- Feb 24, 2012
- 1,105
- 1,819
As an athlete it taught me to love myself. It gave me the confidence to present in front of a classroom with no fear at all. It taught me passion, dedication, commitment, and responsibility. The sport taught me how to win, and it also taught me how to lose. I've learned so many valuable life lessons in cheering that I know wouldn't have been learned (at least in the same way/manner) had I chosen another sport to consume my life with. I learned about sacrifice and to appreciate just how much money parents have to pay for us to be involved. I learned how to fail with dignity and get right up and try again. I learned how to respect not only coaches, but elder athletes. I learned how to be a role model for the younger athletes and how amazing it feels when they tell me how much I means to them and how much they look up to me. Leadership was also an important trait I have attained through my own personal will, not assigned by a coach. Accepting all people for who they are whether it be race, sexual orientation, age, weight, skill level because we all share the same passion and are a family as an industry, no matter what. I've learned what kind of parent I hope to be, and the kind of parent I hope to never be to my children. Cheering will always be a part of my life whether I'm out there on the mat, coaching a team, watching my children/nieces/nephews/grandchildren/friends, searching videos on youtube, or stalking the fierceboard, and I wouldn't want it any other way.