Carlie Hamilton: A Change of Mind

Cheer isn’t just waving pom-poms around and supporting your team.

 

Change can be exciting, hard, or sometimes both. We all  make decisions in our lives that force us to change. About 8 months ago I decided I would try something new and cheer for basketball season.

Cheer became a new change and challenge in my life. At first it was tough, and I really wasn’t sure what to think of everything that was happening. But as time went on, I began to realize that cheer was much more than what I had originally thought it was.

Cheer requires strength, a special bond, and hard work. The special bond is what truly made me love cheer. It made me realize that although you may not be the same “fish”, different “fish” can share a bowl and find that they have many things in common. These girls (and Reed of course) are my fish and have helped me become more confident and more sure of myself.

At the end of last season I wasn’t sure whether I would be cheering again or not. I had and still have, plenty of other priorities that I felt needed more time. It took about 2 weeks to realize there was no way I could let this part of me go.

Cheer isn’t just waving pom-poms around and supporting your team. It is about being united as one and trusting each other. Competition and sideline stunts is what cheer is truly about to me and what excites me. Cheer tests your limits and pushes you to your last breath, but it will make you smile more than anything.

♥♥♥♥