While my heart felt as if it were going to break through my chest, and my lungs could not hold enough air to keep my breath steady, my cheer coach would advise the team how being a cheerleader is going to help us as an adult. The last idea on my mind was becoming an adult and what I needed to do to survive the real world. At the time, the real world was a full schedule of cheer practice, sporting and school events, cheer competitions and open gym. How was any of this going to help me as an adult?
Now I find myself waking up thinking, “I do not want to be an adult today.” Well, whether I want to or not I have to roll out of bed and start yet another day being a functioning 20-year-old in society. I look back to a very similar situation; waking up at 5:00 in the morning thinking, “I do not want to go to cheer practice.” After the blood, sweat, and tears I went through being a cheerleader I am finding how much of it has helped with the blood, sweat, and tears of being an adult. Here’s how:
Push Your Limits
Sometimes it’s only 3:00 in the afternoon and you know you cannot go to bed until probably midnight, but all you can think about is giving up on the day. Any cheerleader knows that when their coach says this is the last time the team would have to do their competition routine, it really meant they had to stay for another hour. If you got through that, you can get through even the toughest of days. You got it!
Remember Your Vowels
A, E, I, O and U helped make the most enthusiastic faces in front of a crowd when a cheerleader felt like her legs were going to fall off in the middle of a competition routine, or when her football team was miserably losing. So keep in mind the facial expressions you make when pronouncing your vowels and the fake smile becomes so much easier it almost feels real! Remember, a smile can go a long way!
Teamwork
There is no way a stunt could happen without your teammates. This is the same for current or future careers. When days are rough in the work place remember a stunt that only succeeded because each teammate put in 110 percent effort. Try the same strategy with your co-workers and everyone will reach their goals.
Bows make everything better
So maybe bows have nothing to do with a life lesson, but a crisp bow in a high ponytail sure does feel good no matter how long ago high school was!