on in full control. Right now I have no other choice to give it to Christ because I am lost and I can't do anything more than I have.
Cheerleading has been the best part of my highschool journey and I am so blessed by every single moment of it. This sport showed me that I could accomplish anything I wanted if I believed and worked for it. I am going to miss every minute of it more than anything.
I realized very recently that I NEEDED to find a positive in the midst of all of this for me not to go crazy. And I found more than I thought.
1 Peter 5:6-11
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us in to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
XOXO
-Hannah
