Cheerleading has become such a huge part of my life, that I don’t know what I would do without it. I have done cheerleading since I was a little girl in kindergarten and I am now a senior in high school. I have been on many different teams throughout the years all with different people and goals. The bond that I formed with each of my teammates on each team is simply unmatched. Practices consisted of team bonding and all of us putting our literal blood, sweat, and tears into our routines. When competition season came along, it was filled with many highs and lows. The feeling of going through a routine and hitting it perfectly with all your teammates is a feeling of adrenaline and excitement that can't be found anywhere else. When a routine doesn't hit during full outs, but everyone is willing to put in their all for their team is an aspect of cheerleading that sets it apart from any other sport. Competitive cheerleaders have to actually trust each other with their lives as they throw people in the air or are the ones being thrown during stunts. You have to trust your teammates 100% of the time to do their job and execute perfectly to be considered a competitive team and hit zero on the mat.
Cheerleading gives a rush of adrenaline that no other sport can give. Getting ready to take the mat in warm ups before a big competition is filled with nerves, excitement, and anxiety. It is such a surreal experience knowing that in a few minutes, you have just two and a half minutes to put everything aside and focus your all on the mat and prove to the judges why you deserve to win. There are no second chances when it comes to competitive cheerleading; you get one shot to hit every stunt and every motion perfectly. Though this might sound intimidating, that's the very reason I love cheer. You spend so much time with your team preparing for that exact moment when you take the mat. The feeling of stepping out on the nine panel mat in front of hundreds of people with your teammates is almost indescribable. There is a mix of anxiety, adrenaline, worry, and excitement all in one. You forget about everything and black out during

the routine feeling at ease while performing. There is something so special about performing with your best friends and teammates that makes it so hard to walk away from you just can’t. So, even after 13 years of dedicating my life to cheerleading, I don’t think I will ever stop.