Personal Narrative: The Foley Falconettes Dance Team

Hi, I am Arabella, a junior in high school and a varsity cheerleader at Siesta Key High School. I am four feet and eight inches tall and a flyer on the cheer team. I often dress like a nerd, and do not care what other people think. I am dating the star football player at SKHS his name is Tom. Tom was not only a star football player, but he is also very good at soccer, basketball, baseball and volleyball. He is a liar and a cheater too. Anyways, people just call me Bella. I love sports and love spending my days off at the beach. I especially love Major League Baseball; Tampa Bay Devil Rays is my favorite team. I am a happy person most of the time. Who’s dedicated to my cheerleading career; and I want to get a scholarship for Northwestern

At South Walton High School homecoming is an extremely important tradition. Not to mention, South Walton includes an unbelievably small number of students compared to majority of the high schools throughout the America. As I proceed through my senior year, I came to a realization that it would be my last opportunity to participate in this year’s series of homecoming events. With homecoming beginning the week of September 26, 2016 I was overjoyed to express the amount of spirit I had for my school. As each day expressed a different theme I decided to dress up for many of the occasions. On “twin day” as Meredith Grey from the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. Twin day allows students to find a partner or group of friends that could arrange a similar outfit

If everything was easy, then everyone could it and it wouldn’t be an accomplishment. Last year I joined an all-star cheerleading team, and that’s when I found out that this wasn’t going to easy that I have put myself out of my comfort zone. I was 17 years old and I was very shy, but I knew that you couldn’t do anything if you’re shy. Cheer was the best choice I had ever done by the second week of practice I was talking to everyone on the team they became my second family my coaches became so important to me they believed in every single one of us they pushed us to do our best and to never give up.

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.

Throughout my life, I have always been told that motivation is what gets you going, but your heart is what keeps you going. It has only been three years since I have discovered my passion for cheerleading; however, it has formed me into the young adult I am today. Due to the numerous hours of hard work, willpower and persistence over these years, I have acquired the concept that my mind, body and soul can withstand almost anything. The idea that cheerleading is not a sport, tends to be an extremely moot topic in today’s society. To me, however, it doesn’t matter what other people think, if it’s something you love and enjoy then that all that counts. I appreciate all of the challenges that cheerleading presents to me. I have gained an extreme

The Chino Hills High School Dance Team performed in their first competition at Esperanza High School. The competition started off with the Freshmen Solos, from Natalie Garcia, Scarlette Esparza, Zachary Ramos, and Simone Carrillo. Sophomore Solos, from Hayley Dyer and Megan Glaudini. Junior Solos, from Brooke Wendel, Rheana Tumang, and Mia Roberts, and Senior Solos, from Emily Ha and Florrie Ku. The sophomore, junior, and senior solos took first place!

One day I was out walking my dog and my dog started to bark I stopped to see what he was braking about and didn’t see anything. He started to bark again I look around didn’t see anything. I finally look up at the night sky and see the bright flash of light fly by me

On the Saturday morning that the team was announced, I was wracked with fear. I was participating in a rehearsal for a dance competition with another team during the hours leading up to the time that the list was going to be posted. Trying to get through that rehearsal was nearly impossible as my attention was more focused on what color nail polish would best match my new Chiefettes shirt that I would be wearing to school on Monday. Once my mother and sister arrived to pick me up from the studio, I shook nervously in the back seat, sending messages to my other friends, waiting to find out the news. Both my mother and my sister remained silent, but I knew that they were praying just like I was that I would see my number on that list. As we

During my elementary years, my second home was at the cheerleading gym. Each week, I would spend over sixteen hours in Shrewsbury, PA practicing with my cheer team for competitions. I was a member of Titanium Athletics, an allstar cheer team that trained to compete against other teams all over the country. Cheer was essentially my entire life for five years, and I had no idea how much my family and I would be impacted when I quit.

My passion for cheer started by the time i was three. I started as a cheer mascot and would tag along with my sisters team. I would mimic cheer moves that my sister would show me and follow her around to ask questions about her team and the sport. Once i was seven i was allowed on a team of my own, C-Squad. I went to practices daily and practiced on the trampoline till my mom would yell to me to come inside.

A setback I have recently faced was not making the varsity cheerleading team my senior year. I know it may not seem that big of a deal to some, but it was to me. I have been cheering since my 8th grade year, and to not make it my senior year was disappointing. When I realized I didn't make it, I felt many different emotions: confusion, denial, sadness, and anger. I stayed angry for a while, like my senior year was already starting off bad, and this was supposed to be my best year. An even though I knew I had other talents and could go on do so much more, it didn't feel right. I've gotten so accustom to going to practice and cheering at the games and seeing my close friends. It’s a different type of bond you have with other cheerleaders, especially

Although it isit's very typical one might say that they belong in a sport, especially cheerleading, it's what makes me different because of all the experiences I’ve gone through and learned from while in the sport. Like most young adults, I never really had much self-esteem and confidence in myself so I thought that cheerleading could boost that up. I dedicated most of my high school career in this sport in the hopes of me transitioning into a confident woman. However, I didn't only learn how to be confident, I also learned how to take the initiative and speak up for what I believe in. Cheerleading distinguishes me from my peers because of the woman I then became, I was more loud and proud kind of a girl. In my school, cheerleading is the most

I stood on a mat, in an unfamiliar gym, surrounded by unfamiliar people. Did I really want to do this? I know no one here, I don’t even know if this is something I would end up liking. All these thoughts were running through my mind, making me question if I was brave enough to do this. I was eight years old and tryout out for my local competitive cheerleading team. As my mind raced, increasing my nerves, I contemplated leaving. I made the decision to join the team; I never know it could be something I would really enjoy. I didn’t realize at the time that this wouldn’t be the last time my mind tries to talk me out of taking a risk.

We spend 720 minutes, 12 hours, and 6 days a week mentally and physically preparing for a 2 minutes and 30 second routine. Our talent becomes unbeatable, and we as a team become unstoppable. The countless hours, hundreds upon hundreds of repetitions, blood, sweat, and tears all become worth it.

Within the past two years, dance has become a more prevalent part of my life. Dance has provided me with a source of diversion and a creative outlet from the monotony of classes. A research colleague invited me to attend a UF Volaticus Aerial Dance Club meeting. Aerial dance is a form of modern dance that incorporates the use of hanging silk ribbons to fully utilize all physical space. I was hesitant to attend at first because I have little formal training in dance, but I became hooked and was a regular attendant. Aerial dance not only pushed me physically, but it also taught me to control my body more gracefully and fluently. Last year, I performed Bhangra, a style of dance from the Punjabi region of India/Pakistan, for the Asian American