For those of you reading this who don't know, I tried out for Hillsdale College's cheer team in the spring of 2014, and was lucky enough to get on. I had wanted to try out my freshman year, however, a foot surgery and subsequent six-month recovery prevented me from doing so. I clearly remember seeing the notice on Facebook, encouraging incoming freshmen girls with dance, gymnastics, or cheer experience to send in audition tapes; at that moment I was sitting in bed with my foot propped up on pillows, and it finally hit me that I wouldn't be able to dance for half a year. As disappointed as I was, I resigned myself to the prospect of taking some dance classes after my recovery. Little did I imagine that a year from then I would be looking forward to my first year on the cheer squad.

Now, two years later, and quickly approaching the beginning of my third, and final year, I can say that being a member of the cheer team has been nothing short of amazing. The women on this squad make it this way. I find it especially impressive that my teammates are some of the busiest students on campus; many of them are active in sororities, take part in extracurricular activities and hold jobs. Yet, they always find a way to make time for the team. It is especially amazing to me that these very same women are able to learn a dance in about the span of a week, and go out on the turf or court and perform with grace and confidence.

I've learned a lot as a member of the cheer squad. This may sound corny, but in all honesty it has changed me. This team has taught me the importance of values such as perseverance. Learning a new routine when you have so many other things going on in your life can seem a little daunting at times, but the end result is always worth it.

As a member of the cheer squad, I've also learned the importance of teamwork. One of the things that makes pom so cool is the synchronization of the movements. Each dancer is a part of a whole. The smallest detail can change the dance drastically. I quickly learned how important it was to listen to my captains' and coach's instructions and apply their critiques. I've learned to value every one of my teammates. Each of them is an integral part of the squad and helps to make us better.

Though I'm excited to graduate, come May, it will be hard to leave the cheer squad. I'm going to miss the camaraderie, the laughs, our shared excitement during a close game, the moments where we huddled together in the freezing cold, waiting to run out to the field to perform our halftime routines and the joy that came with nailing a dance. The memories I have made with these wonderful, brilliant ladies will stay with me for the rest of my life. So to our captains, our coach and our team, thank you for two fantastic years, and here's to another.