“GO, FIGHT, WIN!” My smiling lips purse together as I turn around, eager to watch the football players in the green and white scrimmage. As I turn back around to the crowd and call yet another cheer, memories of tryouts from sophomore year flood my brain.

  The nerves didn’t kick in as I wrote down my name on the sign-up sheet. The nerves didn’t kick in as I got dressed and put a bow in my hair. But, the second I stepped foot in that gym for the first day of tryouts, the nerves came flooding in. It’s hard not to get overwhelmed by all the chatter of the girls, already familiar with each other, sitting together and stretching. I couldn’t help but feel left out and discouraged. Even though I was sure it was a long shot; I stayed, determined to give it my all.

As the previous years’ captains taught us the materials for final tryouts, I was in slow motion; always a count behind the other girls, always yelling different words, always wrong. Going home that night, I was questioning my decision to even try out. I could never be like those girls, they were so confident and so perfect.

During the next few nights of practice, I gradually got better. I finally got the motions down, and I was becoming more confident; just like the other girls.

The day before the final tryout, we had mock tryouts. Four girls were in front of the judges at one time, and the rest were at the back of the gym. When it was my turn, I got up and walked forward with the rest of my group and formed a line at half-court. I could feel the eyes staring at me from the back of the gym.

“No pressure, Linds,” I sarcastically thought.

I hear the cue, “Go ahead, girls,” and spirit onto the floor. Smiling, I take the ready position, knowing the order of events. First, the dance, then the chant, and lastly, the cheer. The next few moments performing fly by. All of a sudden I realize it’s already time to spirit back off the floor. I’m praying that I did all the correct motions and smiled.

After all the groups had gone, we got score papers from the judges. I had received the best scores on all of my papers! I couldn’t believe it, my hard work had actually paid off, and for once, I wasn’t behind.

Proud as I was about my mock scores, I knew that the worst was still to come final tryouts. It didn’t matter what my scores had been that night, I still needed to prove myself tomorrow.

When my alarm went off the next morning, I couldn’t pinpoint my emotions. Was I scared? Nervous? Excited? I knew that day was going to be an emotional roller coaster.

The day went by a lot faster than I thought it would. Before I even knew it, the final bell rang. I nervously walked to the locker room and silently gave myself a pep talk about the events to come.

Final tryouts were a blur. It seemed like only minutes had passed before we were all in the weight room, waiting for the results. The seconds ticked by, and then the hours. I couldn’t believe how long it was taking. Four hours had passed when the judges had finally walked in the doors. You could hear everyone draw in their breath, all eager, but afraid of the results that were about to be announced.

The names were called one at a time. As I waited for my name, I prepared myself for the worst.

“Make sure you congratulate the other girls, don’t let the disappointment show on your face,” I thought to myself.

“Lindsey Hurford.” Finally. The time has come. As I walked to the front of the room, the judge smiled at me. I went back to my seat and slowly opened up the slip of paper.

I made it! I had made the fall squad! Before I could stop them, tears of joy poured from my eyes. The excitement was unreal.

I hear the school song start to play--signaling the game is over--and I realize how far I have come in the last year.

When I tried out for cheerleading, I did it because I thought it would be fun. I had no idea that in the process of having that fun, I would find myself. I wasn’t that shy kid in the hallways anymore and no longer was I lacking confidence. I became a leader. I became independent. I became the person I always wanted to be? the real me. The journey was quite emotional at times, but I wouldn’t change a single thing.