Dear Cheerleaders,
With the rise in popularity of magical and spiritual things, it’s time to talk about your role within the student body. Let’s cut to the chase: you are a healing artist. It’s time to start acting like one.
Once I graduated high school, I became embarrassed if someone found out that I was a former cheerleader. I hated being judged as the stereotype of a clueless, boring person who dated football players and only cared about being popular. If you are reading this, maybe you relate? It’s unfortunate that I spent ten years disowning that part of my past. Because cheerleading definitely got me here. Some of my favorite stand-out memories are associated with cheering. Now, I understand why. Cheerleading is spiritual.
How strong is your school spirit . . . really? Do you know what it means to be a cheerleader?
It was in a therapy session when I realized that cheerleading is magical. Think about it. We create pep rallies that unify a whole student body. We bring people together and remind them that they are a part of something greater. We lead people in chants that shift the vibration of a whole stadium filled with people. We quite literally lift others up. We are movement artists. Have you ever stopped to think about the artistic skills that are required to sketch out formations and choreograph half-time routines? Art!
Change the stereotype. Elect better captains. Impeach clueless coaches.
Cheerleaders are natural-born leaders. It’s probably why most of them are “popular”. They are usually likable, positive, and caring individuals. So why are cheerleaders so easily stereotyped as ditzy, snobby, vain, and even mean? That doesn’t seem to support our mission of encouraging others.
Perhaps, it’s because there are not enough of us who are taking our roles seriously? Maybe, there are not enough captains who understand what the real roles of cheer actually are? Is your coach doing her job?
Don’t let the “haters” get ya down.
It’s frustrating. I get it. I was often irritated when others would argue that cheer was not a sport. People would roll their eyes at me when I told them I was a cheerleader. Looking back, I can agree with the “haters”. Cheer isn’t just a sport. It’s an art form. Sure, you have to be athletic and work as a team and sometimes you compete but the sport of cheerleading is not the driving force of “why we cheer”. I can understand the eye-rolling, too. A lot of cheerleaders aren’t doing their job to the best of their ability. It’s time we start. I know we can do better. At least, I know we could have done better in 2010 . . . I’m assuming not much has changed. Maybe it has and this means nothing. In that case, horary!
I’m not in school anymore. I guess, technically, I’m not a cheerleader, but as a former captain I still feel a sense of responsibility to lead. Even if it’s by sharing a new perspective that could help better my old stomping grounds.
To all of you former cheerleaders, don’t forget your time on the platform- it has molded you into the speaker of hope and the spirited person that you are.
May your spirit be strong and your team beautifully, unified.
Lots of love and respect,
Amber
Sources: 12 years of cheer. Many under the great, Judy Henderson. Pic of the squad below.
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