Cheerleader

“It might be the last game of the season. Make sure to cheer loud and be prepared to lose your voice. Ready? Okay, let’s do this.”

“R-O-W-D-I-E that’s the way we spell rowdy, rowdy. Let’s get rowdy! Woo!”

Toe-touches, big bows, intense games, long nights, and McDonalds. This is what cheerleading is made of.

The seven month season is finally over. I am relieved, but heartbroken at the same time. I will no longer have to attend three hour long practices that consist of perfecting our school song, starting lineups, and sideline cheers. The bruises on my arms and ribs can finally heal from the stunts that didn’t go quite right. And the elementary school will no longer have to worry about me spilling paint all over their carpet every time I attempt to make a poster.

This was my first year being a cheerleader and I have learned so much! There is a lot more to cheerleading than meets the eye. It takes dedication, a positive attitude, and a lot of flexibility. Because of this sport, I have met six amazing girls. These are the other Beulah High School Cheerleaders, but I call them my best friends. We can trust one another and always have each other’s back. That’s the unique thing about cheering, unlike any other team where there is about 30 students stepping on each other to become a starter, our squad can only have a maximum of eight girls. No one thinks they are better than someone else. We support each other, because we understand each other.

The thought of cheering gives me butterflies. There is no other feeling like being in front of a crowd, the passion radiating off the players and the excitement bouncing from the crowd. It gets my adrenaline pumping so fast I feel like I’m going to explode! I take huge pride being on the sidelines cheering for the Beulah Miners. We will always be there to cheer and support the team, even if they lose the biggest game of the season. Cheerleaders are the team’s number one fan (well after the parents).

I know a lot of people don’t have enough respect for us. Some think we get annoying and are in the way of their view. Others may have the irrelevant opinion that what we do isn’t a sport. This year I have been disrespected at every single game I have cheered at. People, especially teenagers, have ripped our posters down, cursed at us, have told us that we look stupid, and even have thrown rocks at us.  This used to hurt my feelings, but it doesn’t anymore. I love what I do and nothing will change that.

 If you are one of those people who decide to talk bad about us or tell us to move, just remember that cheerleaders are part of the team they are cheering for. We aren’t going anywhere. We are at the game for the same reason you are, to cheer on the team. Criticizing us won’t make us disappear and it certainly won’t help the team win.

I think cheerleading is one of those things that someone doesn’t understand until they become one. Therefore not a lot of people understand us, and that’s okay. I just ask that you don’t criticize us before you get to know us. Cheerleading is my life. It’s made me a more confident and determined person.  I have made six amazing friends and some of the best memories of my life. I can’t wait to see what next season will bring, but I do know one thing for sure. I have no intentions of letting anyone ever dull my sparkle.

Coach and Teacher?

Coach or Teacher?

High School is one of the most important parts of a person’s life. It prepares us for college and the work force. The education we get in high school can either make or break us. With so much riding on our education, I think that schools should be focused on preparing us for our future, but I believe they are focused on something completely different, athletics. Teachers are pushed to the back burner to make room for the more important adults, the coaches. Many coaches tend to be teacher because coaching alone isn’t a full time job. Every year well qualified and passionate teachers are overlooked for jobs because a school wants to hire a teacher that can also be a coach. If we have the best coach, we have the best sports team, therefore the best school.

I believe teachers should not be allowed to be coaches. Education needs to come first. This year more than half of my teachers are coaches. I have noticed that during their season the teachers sometimes seem less focused on teaching the lesson and come to school ill prepared. Our class is given tests or study halls coincidently the day after a game. When we ask why we have to take a test the teachers openly admit that they didn’t have time to prepare the next lesson. Yet, they expect the athletes to have time to study. If that isn’t a double standard, I don’t know what is. Shouldn’t teaching always come first? Isn’t a teacher’s job to teach?

            I do acknowledge that this isn’t always the teachers fault. I feel that the school puts a lot of pressure on them to be the best coach and teacher possible. There is only so much time in a day and I’m sure it is hard to get all this work done.  Although coaching shouldn’t come first, the fear of repercussions puts even more fear and pressure to always win.

 On a weekly basis my coach teachers have spent over 15 minutes talking about last night’s game with the interested students. Last time I checked sports has absolutely nothing to do with school work. 15 minutes of my time has just been wasted. I could have been taught new material to better prepare me for my future. Teachers are also often unable to teach their afternoon classes due to away games. I’m tired of feeling that I am getting shorted out. I am an athlete too and I realize that sports are important and it does teach lessons and builds character. But if we lose it won’t affect my whole life. If I don’t get to learn all my needed material because a teacher is tired from coaching, it will affect me. It could potentially cost me needed ACT and GPA points, which I need to get into college. That will affect me for the rest of my life.

