...Cheerleading.

At high school level, the sport (See that? “Sport?” I’m talking to you, administration) that more people get hurt in then any other is cheerleading. Ignorant people say that it is not a sport, it’s “too easy,” or they base us on the slutty cheerleading stereotypes in movies. The fact of the matter is we lift girls that are around 120 pounds above our heads, hold it there, and then proceed to do another stunt routine, jump, or motion technique. We lift, we run, we practice, and we exercise.

Cheerleading increased my flexibility ten-fold. With the methods I learned, I advanced in other skills such as dance. Cheerleading, in general, helped me become more limber, improved my communication skills, and along the way I made a few good friends. A problem I’ve come across, though, is that people can pre-judge you. “Oh? She’s in tumbling? She must be awesome!” “Yeahhh, that chick’s in my gym class. She’s going to be bad.” In my case, since my Mom is pretty well known, I feel like I’m always expected to be as good as her or better. (Better? Who am I kidding?) I feel like I can say in any school cheerleaders are made fun of. It might be unavoidable, but it really doesn’t inhibit your experience as long as you look to the positives and try hard.

You can tell the difference between the people who put their heart into it at home and at practice or the girls who half it even at the practices. The reality of getting hurt is very real. Recently, one of my teammates flew a stunt and sprained her ankle. Another one flew and almost gave her base a concussion. The most important lesson to take home is that you should shake off every injury and get back in the game. As a cheerleader, you get wacked in the face, you get bloody and bruised. It is what it is: a sport.