Living in the south, I was raised on the principle of you go to church on Sundays and on Friday nights you're in the stands watching football. You grow up learning the difference between when you are supposed to cheer and when you are supposed to stay quiet (because booing is rude). When you are finally old enough to be a part of these Friday night lights, its almost as if all that you grew up watching was finally real for you. But then your four years come and go, and to the world you are no longer a part of that team that you spent the majority of your life watching. Though I am now a Clemson Tiger (and loving every minute of it), I will always be a Panther.

I will always be a Panther because on the sidelines is where you learn that no matter what you can come back from anything. Watching games where there were surely many people against us and the first half seeming to prove them right, the whole side of the stadium came together to prove all the negative people wrong. It shows me that no matter what life throws at you, or how far behind I seem you can come back from anything.

I will always be a Panther because that is where I found my family. Being a cheerleader gave me a group of girls that I could come to with all my issues. In High School I went through more than I would wish on anyone and I could leave all my troubles behind for a few hours a day and be happy with my family that being a panther gave me. I wouldn't trade those years for anything.

I will always be a Panther because we were more than a team, we were a community. Everyone came and still comes out for the games no matter if they have any child playing football or cheering or entertaining in the band. There will always be a crowd full in the stands no matter if the team is home or away. It is something that makes you feel like you are doing something more than just what is on the field.

Lastly I will always be a Panther because it's just like coming home. You can graduate or move somewhere else. You can grow up and start a family of your own, but once you come to the stands it's like you have come home from a long vacation and you never want to leave. You grew up there and it will always hold a significance to you. The Panther stadium will always have a piece of my heart.

With love CHS and like always, Its a great day to be a Panther.