I realize that I go to a public school, but this concept still seems unfair. It is not in the best interest of the students. I would love for the administration to comment on this and make their stance on the matter. I know some teachers are an exception to this blog and really do love teaching and coaching and do a wonderful job at both. I’m not trying to burn any bridges or direct this at anyone in particular, but I believe in my opinions and needed to make myself known.

The 56th Session

 Tossing and turning. Tossing and turning. Just go to sleep, I think. Stop worrying. It’s 11, then 12, finally 1. It’s 1 o’clock in the morning and still I've had no sleep. Just tossing and turning. That’s it! I can’t take it anymore! I jump out of my bed and tiptoe upstairs to the computer. I just have to know. Shaking, I slowly type in my username and password for my g-mail account. This is the moment of truth. I click on the new email I knew would be waiting for me. Taking a deep breath I look at the message, “Congratulations”, it reads “You have been selected to represent Girl Scouts Dakota-Horizons at the 56^th session of the commission on the Status of Women taking place February 24- March 2. I keep reading that sentence over and over again. Excitement creeps into my body, but so does panic. My heart is racing; my palms are damp with sweat. I am stunned with disbelief. I can’t believe they chose me.

The next months were a blur. Listening to webinars every Sunday evening, researching gender equality, packing my bags, and doing a weeks’ worth of homework didn't even faze me. My heart was in a permanent race. New York is all I could think about.

February 24, the day I was leaving, quickly came. I drove to school to take one final quiz and then I was on my way to the Bismarck airport. I've never even been on a plane and now I have to get on one and fly all the way to New York by myself. At least I would be able to meet the three other girls in Minneapolis. The flight was also free, so that’s always a bonus!

When I got off the plane three girls’ happy yet nervous faces greeted me. After introductions, we all silently walked to our next gate to fly to New York. On the plane I start talking to one of the girls, named Lorisa. She was from Webster, South Dakota. It turns out we have a lot in common! Our adviser then tells us we will be rooming together in the hotel. We couldn't be more excited!

Every day in New York brought us a new adventure. We got up at 4:30 each morning and were usually out the door by 6. We went to sessions, conferences, and caucuses at the United Nations and discussed how to improve gender equality. People really valued our opinions! None of us even cared that we didn't get to sight see in this grand city!

During this week, 5,000 people along with me changed. We were all from different parts of the world and at different stages of our lives.  We all learned through each other’s experiences and came to value each other’s culture. I gained a deeper respect towards women and learned that gender equality really is a serious problem in today’s society, especially in places outside of the United States.

Even though almost a year has passed since I've gone to this conference, not a day goes by when I don’t remember this incredible experience. I still keep in contact with many of the girls I met while in New York, and now call one of these girls my best friend. I can honestly say I will remember this journey forever. I want to wish CSW a happy 57^th anniversary! Keep on changing lives, like I know you did to mine.

S.A.D.

                Flowers, chocolate, sugar cookies, flowers, teddy bears, hugs and kisses, jewelry and flowers. Did I mention flowers? All these objects have to do with one thing, a holiday. It’s a holiday that either a person loves or hates. It makes someone feel like they are on top of the world or are getting sucked into a black hole of doom. What could this most powerful important holiday be? Valentine’s Day, or as many of the less fortunate people of the world call it, Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D).

                This holiday all started out with a baby, but not just any baby, a baby that had wings and shot people with a bow and arrow of love and made the unsuspecting victim fall in love with the next person they saw. Yeah, I’m sure this actually happened in real life, not.

                Valentine’s Day is nonsense. First of all, it is over commercialized. It gives every company in the United States a reason to make their products pink and put hearts on them and sell them at an increased price. I suppose they are actually being smart about this. Americans are the foolish ones who buy these “romantic” products.

                This is also a huge waste of money! After Valentine’s Day a guy's wallet is five pounds lighter because they spend so much money on flowers, chocolate, and jewelry for their special someone. Also, 15% of women send flowers to themselves. Why? They waste their money and then watch the plant wilt and die. I really don’t think this would make me feel better about myself. Here’s another news flash, if someone really cares about their spouse or girlfriend/boyfriends they shouldn’t need a holiday to send them something. They think, “Here take these flowers .I had to get you these because of Valentine’s Day or else you would think I’m an insensitive boyfriend”.  If someone really loves you they should buy flowers out of the goodness of their heart, not because of a holiday.

