Letting my inner child run wild today!
Hello, fellow dreamers and believers!Can you remember that one thing,that one burning passion you held onto as a child?The thing that made your eyes light up and your heart race?For me,it was cheerleading. Yep,you heard that right! a 90s kid glued to the TV screen,mesmerized by the high-flying stunts,the infectious energy,and the sheer power of synchronized movement in "Bring It On."(Only 90s babies,you know what I'm talking about!)That movie ignited a fire in me,a dream to one day be part of that exhilarating world.But life, as it often does,had other plans.
At my 31st year I returned to college to study for my Bachelor of Elementary Education.Talk about a plot twist!But guess what?Through this unpredicted happening I gained access to a remarkable chance to achieve my childhood aspiration.The Education department required cheerleaders for upcoming college intramurals.At that moment the universe seemed to speak to me softly about my childhood aspiration.
Here's your chance!
Coming back to cheerleading after being away from it for so long proved to be more challenging than I expected.My body had lost its youthful flexibility (due to adult responsibilities) while a genuine fear of injury kept haunting me during this attempt. My inner spark for cheerleading remained strong since my childhood days.I knew I had to do this.
We practiced during several months before intramurals while developing our routines alongside recovering from the physical strains of both activities.The team practiced under both hot and rainy conditions until each movement became natural to our bodies. As a group of unique team members we united through our mutual love and united objective to win the championship trophy.
And let me tell you,the dedication was REAL.We weren't just practicing;we were building a team, a family.We laughed together,we struggled together,and we pushed each other to be better.We shared stories,dreams,and yes,even a few tears.The bond we formed was something truly special.
Balancing school, family, and cheerleading practice was a challenge,to say the least.There were days when I felt overwhelmed,days when I questioned my sanity.But then I would look at my child,who often came to practices with me,watching with wide,admiring eyes.And I knew I couldn't give up.I was not just chasing my dream;I was showing my child that dreams,no matter how big or how delayed,are worth pursuing.
There were moments of self-doubt,of course.I wondered if I was too old,too out of shape,too…everything.But my teammates,our trainor and the unwavering support of my family kept me going.They believed in me,even when I struggled to believe in myself.They reminded me why I started this journey in the first place,for the sheer joy of it,for the thrill of performing,for the chance to finally heal that inner child who had always dreamed of being a cheerleader.
The day of the intramurals arrived like a flash.. The field experienced intense levels of excitement because of the electrical atmosphere. The crowd noise combined with field colors and feel of ongoing anticipation made everything thrilling. We stood in front of the professor,judges and our fellow student while our hearts raced against each other and our palms became sweaty with the blend of anxiety and enthusiasm flowing within us.
Then the music started.
And everything else faded away.
We were no longer students, mothers,or working professionals.We were cheerleaders.We moved as one, our bodies in perfect sync,our voices strong and clear.We tumbled,we jumped,we stunted,we cheered.We poured our hearts and souls into every single move,every single cheer.We were a force of nature,a whirlwind of energy,a testament to the power of teamwork and dedication.
The performance seemed to finish in a blink of an eye.The show seemed to disappear after what felt like a moment of time passing by.Despite everything one feels during a performance the joy of performing stayed embedded in my mind. We had given it our all.We had poured our entire self into every movement during that performance.
Then came the agonizing wait.The announcement of the winners.A heavy sense of tension filled the entire arena.Together we stood by waiting while our hearts raced quickly as we waited for the competition results.
And then,we heard it.
The College of Education won the cheerleading competition victory according to the final announcement.
The screaming roar which filled our section became so loud that it felt like an avalanche. Together we jumped but then screamed followed by hugging before ending with tearful emotions of joyful celebration. We had done it!We had actually done it!We were champions!
In that moment,all the hard work,all the sacrifices,all the doubts,melted away.All that was left was pure,unadulterated joy.We had not only won the competition,but we had also achieved something far greater we had healed a part of ourselves.We had proven that dreams,no matter how long they take to come true are always worth chasing.
Standing in front of everyone while holding the championship certificate brought a wave of emotion that moved me to remember the little girl who had watched "Bring It On" with dreams of becoming a cheerleader and I smiled because those dreams had now become reality.
This experience has shown me countless important lessons about both perseverance and teamwork and the achievement of hard work. The experience displays that chasing dreams remains possible at any phase of life from child to adult to senior citizen.
So,what is your dream? dreams,Have you ever considered pursuing something that has long been at the top of your desires?Because Maybe just,your childhood dream is waiting to come true.And trust me the feeling of healing that inner child and achieving that dream is one of the most incredible experiences you will ever have.It's a feeling of pure joy,of accomplishment,of finally being true to yourself.It's a feeling that is worth every single step, every single hurdle,every single challenge.
So,go out and chase your dreams,And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you on the sidelines,cheering you on!Because the best feeling in the world is not just achieving your dreams but inspiring others to achieve theirs too.And that is a dream worth chasing.