Teamwork makes every dream work
I was talking with a former teammate of mine, last week, who asked me what my favorite part of cheerleading was. My answer was “the team”. He reminded me that being a team is important in every aspect of life.
Being a part of a team is like having an extended family. I loved the TEAMWORK of it all. We came together to build new pyramids, to practice with our coach (and without. This was a long time ago and I don’t recommend that now.). We came together to learn a new routine. When someone hit the ground and was hurt, we came together to go to the hospital to make sure they were ok. When we were on campus in the summer, we went to the beach together and found silly things to laugh at. When we had to stay on campus for games or choreography, over the New Year, we spent New Year’s Eve together, and danced the night away in someone’s apartment. Spending time together in and out of practice, we learned to trust each other and it helped us get stronger as a team.
I also loved the hard work and the mindset it took to focus on our goals. I wouldn’t have said that then but looking back I learned so much from working with my team to attain new skills. While I did stunt a little in high school, cheering for a coed team, and building 2 ½ high pyramids was new for me and I learned to love being in the air. I learned how to do a basket tosses, which were so fun. My favorite moment was when I was asked to sub for the top person. I didn’t keep the spot, but I still felt strong. Looking back, I would have worked harder to perfect my form so I could progress more.
Every time I was at a game, I was able to come out of my shell and not feel like I had to hide. Being with my teammates while I was cheerleading gave me confidence, if only on the field. Even though it’s been a long process, cheering changed my life and made me who I am today. As a team we encouraged each other to be better every day.
When I was coaching, I loved teaching what I had learned, but I also loved creating a team atmosphere. It was always my wish to build bonds that would last a lifetime. Being part of the team helped me to learn how to listen and ultimately walk away when I realized the team needed more than I could offer. Sometimes in life we have to accept things we cannot change as well as be accepting of other people’s vision, even if it isn’t on par with where we expect to be.
Participating in a team teaches life skills. As a team, you need to communicate and share information. You need to trust each other. You need to compromise at times. And you do need to do work to keep growing every day. This is what helps to build solid relationships.
Every relationship, whether on a sports team, job, marriage or family, is about teamwork and how can you come together to make a goal happen. In the end, I believe the connections and relationships we have are what gives meaning to life.