Many young girls (and boys!) begin their journey as cheerleaders yelling "offense" and "defense" chants at practices on the lawns of their elementary schools without even knowing what those words mean! However, they are indirectly being taught life's most valuable lessons: the importance of showing up, what it means to be a "team" member and that every individual has a voice and can make a difference.
I can remember practicing toe-touches, improving my flexibility and learning new cheers and styles to make myself better in the off-season so that I could be ready for the next tryout. I also remember doing it all alongside my best friend. The lessons in applying yourself, the bonds that cheerleaders form with one another and the confidence you gain being a member of a team working toward a goal are invaluable.
The next time you yell "O-F-F-E-N-S-E!" you may be smiling next to one of your best friends for life. You may yell "D-E-F-E-N-S-E!" on the sideline at your college's game where you were awarded a full athletic scholarship. Cheerleading has taught me to set goals and reach them, how to be a part of a team, how to be a friend and how to use my voice. With hard work, you can do anything!
