High School Tryouts Research Paper

As a kid I never really found the right sport for me. I tried out different kid of sports , but nothing had been the right fit until I found the world of competitive cheer. I had been very hesitant to join because I thought it was something silly, I had been wrong. Cheerleading will always be one of the best opportunity that I have made.

When I was 9 years old, I started this thing called competitive or all-star cheerleading. My goal at the time was to make it on a level 5 team and compete at the World Championship. Within my first 5 seasons I had a lot of trouble with my tumbling, which prevented me from moving past level 4. Before my sixth season I switched cheer gyms. My parents believed in my goals so much that they drove me an hour and half to and from practice two to three times a week. Within my first year at Tribe which was my new gym, my tumbling issues never got resolved. That left me on a level 3 team where I never believed I was good enough. The next year I was again put on a level 3 team. Now in my eighth season I was put on a level 3 team yet again. I wanted to quit, but my coach showed me that tumbling did not define me and allowed me to fall in love with the sport all over again.

I worked out everyday and practiced every chance I got. When the first day of tryouts came around again, I woke up that morning like every other day, but I knew today was different. I knew that today was the day I was going to redeem myself. When I got to the field most of the guys looked familiar, a few of them even joked around with me and asked "you're back for more?" Unlike the previuos year, I was ready for this tryout. I proved to everyone that doubted me and said I couldn't and I earned my spot on that team. The moment I saw my name on the team's roster was one of my proudest

When I was in 3rd grade I begged my mom to sign me up for cheerleading. I had always pictured myself on the sideline of a football game. Except, that wasn't exactly what I signed up for. Actually, it wasn't even close My mom signed me up for a team named Rocket Cheer. A team that did not cheer on the sidelines at football games but instead competed in competitions nationwide throughout the whole year.This has been more than just a sport to me. Rocket Cheer has taught me commitment as well as time management, the true meaning of family, how to not give up on any goal, and taught me to be me.

I made sure to act very confident at tryouts so it would not be a repeat of the year before. The high school tryouts felt completely different. I was more confident, louder, and overall a better cheerleader. All the hard work I put in really paid off. The day after tryouts, I remember I was in the parking lot of the eye doctor’s office when the teams had been posted. I was so nervous I would be let down again, so I made my mom check first. Typically freshman year girls cheer for the freshman team, but my mom did not see my name there. Panicking, I took her phone and double checked scrolling to see the other teams. Sure enough, my name was not on the freshman team. My name was under junior varsity! I surpassed my goal I made a team that only a few girls my age

I was competing for a spot with girls I had never even seen before, and even worse: I had no idea what they were capable of. Tryouts gave me the same rush of adrenaline I felt during my first performance. As much as I loved the feeling, I was terrified of it all at once. Once I made my first impression on the judges, it was time for the waiting game. It took a solid three weeks until I got my letter in the mail that held my future cheer sealed inside. To my delight once more, the contents of the letter were more than exciting. “Congratulations! You are invited to cheer on Saint Francis Junior Varsity Cheerleading!” stated the letter in big bold block letters. The season flew by faster than the speed of light, and before I knew it I was feeling the adrenaline rush again inside the sticky, hot gym. I put my spot on the squad in jeopardy by going for the varsity squad as a junior, which was something very risky because the seniors always got selected above a junior. Taking this risk was something I would have never done, as I used to always play it safe. An upperclassman I had confided in when I met her during my basketball season watched my tryout from outside the window looking into the gym, and she said I had killed it, and the letter I received that April reflected that. I was one of two juniors cheering on the football squad of all seniors.

Cheer coaching has played a major role in my life. Ever since I became a coach I’ve achieved many

Sports have always been a huge part of my life since I was a little kid. My favorite sport is competition cheer, but I also do school cheer. I started doing school cheer in pewee, but took a break and started back up this year. I tried out for football and basketball cheer and ended up making both teams and school competition. School cheer isn't as fun as competitive, but it was a great way for me to socialize with more people and support our sports teams. I haven't decided if I want to try out for high school cheer, but I think I'll give it a shot. I love competitive cheer more because I love being able to be sassy and not get in trouble. I quit my old cheer team Champion Force and joined a new team this year called Extreme Cheer. I was on

My cast was so hard to learn the tryout cheer and dance with. I couldn’t really move my arm because it was so sore. It was awkward everyday walking into cheering with my cast because the other girls that were trying out would make jokes and laugh at me, they made me feel very insecure. I thought I wasn’t going to make the squad. Everyone had doubt in me which made me have doubt in myself. I was told I couldn’t do it. People told me not to try out because I wasn’t going to make it. I later realized that they were upset because I was still allowed to try out even

I honestly didn’t know if I would make it, and I was incredibly proud of the accomplishment. Ironically though, the team was posted as I was finishing up practice for fall softball. I ran over to share the good news with my mom, and in doing so other team mates heard me and the news got out. Before I could contain the situation, several of my coaches heard about my new extracurricular activity, and the teasing started! Of course their opinions were important to me. I was working hard to impress my coaches, who at the time were new to me. I knew in my heart though, that there were many advantages to my participation in cheer, and that it would be my job to prove to them that this was going to benefit me, not hurt

I’ve since then participated in many community and club activities but Cheerleading has stood out by far. I started Cheerleading when we moved here and have been in the program to this day. With my own Mother as our coach it proved difficult to rise in levels due to her thoughts of “favoritism.” But at age 15 I became my Mother's successor and took over the program. While balancing my other two jobs, being a Gymnastics teacher and pizza baker, this became my favorite. Leading a 100 cheerleader program is no joke but it’s became a habit over a job. The ability to change a child’s perspective on themselves and other people is why I love leading this group of cheerleaders. My kiddos, I hope one day, will rise above me to become leaders in their own ways and cultivate an even better future for our community as I have.

My freshman year of high school, I failed. It wasn’t grades, it wasn’t socially. I felt I had failed myself. My freshman year I didn’t make the junior varsity team, but remained on the freshman team. This may not seem like a failure; however, it meant a lot more to me than simply not making the team.

When I was in middle school, I struggled to find a sport/ extracurricular activity that continuously kept my interest. I tried everything from soccer to cheerleading, and I eventually had a breakthrough. I learned during cheerleading that I greatly enjoyed the dance aspect of it, but not as much the stunts (mainly because I was a flyer and the stunts were becoming more dangerous). So, in seventh grade, I began taking dance lessons at a local studio. Little did I know, that would become my favorite thing in the entire world.

I am proud to say that I am now a cheerleader for Sanford H. Calhoun High School. Throughout my years long attempt to make the cheerleading team, I had learned that failure is an inevitable aspect of life. I also learned that I have a strong sense of determination and will power. By setting goals, I am able to maneuver my way towards success, one step at a time. With an end goal in mind, I also have learned to enjoy the journey of life. Without the initial rejection, I would never have joined Platinum Athletic and made some of my closest friends, an experience I am grateful for. My determination to succeed is an integral aspect of my personality, and I take pride in both my failures and

I was sitting in the frigid athletic training room, my feet dangling off the bench waiting for the athletic trainer to sign some papers. These papers were my key to my return to cheer. I was not allowed back until these papers were signed clearing me. I was excited, nervous, happy and relieved that soon I would be back on a blue mat alongside my teammates and best friends. It just happened to be that next time there would be cheer, would be the day of our tryouts. Finally, after what felt like hours the athletic trainer signed my papers and said "you're all set for cheer tomorrow", I was beyond excited. Tomorrow was the day I go back to doing what I love.