                I propose that we stop celebrating Valentine’s Day all together! It would help men save their money and stop making people feel sorry for themselves. I think we are all of tired of dealing with the overpriced candy, busy restaurants, and crying people. The day Valentine’s Day gets taken off of the calendar will be the happiest day of my life, but until then I hope you all have a happy Singles Awareness Day!

All I have left is this photo..

I walk into the house. It’s perfect. It has two stories and is open with plenty of room, but there is something funny about it. It is layered in a thick coating of dust. It hasn't been lived in for fifty years. I walk unconsciously down the wooden stairs. I somehow make it to the bedroom at the end of the basement. It still has black, grey, and pink strips painted thoughtfully on the wall. I walk onto the freshly put in carpets. The expensive carpet that covers the blood stains. Not even thinking anymore I open the closet; in the corner I see a photo.  The photo is of a family; 3 girls, a mom, and a dad. I flip to the back side of the photo. It’s from 2012, fifty years ago. This is the family who used to live in this house. They look happy, all wearing matching blue shirts.  “They look happy”, that thought echoes in my head.  I don’t know much about this family, only from what I've heard from people. They were active in their community and their church, always willing to help out anyone in need. This family is a legacy around here. Some even say they haunt this house waiting to take revenge on the next innocent home owner.

Luckily, I know the truth. It was the youngest daughter’s 17^th birthday and the family was celebrating. Without any warning, two men broke into the large white house, one from the main entrance and one from the glass French doors. The family was drug apart and taken to each a separate room and duct taped to their beds. One by one they were slaughtered. Even to this day no one knows why.

That brings me back to her room, the birthday girls, supposedly the one who was murdered last. She almost escaped I once heard a lady say. This photo doesn’t tell the story of the murder though. It tells a completely different story. A happy story of a typical American family and that is how I want to remember them. Some people say they had it coming, that they deserved to die a miserable and young death. That’s why I moved into this house. I need to uncover the truth, but until then, all I have left is this photo.

Camping

Childhood Memories

Crackle, crackle, crackle...do you hear that? It's the sound of a fire, but not any fire, a camp fire. Let me take you back in time to my childhood, a happy place filled with water balloons, sunshine, boat rides, and of course, camp fires.

I am the youngest of three girls. During the summer it was always a tradition for our parents to take us camping as much as they possible could. Our camper was little and white with green paint chipping off of the side. It had one microscopic bedroom, two bunk beds, a couch, and a table that folds into a bed. The camper also included a tiny kitchen, one only big enough to wash the few dishes we ever used. None of this really mattered to us considering we were rarely inside the camper.

 As soon as we got to the camp ground we would roll a large green rug outside of the camper and would set up the awning out to shade us from the blazing sun. After getting smothered in sunscreen we were allowed to run around, ride our bikes around the loop, or my favorite thing to do, collect sticks. If we were really lucky sometimes our parents would take us down to the beach to build sand castles or play in the semi cold water. No matter what, at the end of the day we would always have a camp fire and my dad always roasted us a delicious red hot dog. We would end the campfire with him reading a scary story and us taking a blue poker stick and setting the tip of it on fire and holding it to the sky and at the top of our lungs we would scream, "calling all aliens!". This is something only we would understand.

Camping was a huge part of my childhood and I had some of the best times of my life in that small campground Pick City. It was great bonding time with my family, especially my sisters. Even now that we have sold our camper, my sisters are no longer living in the same house as me, and life is moving on. I will never forget all of the funny and precious memories we had going camping.

Thailand

Imagine a place where you can do almost anything and everything your little heart desires! Well believe it or not there is such a place. This wonderful place is called Thailand. If I could go anywhere in the world for my dream vacation, this would be the place. Thailand is near the ocean and they have gorgeous beaches all over.Just imagine running into the deep blue ocean with the warm sand squeezing between your toes! Thailand is also home to some of the most beautiful temples of all time. These temples include the temple of the reclining Buddha,temple of dawn, temple of the emerald Buddha, and finally the temple of the golden Buddha. I can just imagine walking into one of these temples in Bangkok and embracing the culture of the Thai people! Thailand also has awesome shopping opportunities. There is almost every American store in Thailand plus unique shops that you can find no where else. Riding the sky train would also be a must. Finally the biggest reason that I would want to go to Thailand is to see Bam, a foreign exchange student that stayed with me a couple years ago. I would want to spend tons and tons of time with Bam and want her to show me her favorite restaurants, stores, and favorite things to do.When Bam came to America I showed her the rules to follow in America and I would expect her to do the same for me in Thailand. With all of these amazing things to do and see in Thailand this makes it the perfect vacation spot for me!