Once Upon A Time I Was A Cheerleader

Once upon a time in a far distant life, I used to be a cheerleader. My fascination with cheerleading started when I was just a little girl. I would say watching the movie Bring it On and seeing Gabrielle Union portraying a fierce, beautiful African American cheerleader. It made me believe that cheerleading was everything and that if I was a cheerleader, I could be beautiful as well.

I remember one morning my mother called my siblings and me to her bedroom, and asked us if we wanted to play soccer for the local little league. My brother and sister were ecstatic and immediately said yes to her offer. However, I, on the other hand, could have cared less about playing soccer. My heart was set on cheerleading, so I asked my mother, “Do they have cheerleading, Ma?” In my sweet little five-year-old voice and my mother look me dead in my face and said, “Yeah, they do. I will sign you up.” Now I’m as happy as a poor man with a bag of gold. I’m telling y’all, I was looking up cheers on YouTube getting ready for the first day of practice. I thought I was finally going to live out my dreams.

A couple of weeks go by and the first day of practice was finally here. We pulled into the stadium and all I see are soccer fields, soccer goals, and soccer players. I’m thinking… “where the heck the cheerleaders at?” I asked my mother, “Ma where am I’m going to cheer at? I only see soccer goals.” My mother turned around and told me, “Oh, Step, I forgot to tell you that they don’t have cheer. So, you are just going to play soccer like your brother and sister.” Y’all. When she said that, I swore I knew at five years old what heartbreak felt like. I immediately started crying, I had no interest in playing soccer. Yet my mother did not care. She said I was playing soccer, or I wasn’t playing any sport. I knew then when she said that, not playing a sport was not an option in this family. I sucked up my tears up and played soccer consistently for about three years, and during that time, my soccer skills increased. I became a fast runner and a good kicker; however, my love for soccer did not grow.

Then the day came, it was like God answered my prayers. At the age of eight, I started cheering for another local little league and I fell in love…with cheerleading. I felt so happy at practice while learning cheers and dances. I especially felt elated on game day when I wore my cute little uniform. Being gregarious with the audience while dancing and cheering. I truly loved it and so I took a pause on playing soccer, and I continued to cheer for about six years until I was in eighth grade.

At the middle school I attended, when you reached the eighth grade you were eligible to play soccer for the high school. Now, did I want to play soccer? No. Did I have a choice? Again, no. You see, my sister excelled at soccer; she was a very talented goalie. Her senior year, my mother made me try out for the high school team so she could see her girls play together. Looking back at it…playing on the same team as my sister bonded us. However, at the time, I could care less about playing soccer in high school. I was focused on cheering my last year of middle school and hopefully making the high school cheer team. Nevertheless, I tried out and made it onto the high school soccer team. I was playing soccer and cheering at the same time for two different schools. (Can you say tired?) It wasn’t a bad experience entirely, and I can honestly say I benefited playing soccer with older girls. But I did not want to continue playing soccer when I got to high school. I wanted to continue cheering, but we all know fate sees things differently.

It was soon time for high school cheer tryouts, and for those who don’t know. There is a cheer clinic a week before you try out so you can be taught the material you need to know to compete for a spot. On a Tuesday evening at school, the bell just rung to signal the end of the day. I got out of my seat and bent down to grab my cheer bag. Suddenly, I felt my kneecap slide and pop. I immediately lost control of my body and slid horizontally into my desk chair. I couldn’t feel the bottom half of my body, and when I tried to get up, I fell. The nurses came and assisted me up, and I guess they thought I was just playing when they told me to walk on it. Now, I will admit I wasn’t trying to take my injury serious when cheer tryouts were just right around the corner. So, despite my nagging pain I still went to the cheer clinic. While practicing my toe touches, I noticed that my jumps weren’t as high, and my knee was restricting me. Nevertheless, I didn’t stop jumping and the pain kept increasing. The cheer coach saw me in pain, and she instructed me to sit down; I did.

Later, that night was my soccer banquet, but I was experiencing so much discomfort I was unable to attend. My mother and siblings still went because my sister was getting awarded that night. I went to bed and propped my knee up with a pillow and went to sleep hoping that the pain would just disappear. Until I was awoken out of my sleep by my pounding knee. I look down to see my knee as big as a basketball. (Okay, I’m being dramatic, but it was incredibly swollen.) The pain was unbearable, and I was balling my eyes out. I called my mother and she took me to the emergency room as soon as she got home. The doctors informed me that my knee was dislocated. My mouth drops to the floor, I knew with a dislocated knee that was not a chance in me trying out for the cheer team.

Even though my knee was dislocated, and I had to walk on crutches, something inside me was still determined to try out for cheer. I asked the doctor would that still be possible, and he told me it was extremely unlikely with tryouts being a week away. I was distraught and couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. The doctor knew that I desperately wanted to try out and he gave me hope by saying, “Listen to this Stephyne, your knee might be in a better condition if you attend physical therapy.” I asked him suspiciously, “So, I will be able to try out next week?” He looks at me and says doubtfully, “It is possible, but it’s highly unlikely.” That was all I needed to fuel my ambition. Before I knew it, I started physical therapy the next day and continued to go to the cheer clinic. So, I can still be learning even though I wasn’t able to walk on my own.

The day for tryouts came and my knee was feeling better, and I was off my crutches. Yet my knee wasn’t healed completely, and I still had months of physical therapy to complete. I was still able to cheer and dance, but I could not do any jumps. I gave my all to cheer tryouts and my best effort. I wanted it so bad and left tryouts feeling confident that I did my best. It was all in God’s hands now.

It only took the judges and coaches a day to determine the roster for the new cheer team. When I found out the new list had been posted on the website. I rushed to see the results; my hands were trembling. When the page loaded, I scroll to the bottom of the list and my heart dropped. I didn’t see my name; therefore, I didn’t make the cheer team.

I remember on that night when I found out, a smile didn’t cross my face, and I’m going to be honest, yes, I did cry myself to sleep. I was so upset and disappointed in myself. I had all these dreams and fantasies about being a high school cheerleader; I felt like it was just taken from me. When, it just wasn’t meant for me and it took me a while to understand that.

Sometimes, in life, I can want things so badly. I will claim it as mine and when I don’t achieve it, I get disappointed in myself. I had to realize what is meant for me is for me. I learned to let go of trying to control my life and let God lead the way.

For my ninth and tenth grade year of high school, I continued to play soccer. I decided to give my best that I could, and with that, my love for soccer grew. I also made some friends that I hope are with me for the rest of my life. Do you guys want to know something funny? You remember the first little league cheer team I was on? I also had the amazing opportunity to be the head cheer coach for two years. The whole experience was amazing, and I was taught valuable life lessons working with children. It was like I saw my younger self in every one of the girls. Sadly, I had to stop coaching and playing soccer when I came to MSA, but like I said, everything happens for a reason. Even though I miss my girls and friends dearly I know that me coming here is happening for a reason. I know that God has my best interest at heart so I will continue to gladly follow his lead.

Looking back on it now, I am grateful that I didn’t make the cheer team. Because I know that if I did, I wouldn’t be where I am now, nor the person I am now. So, I told this story to say this, don’t ponder over something you didn’t achieve; just have faith that something better and bigger is coming into your life!

P.S. Just maybe my mother does know what is best for me. lol 😀

Author: Stephyne Weathersby

Lowkey trying my best. View all posts by Stephyne Weathersby