Cheerleading tryouts for the 2010-2011 season are this week and I am so nervous yet excited that I feel about ready to burst with butterflies, tears, and HAPPINESS all at once! Although I have been cheering ever since sophomore year and am seen as a leader, I can’t help but be nervous! Next year I will be a senior and I want to cheer one last final year so badly it hurts. Sometimes I might complain and vow that I will never put on my stinky cheer shoes again, I really do love it! I just forget sometimes when the games get long and my skirt starts to ride up. Basically, my happiness for the entirety of my senior year depends on my tryout at the end of this week so fingers crossed that I make it! :)
Being a cheerleader definitely requires confidence! First of all you have to wear a tight uniform in front of pretty much everyone. Second, you have to put up with all the nasty comments thrown your way because you are a cheerleader and wear a tight uniform. Thirdly, in order to perfect and late perform a tough stunt, you have to have faith that you can succeed and the flyer WILL come down safely. You even have to have enough confidence to stand in front a packed room and yell semi-ridiculous chants and not worry what those in the stands have to say about you. People tend to give cheerleaders a lot of crap, but I can assure you, our job is not as easy and carefree as we make it look!
Part of the trying out process requires a one-page essay (mine was two… Opps! :P) about our team goals and our personal goals for the next season. Regardless of it’s importance, it made me take a big look inside and examine what I could do better so that way the squad would be better. I hate admitting I am wrong so this was kind of a big deal for me. That being said, here is my essay! Hopefully, it gives you a better idea as to what lies on the inside of me, Katie Brown.
Girls With Goals
By Katie Brown
The Cheerleading squad at Van Meter High School is more than just a squad. It’s a sisterhood. I know that my last statement may have sounded a little cheesy but it’s true. We laugh together, share secrets and endure a less than enthusiastic crowd every time we put on our royal blue uniforms. Sometimes we don’t always see eye to eye and there are times when we all feel like we need a bit of personal space, but the way we overcome our differences and build off of those moments is what truly makes us a strong squad. Most importantly though, we all care about each other whether we are in the midst of a cheerleading season or not.
Another thing I love about our squad is how hard we are willing to work! We all know that there are areas we need to improve upon both as individuals and as a team. I will be the first to admit that my jumps are not at the level they need to be and I get so self conscious every time I do try and practice that it is hard for me to improve, but I plan on spending some serious time in front of the mirror this summer so that way I can do a jump come next fall in front of the entire student body without any hesitation or fear.
As a back, I know that I need to work on certain skills when it comes to stunting. In retakes I need to do a better job of controlling and slowing down the flyers body (and bottom) as she is coming down. I also know that I need to take a step back when our flyer twists out of a stunt in order to catch her in a safer way. I really hope that I am given the chance to improve upon these things when it comes time for late summer practices to begin!
But I am just one member of the squad. One of my team goals for next year is to place within the top 3 teams at state! We worked so hard last year and I know if we put our minds to it we can accomplish anything next season. To be honest, I think one of biggest issues this year was the accidental divide that formed between the two stunting groups during competition season. Luckily, the strained relationships were mended soon after state, but I wish that things had never gotten to that point to begin with. I know we all just want the best for our squad and girls don’t always get along, but next year I hope we make more of an effort to support each other when we all get tired and frustrated. I propose we spend more time together outside of practice so that we can remember how much fun we have together! That way when the going gets rough we all remember that we have 11 other girls there to support us no matter what. Like I said earlier, our squad is a sisterhood and I would love to be given the opportunity to be a part of that sisterhood in the 2010/2011 season! J
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