What can I say? These past few months have not been what I’d been
hoping for. I love my classes, friends, and the feeling of being the oldest in
the school. I love being the leader for all of my freshman and sophomore
friends. There is one thing; however, that has been weighing on my happiness:
the way I have been treated throughout the school for being a cheerleader. I
became a cheerleader my junior year to make the change I so desperately needed
in my life. Every second of the cheer seasons last yearI loved. I was part of
something amazing. The student section wasn’t always the most supportive, and
yes, it’s true, the poster wars we had with the stats did turn into full-out
catfights, but at the end of the year we all came together and celebrated an
almost miner victory. This year most of the student section agreed to be more
supportive and the stats and cheerleaders hugged it out. I thought we were on
track to an incredible year. Something happened though. If you’re curious with
what went wrong I encourage you to keep reading.
1. The beginning of football season started like any other,
stressful. Learning a new school song routine, hello-cheer, and floor cheers
isn’t the easiest thing to do. It takes creativity and a nice calm, “CRASH!”
wait...what was that? Oh. I just got hit in the head with a basketball. Who did
that? My coach’s kid. Let’s face it; it’s hard to practice with five children
running all over the place. Hopefully our coach will get here soon. Maybe then
we can stretch in peace.We can’t practice without a coach being there
consistently to support us and focus on our improvement.
2. We had two cheer captains that the other three girls were never
made aware of. Ever heard of a power struggle? Yeah..I feel like I don’t have
to explain that any more.
3. Having to work concessions, fundraise, make posters, get a sports
physical, practice, and show up to games are some of the tasks we had to do.
This is what I like to call a double standard. The school seems to think we are
a club and a sport. Still not sure how that works…
4. Our high school administration did not even once clap or shout
with our crowd cheers. I know this for a fact. Every game I would watch them.
They paid no attention to us, or blankly starred at us. Thanks for the support.
5. We can no longer find you guys a coach, so we have to cut the
program. No one wants to deal with you cheerleaders and the coach has to be
part of the school system. For everyone’s information, last year the girls head
basketball coach wasn’t part of the Beulah School Staff. The dance coach also isn't part of the school system.
6. The five of us girls were not perfect, but the way cheer was
handled, set us up for failure. Mistakes were clearly made and priorities were
not where they should have been.
Near the end of football season, we were told by the athletic
director that our squad looked like a joke and there was no point of us
cheering for basketball season if only two girls consistently showed up. We
just make the school look bad. Showing up to a game, the next day, with that
mentality is detrimental. The crowd and a few students would tell us how bad we
looked and pointed out all our flaws. This went to my head quite quickly. Being
constantly bullied by everyone is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to
deal with in my life. That’s the only reason I left the football field that
day. I was being bullied, and honestly I still am.
But leaving the field that day was the worst decision of my life.
Everyday someone will bring it up. People try to blame it on my coach or
another cheerleader. Even though I was also being put down by them, they aren’t
the reason why I left. I never give anyone a definite answer to that question.
I have never once talked bad about my coach or another teammate to any other
student or faculty member. I am aware however of the rumor that I am trash
talking these individuals, this rumor is not true. I am ending that right now.
The way the cheer program has been handled is completely
unacceptable. We are not treated fairly or are given the opportunities to
succeed. We have zero support.
The way I have been treated these past two weeks is what really hurts
me. My coach never asked why I left the field that day. She still doesn’t know
to this day. I got a twenty minute lecture yesterday about how the cheerleaders
are full of drama, and we don’t deserve a basketball cheer team. We were told
the administration doesn’t care about the little cheerleaders and we need to
immediately stop talking to them about it. We are just annoying them. Every day I feel
attacked by students and faculty about my decision to cheer and my decision to
walk off the field. I am being treated differently. Every day I am being
bullied, and I have kept it on the inside for too long. It has gone too far in
these past weeks. I no longer want to attend school. I’ve had enough. I’m not asking
for an apology. I am just asking for everyone to back off. Enough is enough.
