Courage.
In high school, I was on the competition cheer team my junior and senior years. Till this day, it is definitely one of the highlights of my pubescent years. Three-hour long practices consisted of the aroma of sweat, constantly lifting girls up and down into the air, most days going home with knots and bruises. Basket tosses, were the worse (but are really cool to see)! Over and over we would practice until we got the timing down, until the pyramid stood tall or all of our toes were perfectly pointed in our toe touch. My senior year, I got the chance to start the chant for the cheerleading competition. I was beyond excited, but also nervous. “WE ARE ARCADIA!” And then the rest of the team would join in: “A- R – C – A – D – I – A, WE ARE ARCADIA!” I had to go deep inside to find my cheer-starter voice. One that was strong, but not too masculine. One that was outside of my normal, for sure. I wanted something mesmerizing, heartfelt…kind of like Michael Buffer, the ring announcer, when he says “let’s get ready to rumbleeeeeeee!”
The truth is. . .
Can I tell you a secret? I actually wanted to try out for the cheerleading team my 9th grade year. I grew up around Aracdia High School cheerleaders. My cousin Candice—a beautiful, smart, and popular superstar. In my eyes, she was Beyoncé or more like the late Aaliyah. I was still in elementary school when she started to spend time at our house. I looked forward to her coming over, especially if she had cheerleading practice that night. “Can I go with you, pretty please?” It was like being at a Drake concert back then, only I was there to take notes so that when I got home, I could practice. I even fantasized of being a flyer…I know that’s a bit much, but I gave myself permission to explore. At cheerleading competitions, I would get VIP passes backstage. When the competition began, I could practically do the entire routine myself. Surely, I had the passion to tryout.
My Essential Vitamin.
When my moment came around, 9th grade, I couldn’t do it. I would walk by the flyers posted around campus, announcing the JV tryout dates. I felt them looking at me, like that cupcake you know you really want and it wants you…but you keep walking by, ignoring your true desire. I knew other guys tried out, but it wasn’t enough. Something held me back. Eventually, though, I found it. After my success with cross-country and track, I became more aware of my own abilities, my own strength. The weight of living the rest of my life knowing I hadn’t even tried pushed me to go for it. I was beginning to realize that having courage doesn’t mean there is an absence of fear. No, it means that in spite of what you may feel, you do what you know will feed your spirit. You do what needs to be done today so that years later, you smile on the person who pushed past the fear towards courage and, ultimately love. Courage. That’s my essential vitamin. I have to take it every damn day. Skip a day, and I miss opportunities. I miss moments to see myself more clearly. Courage, is my essential vitamin—it helps build my bones, heal wounds, and boost my immune system. Courage turns my food into energy, dreams into reality. Courage is guiding me. . .