A Shy Cheerleader’s Perseverance Against Fear & Mental Health
West Orange student shows her bravery by trying out for the cheerleading team.
Battling mental health and one’s personal fears is a difficult feat when you’re shy, but 17-year-old Samantha Nunez proves the hurdle is not impossible.
Nunez is a student at West Orange High School who has been attempting to better her mental wellbeing and confront her inner conflicts.
Being shy has proved to be difficult for Nunez throughout her educational career, and it’s a large part of herself that she took issue with.
Nunez lives in regret for not overcoming this part of herself sooner.
“Of course, I think I could’ve been cheering and doing stuff by now for all four years and middle school,” Nunez said, “In class sometimes I don’t speak up. I’m just a bit afraid that the answers that I say are wrong sometimes.”
Although she was shy and incredibly nervous, Nunez decided to step outside the confines of her comfortability and try out for the cheerleading team.
“So one day I was like, you know what? I’m just gonna learn the dance, go to tryouts and if I don’t make it, I don’t make it,” Nunez said. “And if I do, yay.”
Nunez managed to overcome her fears and become the athlete she’s wanted to be. Being able to do this proved to be successful for her as now she has been cheerleading for nearly two years.
However, things haven’t always been so easy for her in school.
With the SAT’s arriving at a fast pace, and the mountains of work she was required to finish, Nunez had been struggling significantly to keep her head above water.
“I put pressure on myself and I just felt so burnt out and there was this one time I really needed a break or I’d — I don’t know, I would just break down inside,” Nunez said.
Feeling worn out with the stresses of school, Nunez has managed to pull through by taking small breaks and going on walks to ease her brain. De-stressing is incredibly important to keep from overwhelming the mind.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me and I can focus on having a fun summer,” Nunez said.
To be mentally healthy and able to go beyond the limit is key to one’s happiness. With a bit of push and self confidence, anyone can achieve their goals, even if they’re a little shy.
