Why Me?!

Today I had to make a decision: either continue to compete with the cheer team and be miserable, or quit and find happiness. The choice is obvious.

Instead of people drawing conclusions from my decision, I would like to share my side of the story.

Yes, it is true. I do not have much money, which comes as no surprise. For most people who know me, my mom is a single parent. I apologize I do not have the money to go to cheer nationals in Texas. That is out of my control. For my last Christmas at home I was given an option. I could go to Dallas in January with my team, or I could have presents under my Christmas tree. I choose Christmas.

I have a job, one that allowed me to cut my hours in order for me to remain in cheer. I’m pretty sure I’m one of the few seniors who does not have a car. In other words, I need my job, but in order for me to keep my job, I must work my scheduled days. My entire work schedule is sculpted around the insane cheer schedule. Practice is every day from 3 to 5:30, and a 3 hour practice from 9 to 12 every Saturday from now until March. This includes Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and the entire winter break. When us cheerleaders have a day off from school, we actually don’t because we have practice.

There was no possible way I could fully commit to the competition team knowing I have so much going on in my life. Currently I am in 3 college level courses with a couple extra classes added onto that. Being a STUDENT Athlete, student comes first. I need to focus all of my energy on school work because it is my senior year. Yes, it sucks that I’m not participating in the sport I’v been involved in since 8th grade. However, in the end, I have big goals for my future, and cheer is not going to get me there.

Quitting the competition team was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. In the end, I will look back, and I know it will all be worth it.