Cheerleading

Success Comes after the Greatest Disappointments

Like most athletes, I looked forward to competition day. Cheerleading is a rough sport getting thrown through the air like a catapult and trusting people to catch you and flipping in mid air hoping your body will land back on two feet. Injuries are expected because not everyone is perfect and mistakes happen, but I never thought it could be me. Yes, I consider myself an athlete. Cheerleading takes just as much time and effort just like any other sport. The only difference is that at a cheer competition, judges have the final say. You can do your best and it still might not be good enough because at the end of the day the team with the best overall performance takes home the gold. I made the

My hands get clammy and emotions are running wild. When they call my team we all run out frantically and realize there's one last chance with this team, one last chance with this routine, some athletes final shot at the state championship! The lights gleam bright and it is time to do my job and put faith in my team to do the same. Two minutes and thirty seconds go by and that's the end of it all… walking off the mat knowing I did the best I can do and the rest is in the judge's hands. Sitting at awards, waiting desperately as they call each team third, second, and first place goes to Carrollton high school! The drop of my stomach and the tears that ran down my face. I was so shocked all the fame and victory made all the hard work worth

Unfortunately shortly after the season began I was tumbling and tore my ulnar collateral ligament in my elbow. When the doctors told me the harsh news about how I was going to need surgery my first thought was my cheerleading career is over. All of my life practicing for my goal to be a Georgia cheerleader all to be thrown away. My family and friends were supportive and told me everything would be okay. However, in my mind every goal, every dream I’d ever desired seemed ruined. Ski trips had to be cancelled, I had to quit my all star team, I was in a cast most of the summer. It was a hard time, but I was determined to be there for my team this year at state. I was determined to do everything in my power to make sure that happened. Early morning therapy sessions and late nights at the gym, it was all worth it because my doctor cleared me a month early to get back into what I love. I came back stronger than ever and I will be able to compete at state this year. I give thanks to God for my strong recovery and