I think we are amid basketball season and I am almost certain that there’s a big game on the flat screen today. While I know cheerleading takes much agility, strength, and a great set of lungs, I am not referring to the “rah-rah” squad standing on the sideline intensely watching the big game. Nor, am I referring to the forever proud parents who traveled 600 miles to see their offspring play 5 minutes in the big game! I am referring to the special people in our lives that cheer us along the way. They pick us up, make us laugh, lend a hand, and say the exact phrase we need to hear, when we need it most. Some are note writers, some send text messages, and some appear in our doorways when we least expect them! Now mind you, they may not have the agility to do backward flips, but they WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR US!
We are fortunate to have a squad of AA Cheerleaders in our school! I see and hear them every day! They motivate, encourage, and cheer us to VICTORY! Some cheerleaders are very vocal, the words of praise echoes in their classrooms: “Awesome!”, “Great Job!”, “You Rock!”, “You Are So Brave!”, and “High Five!” While these motivational mantras are somewhat common, sometimes you hear a statement that resonates like, “Tell that old mean word problem, I’m not afraid of You!” Whatever it takes to make AWESOME happen, occurs in our school! I’ve seen crazy dances, fists bumps, and I hear that there’s this wacky principal that Daps and says, “Hooves Up!” We focus a boat load of energy on letting kids know, they can SUCCEED! We also uplift and cheer each other to VICTORY! While the adult motivational mantras don’t have quite the same flare: “Don’t Ignore Me! “Hit your Turbo Button!”, “You’re not that Person!”, and “Find Your Sunshine!“; they move us to the next bend in our journey to SUCCESS. We know that setbacks happen, but we don’t live on “Can’t Do Avenue.” We visit but we go home.
Some cheerleaders are “Doers.” They stand on ladders to hold bulletin board paper, hang quotes on walls that encourage kids, meet during lunchtime to plan school events, sponsor fundraising endeavors, and stay after school to set-up for the next day’s event. Some cheerleaders are “Extenders.” They bring their families to school activities, attend district events on Saturdays, and tailgate when colleagues are too sick to drive home. Some cheerleaders just share laughter and make OUR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS, HAPPEN!
Here’s to the AA Cheerleaders in our school, “HOOVES UP!” They make AWESOME HAPPEN!
