Cheerleader: A Career Analysis

Everything was dark, black and quiet. Nothing felt right and when the flickering light at the end of the hall stopped and stayed lit I wanted to run. Slowly shadows grew on the floor and on the wall, people I knew appearing from the darkness. Zack the cheater, My hate filled mother, abusive father, my brother. Every person that causes me pain appeared even my once best friend Nikki who left me for the cheerleaders. I felt uncomfortable and was slowly suffocating from the blank looks and the little light that shined in the hall.

Throughout the article various tone changes occur. During the introduction, there is a negative attitude that is apparent. The author is reflecting on Erykah Ward’s, a former gymnast, initial reactions to becoming a cheerleader. Ward’s responses were derogatory and stereotypical; she even stated at the end of the introduction, “I’ll want to kill them all” at the idea of becoming a cheerleader. She uses common stereotypes against cheerleaders such as “jumping around” and “uneducated.” All of the sudden, the article’s tone changes to a positive voice. The author is now praising cheerleading and cheerleaders for what they must endure. A couple sentences of ago the author was attacking cheerleading, but now he is saying, “competitive cheerleading is no joke.” This new admiring tone remains throughout the rest of the article and seems to get more passionate the further in detail he goes. Overall, the article has an informal voice. Campo- Flores is using

From an outsiders perspective one may see brainless and beautiful robots, which scream and perform neat tricks. This is not the case from the inside; cheerleading is so much more than that. Many people are under the impression that cheerleading is not a sport. I am the voice of reasoning that will let you in, and I will show you that cheerleading, in fact, is a sport. Cheerleading requires much physical demand from the body just as any other sport would. Cheerleading, in general, is a team effort. There are many sides to cheerleading, which make it a versatile sport. When it comes to cheerleading there’s more to it than what meets the eye.

“I always set my expectations high because it pushes the cheerleaders to reach goals they thought they couldn’t.” Lisa Quaresma, cheer coach.

Many have seen her. Many know her. But who is the American cheerleader? Is she a blond haired, blue eyed sex symbol? Is she a drug-addicted girl with no brains and even fewer moral values? Maybe she is just your average, pretty, girl-next-door with a loud voice and lots of spirit. What is clearly true is that cheerleading and cheerleaders have evolved greatly over a century-long history. What started as one bold college student has turned into an activity with over 3 million participants (Brady 1); one that is backed by a $150 million industry (Williams 2). Modern cheerleading has come a long way from its historic roots, but large differences still exist between the iconic cheerleader, the stereotypical cheerleader, and the truth.

Whenever I was in high school there were always the popular people and the losers and of course the popular people didn’t talk to the kids in the school. There were the people who did sports and the kids who did band. You never seen it where an unpopular kid was in a sport, and vice versa.

“Out with old, in with the new,” from being on the sideline to being up in the air. While being a cheerleader there are things that can and will cause accidents, such as being tossed up into the air and not being caught, twisted ankle, or a broken bone. A cheerleader has the chance of being in an accident. This sport is very dangerous to the lives of cheerleaders, even though football has its powerful hit, cheerleading is still considered more dangerous than football. Cheerleading have effects on the physical body, injury’s, accidents, and the stunts that can cause accidents.

Sometimes in life you may have to give up what you love in order to better yourself. At age twelve, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, which is the curvature of the spine. I had no idea what this was or what would become of it. When I went in for my first appointment to see what the curvature was, and how we were going to prevent it from getting worse, I had this nervous feeling in my stomach. I didn’t know if I was going to have to quit doing what I love, which is cheerleading, or if I would be able to push through the pain.

Being an cheerleading for me is like the best thing ever that is going to happen to me, because I love jumping around and doing stuff that includes flexibility. I always wanted to be one since I was little but i never could participate because my parents thought i couldn't do it. When my mother realized that I was flexible and I could some of the things that cheerleaders can do she said I should try out. I can promote the school in many differents way but in good ways. I can make the cheerleading team by getting good grades and doing everything in school first. Not being disrespectful and treat others the same way they treat me back. To be an ambassador for the school I have to Keep my appearance clean, be friendly, and approachable. Another

Screaming and cheering on a Friday night coming from the stands is the best thing to hear as a cheerleader. Cheerleaders stand in front of the student section and get them cheering for their team and showing everyone their moves. Before all the excitement happens cheerleaders have to attend so many practices and perfect everything they know. To make all the moves perfect is one of the hardest thing to do. Cheerleaders get out there on a Friday night and sweat and work their butts of to give the football team support. According to Varsity cheerleading “Nothing beats cheering for your home team on a Friday night” (Varsity cheerleading, paragraph 3). This shows that no matter how much work they put it to being a cheerleader on a Friday night they get out there and have the time of their lives.

Girls and boys alike all over the world enjoy cheerleading. Some people discredit the value of cheerleading by not allowing it to be a sport. Cheerleading involves hard work and dedication. The cheerleaders put in long hours and push themselves to be better at what they love. They try new things and challenge standards with every performance, blowing the minds of their audiences. It teaches people the value of teamwork, positive attitudes, and encouraging others. It requires long hours of practice and attendance at competitions and games just like many other sports including football, basketball, and soccer. People never question whiter those activities are sports. So why do people questions the validity of cheerleading to be a sport? Cheerleading

Since 1898, chants have been heard at football games, and girls jumping and flying through the air have been seen by the speculators in the bleachers. Over the past years, cheerleading has not been defined as a sport, but in all reality, cheerleading is more than a sport.

As I approach my senior year of high school I have been awarded the position of Head Squad Leader on my school drill team. The main purpose of this role is to help lead the team to success and be an example of how to act not only in practice but also in a professional field. Being a part of a high school drill team has made a big impact on my life with how to be respectful to others and be aware of different people and their capabilities.

I see that your team came in first at one of your competitions and I wanted to congratulate you on your accomplishment! I knew you would make a great cheerleader. I hope school is going well and you are learning lots of new things! I miss making crafts and playing pictionary with you so much! I know you like stickers so I thought I would send you some. I hope you enjoy them and have a great rest of the school year. Say hi to Punsel and Gretel for me!

I stood on the sidelines and looked up at the crowd of ninety thousand faces that filled the stadium. All of us from different backgrounds – fans, coaches, and students - had assembled with the common goal of watching our LSU Tigers win the football game. My cheerleading coach signaled to us to prepare for kickoff. In a concerted fashion, we each leaped into our partners’ hands. As the pre-game pageantry came to a close and the game began, we circled our purple pom-poms above our heads and converted to observers on the sideline – unable to control over the outcome of the game that would ensue. This same diversity, unity, synergy and the ability to also help that draws me towards a career in medicine.