The past few months I have slowed down, or completely halted, on my blog posts. The reason being is that I accepted a Lead Coaching position for a high school cheer team. Man has it been a wild ride and we are only 1 game into the season…
I have never felt so defeated in my life. On the other hand, I do really enjoy being back into the cheer scene and expressing my creativity through cheer.
I guess I never realized how involved some parents can be with their child’s extracurricular because my parents never were. They were there to take me to and from every practice, game, competition, and tumbling class. They supported me all 10 years I cheered and sat through all the harsh weather, uncomfortable bleachers, and long haul away games that we attended. Where my parents differ from other cheer parents is that they never questioned my coaches’ decisions.
When coaching first began, myself and my co-coach were approached to meet with the principal and the parents of an upset cheerleader. She was not happy with the team we placed her on and had to explain ourselves about our decision making process. We were questioned by the parents and felt like we were under a microscope. Although, I will say the principal was very supportive throughout this process and was there to help us coaches.
When cheer things are good, they are really good, though. I leave practice feeling reenergized, confident, and accomplished. It has been a creative outlet for me to come up with new stunts, cheers, and ways to do things. I have also found a new friendship with the other coach.
This has been a humbling experience, to say the least. I definitely have even more respect for coaches, teachers, principals, and anyone else in that sort of position.
The entire situation made me rely on God to get me through it and to defend me. Just like in Psalm 31:2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. I trust that God will defend me and I will come out a stronger person.
I write this while still being in the midst of the cheer journey. If I were to say, right now, what I though the lesson out of this was, I would say I am being taught to be confident in my decisions and willing to defend what I think is right.