Personal Narrative: Captain Of My All-Star Cheerleading

For the past four years, I’ve been captain of my all-star cheerleading team. My teammates are a diverse group of girls, ranging from ten to seventeen years old. Working with a large age group has made me a more patient person. It takes more time and effort to answer a ten-year-old’s question, than a question from a fifteen or sixteen-year-old. I also must be willing to take my time when explaining parts of routines, because everyone learns and understands at different speeds and levels. Along with this patience, I have developed an ability to comfort people. Younger team members often become frustrated by challenging tumbling passes and stunts, when this happens I intervene. I comfort them by providing much needed aid, not solving the problem
for them but guiding them to a solution. Through instances like these, I have learned to teach and inspire independence. Learning these three virtues have given me the ability to improve my leadership skills. One practice out of the week, our practice is run only by a tumbling instructor. I help to create some structure on these chaotic days. Creating structure is one of my top leadership qualities. I learn that leadership involves the whole community not just me as an individual. I have to be able to remain firm in my structure while allowing room for individualism. Although there are repeated techniques that must be executed no matter the tumbling pass, tumbling itself is extremely dynamic. I give this exercise structure by creating workout plans and a schedule for working with the instructor. Organizing this exercise has helped me bring order to my own life. I have realized that my thoughts can bend to the demands of logic no matter how chaotic my thoughts may be. In addition, this ability to plan has improved my schoolwork. I have become more diligent and thorough in my assignments and assessments. My leadership experience during cheer has caused me to be a leader in and outside of school.