The Cheerleader´s Guide to Success as the Ambassador of Cheer

The many roles of a cheerleader go well beyond cheering on the team or the performance at hand. You are representing your sport and your entire student body. You are an ambassador to your school. You should take this role with a sense of pride and ownership. It is an important responsibility. It will involve much training and physical conditioning. It will also require mental and emotional strength that goes well beyond the game. You may hang up the poms after the game, but you know that your positivity, enthusiasm, and school pride must remain. Your peers are looking to you to set a good example of a positive and cheerful leader.

You can cheer lead others to success in many ways off of the field after the game. You can be the person to help a new student to feel welcomed in a new school. You can help a student who is lonely to make new friends. Do this by being the first to befriend them. Find ways to help a person to feel a sense of belonging in the school. Do not go through school or life with blinders on. Keep your eyes open, and you will see the needs out there in many ways. It may be as simple as helping someone find their classroom on the first day of school. It may be stepping in when someone is being left out or teased. Teach others to embrace differences in people by doing just that yourself. Don´t belong to a clique! Be friends with people from all different backgrounds and interests. You may be surprised at what you have in common. It is important to embrace the things that make you different.

Your student body sees you as a leader. You have stepped out to the front of the crowd for all to see. When the game is over remember that those same eyes are still on you. They are looking for a positive example. You can cheer on your team through the wins and losses by positive talk regarding the games. In every situation you can find the silver lining. Your team may have lost, but surely you can find some amazing play to highlight instead. Take a step above the crowd and find ways to be extraordinary. Reject peer pressure and create a new positive pressure to be a great person. People will follow your lead. They are always looking for a great leader.

The physical aspects of cheer leading including the practices, training, jumps, gymnastics, cheers, dances, and stunts all require great physical endurance. However the responsibility of being a cheerleader will require great emotional strength and endurance of the soul. If you break down the word cheerleader, it simply and powerfully means the leader of cheer!