Cheerleading has been a huge part of my life ever since I was 6 years old. I cheered in a midget football league in my town from 1st grade to 8th grade, then moved up to Varsity for four of high school, and I also did two years of competitive cheer as well. Trust me, it is not easy. I have had numerous sprains, strains, bruises, and many injuries during my years of cheerleading. When I came to college, I wanted to keep cheering but I decided to hang up my cheer shoes and take break. I miss cheering like crazy and if I could go back to high school to be able to cheer again, I would do it in a heart beat. These are some life lessons I have learned from cheerleading.

1. You are tougher than you think.
Being run down from countless hours of practice and workouts, and then your coach says "full out again." As bad as you want to quit, you push through and do it again. There are times that you want to give but you know that you just have to keep going because there are 25 other girls counting on and who believe in you.

2. The sacrifices you make, will be well worth it.
"I can't, I have practice" is something that is said probably a billion times out of every cheerleader's mouth. But at the end of the day, the feeling you have taking the field on game day or the mat at competition is so fulfilling.

3. You can do anything that you set your mind to.
If you want something you really have to push for it, but once you do set your mind that you can do it, there's no holding you back. You have to work for what you want and honestly when you finally get it nothing beats that feeling.

4. There is always room for improvement.
No matter how good at something you think you are, it can always be better. That's what makes things great.

5. Be Fearless.
Performing in front of a crowd of people on Friday nights, throwing girls, or being thrown in the air, and learning new skills, surely taught you how to be fearless with anything you do in life.

6. Your team is your family.
These people will be there through the best and worst times of your life with you. Even if you don't stay close, you hold the memories close. To my girls back at home, thank you! You girls truly have seen me in my best and worst times. You given the best memories that I will never forget. I seen all of grow up and grow into these wonderful, young ladies and would't trade that for anything!

No matter how many times you want to quit you have to keep pushing through. Your teammates, co-workers, friends, and family are counting on you in all aspects of life. You can't let them or yourself down. At the end of the day, it will all be worth the fight.

There are times that I find myself missing the days of being a cheerleader. I am forever grateful for all the friendships and memories I made along the way. Most importantly, I'm grateful for the life lessons cheerleading taught me.