Get a Job: Balancing a Job with Cheerleading

Cheerleading can be strenuous and time consuming, can’t it? When you aren’t practice long, difficult routines for hours after school, you’re cheering at games or going on long trips to competitions with your cheerleading squad. If that weren’t enough you still want to make a little money on the side so you can have financial independence from your family, but you feel that you don’t have the time to work. It may seem overwhelming, but once you adjust to your schedule, it’s an achievable goal!  With a little organization, you can be a cheerleader and gain that financial independence you seek.

To start, evaluate how much time you actually have for a job. Look at your cheerleading schedule for the months ahead and see which days you have to practice, go to games or compete. Add up how much free time you have versus the amount of those hours you want to spend working. Make sure you budget enough free time for yourself so you don’t spread your time and energy too thin.

Next, look into what jobs you want and can apply for. If you are in middle school, your job options are limited, but not impossible. On nights and weekends when you’re free, check in with neighbors and family to see if they need anything such as chores done, children who need babysitting or dogs that need to be walked. You may make enough to go out every weekend, but you’ll still have some cash in your pocket for whenever you need it!

For those of you in high school, look into local businesses or nearby stores to see if you can pick up some part time work. Be sure to ask your potential employers if they are willing to work around your cheerleading schedule. At times, cheerleading may seem like a disadvantage in your job hunt, but it could also open up a few opportunities. For example, look around and see if you can help coach some younger teams or jobs with young children. Your cheerleading experience will allow you to have better energy to work with younger cheerleaders and allow you to help them learn and build teamwork. Your positive and calm attitude can also help keep the younger cheerleaders in line and even make you a good role model for them to take after.

So you’ve got all your bases covered, right? You’ve got your cheerleading schedule worked out and figured how many hours a week you can work. You can now easily balance cheerleading and work without having to sacrifice practice time, and you will earn a little income! Now get out there and enjoy your balanced life!