I am a CHEERLEADER, and I'm PROUD OF IT!

  When you think of the word CHEERLEADER, what are the first three words that come to your mind?  Dont feel bad if they aren't nice ones; you'd be in the majority.  I'm sure most of us can understand that it is a stereotype; at least most the time.  Yet, nonetheless, cheerleaders (especially high school)  are not thought of very nicely.  Why is that?  Because it's true? Maybe sometimes.  Because we're jealous?  Maybe sometimes. Or, is it that for some reason our culture decided to label them that way?  Yes; unfortunately. Recently, I posed this same question to my facebook friends. (thanks friends!!) Here is a sample of their answers:

When you think of the word CHEERLEADER, what are the first three words that come to your mind?

Texas, Murder, Blonde

Bubbly, Pretty, Crazy

Popular, Superficial, Skinny

Clique, Hair, Repetitive 

Spunky, Althletic, Crazy

Fun,Exciting, Loud

Fun, Annoying, Fit

Cute, Bubbly, Football

Athletic, Energetic, Pretty

Blonde. Ditz. That's pretty much it.

Fun, Athletic, Cheerful

Cute, Vain, Outgoing 

Stuck-up, vain, and Annoying   

Blonde/Ditz , Mean, Easy

Melissa Anne Bradley

Yes, those last three words are MY FULL (maiden) NAME.   Literally, my two BEST friends think of ONLY ME when they hear the word Cheerleader.  It used to bother me, that even NOW(at almost 30), I am associated with a word that has such NEGATIVE connotations.  Yet,  I'm coming to understand, that it's for a reason.   I AM A CHEERLEADER. I always will be a Cheerleader, and I'm proud of that.

My CHEERLEADING STORY 

When I was in 8th grade I fell in LOVE with tumbling. Who wouldn't love doing standing back flips?!?  SO FUN!!  By the time I was entering high school I decided to try out for the sophomore cheerleading squad.  After all, I was LOUD, energetic, and I loved to TUMBLE.  Cheerleading  just seemed to fit my athletic ability and my personality.  What I didn't fully realize is that the STEREOTYPE of cheerleaders didn't.
Referring back to the list above, the second to last three words are MINE.  They are : Blonde/Ditz, Mean, and Easy.  Why, if I WAS a cheerleader, would I think of those 3 very negative words FIRST?  There is an easy answer.  It's NOT because that is how cheerleaders ACTUALLY ARE.  Trust me, I was around a lot of them.  It is because those are the words that I HATED being labeled as MOST, just by wearing the uniform.  I'm going to briefly touch on each of those three words.

BLONDE/DITZ

I have always been an excellent student. My parents strongly encouraged me to do my best and set my goals high.  Still, as adult, I love to read, write, and learn new things.  Why is it that people think Cheerleaders (and women with Blonde hair) have nothing valuable to say or contribute??  It baffles me.  Wearing a skirt and having pom poms DOES NOT SUCK OUT YOUR BRAIN!!!!!  I know that....because I still have one....and a college degree. 

MEAN

Often cheerleaders are considered to be the "queen bee" of high school.  But, more often than not, PEOPLE (especially girls) HATE THEM.  Why?  Because they ASSUME they are STUCK UP AND MEAN!!!!  Are some of them MEAN??  ABSOLULETLY!!  But honestly, teenage girls in general can be so vindictive, conniving and awful to each other....its not JUST the cheerleader.  

I was raised in a household where we were taught to be kind; even to people who were not kind to us.  It REALLY bothered me that all the sudden when I became a cheerleader people just ASSUMED I was stuck up and mean.  I love people.  I love to be kind to people.  It fills my life with joy.  Everyone has bad days and can be mean, but its the exception, not the rule.  I truly believe that all people are inherently good.  God made us that way.  He is good, so we are good.  We CHOOSE to be mean.  We are not inherently so.  Just because you are a cheerleader, does NOT mean you have to choose to be mean, condescending, or snotty. 

 EASY (or whatever your version is of it....my mom's was "loose")

This one is the hardest for me to swallow. Of all of all three of  these stereotypes, it bothered me the most. It still does. I was raised to be modest and chaste in word, deed, and dress.  The first time I put on my cheer skirt I ABOUT DIED.  It was sooooo SHORT!  My dad would NEVER have let me out of the house in shorts that short!!!  But, it was a UNIFORM and my parents didnt even bat and eye.

I will tell you who did MORE than just bat their eyes.   I will NEVER forget the first day I wore my cheer uniform to school.  I should have been proud. Right? After all, I was head of the Sophomore cheer squad. Yet, mostly, I was mortified.   I vividly remember walking down the main hallway at Orem High School.  There was a bench full of Senior boys.  As I walked past they made comments I wont repeat, whistled, ect. ect.   I went into the bathroom and cried.  I felt so used.  Imagine my relief when we got  to wear leggings underneath our skirts in the winter, or jeans and our Cheer sweaters.   Over time, I got used to the uniform (which I'm not sure is good)....but it sure made me realize that HOW I DRESSED affected how boys looked at me, and thought about my standards.

In my time as a high school cheerleader...

I learned a very valuable lesson.

DONT LET SOMEONE (or a stereotype) SQUASH WHO YOU ARE JUST BECAUSE THEY THINK YOU SHOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE!!!!

Why?  because God made you the way you are for a REASON.  And ONLY YOU CAN BE THAT REASON.  

The past 11 years since high school  I have become a many things. I am a friend, a registered nurse, a wife, and mother.  As I have spent my time learning and growing in each of those areas , I have come to realize that the saying "Some things never change" is very true.   When I wrap an arm around the mother of an ill child and give encouragement,  I am a cheerleader.  When I  decorate crutches, or the bed of a child who is struggling to overcome illness or injury, I am a cheerleader.  When I hug my husband after an exhuasting day at school or work, I am a cheerleader.  When I urge my husband to accomplish his dreams, I am a cheerleader.  When I clap for my child taking their first steps, or writing their name, or learning to read,  I am a Cheerleader.  

What we SHOULD think of when we hear the word CHEERLEADER is EXACTLY....what is spelled out in the word.   CHEER and LEAD.   When we enthusiastically CHEER for someone, or even ourselves, how infectious is it??  Cheerleading is encouragement by example.  It is positivity, energy, optimism, faith, and enthusiasm.  EVERYONE NEEDS a CHEERLEADER in their life.  We all need some one to tell us we can make it after falling on our face. (ask my friends and family, I have a knack for tripping and falling on my face). 
 
In truth,  CHEERLEADERS really are the people who everyone wants to be around, and EVERYONE CAN AND SHOULD STRIVE TO BE A CHEERLEADER. We just don't call them CHEERLEADERS. Who doesn't want to be with someone, or be that someone, who see's greatness in everyone.  Who unites people in a cause and pushes through adversity??  Who waives their arms and shouts YOU'RE NUMBER ONE when you feel like you are already losing??  Who doesn't need someone in their life to tell them that they can finish the race, and that they will be there holding a banner when they get there.  


I am not saying that everyone needs to wear a tiny outfit and shake glittery pom poms (although I do ADORE pom poms.)  I AM SAYING that the world could use a LOT more Cheerleaders.  We should be cheering for our families, our friends, our neighbors, our communities, our leaders, and OUR VALUES.  We CAN make a difference, even if it's only to one person, it will make the world a better place.  Try it and see.  Pick ONE person to be a CHEERLEADER to.  See if you don't change the world ONE PERSON AT A TIME.  

 I have been told SO MANY TIMES that I was born to be a Cheerleader.  They are right.  I am a CHEERLEADER, and I'm PROUD of it.