Cheerleading is a passion that so many athletes get the chance to experience. It is something that so many of us have given our everything for. We’ve sacrificed our social lives and given up any other extracurricular activities just to be on a competitive cheerleading team. For a lot of us, it was our whole life, so it didn’t seem like a sacrifice at all. We train day and night for years on end, not only physically but mentally too. We push through the pain, smile when we feel like we’re dying and keep moving forward all for that one goal: Worlds.

Cheerleading creates a bond between athletes. There is this unspoken agreement between teammates to do whatever it takes to succeed. You pick each other up when you need it and you keep the positivity going through hard practices.

There are times when all you want to do is just quit. You can’t do that tumbling skill or that stunt anymore, your body feels like it’s on fire from doing full outs back to back. But it’s in situations like these that athletes are reminded of what all of this is for. Going to the World Championships is something that every competitive cheerleader dreams of. Those select few athletes who make their gyms prospective worlds teams are truly put to the test for months on end. And they love it more than anything.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of those athletes. You’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into those 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Whether it’s your first time experiencing Worlds or your sixth, it never gets old. The rush of adrenaline you get just by walking into the Milk House is something that athletes never forget. When you step onto the Worlds mat and look around the arena, soak it all in. Those few moments before the music begins will be some of the most terrifying yet exhilarating moments of your life.

As a retired cheerleader, there is nothing I want more than to experience those things just one more time. I’ve actually grown to miss full outs, conditioning and working so hard you can’t feel your arms or legs. I miss going into warm ups with my teammates and feeding off of the energy around us. I will never forget the emotions that engulfed me when I arrived at the ESPN Wide World of Sports with my team for the first time. This is the opportunity that only comes once in the life time for so many.

This week is what all your hard work has come down to. It’s in these final days before the competition that teams are truly tested. Everyone wants to do the best they can at any competition, especially Worlds. One common goal that every single athlete, coach, spectator and fan has is that their team hits. You strive to see zero deductions on your score sheet, the crowd going crazy and not to mention that “You just Hit!” tweet from cheerUPDATES. All you need to do is take a breath, work with your teammates and do what you love. The rest will go from there.