From becoming more confident to bringing happy memories, cheerleading has significantly impacted senior Ajani Taylor’s high school life.

“It’s made me really lively, now I see myself as someone that wants to take charge, someone who likes to teach people,” Taylor said.

Taylor is able to teach and train other cheerleaders as well as be a role model to them.

“We’re supposed to be helpful, we’re supposed to be kind, and we’re supposed to lead people,” Taylor said.

Taylor joined her freshman year but regrets not joining earlier in middle school.

“It was pretty much the girly girls but I wanted to do it but I just thought that I wouldn’t belong,” Taylor said.

She is a captain, a backspot, and side base.

A backspot and a side base hold people up in the air during stunts.

Cheerleading has not only improved Taylor’s character but her physical strength as well.
“In my advance strength class I’m now showing people how to do weight lift,” Taylor said. “I would not see myself as a freshman doing that.”

Although cheerleading had its good times, it also had its difficult, challenging parts.

“Just trying to stay strong during practices (was difficult),” Taylor said. “You’re gonna be out of breath and we go through it (the routine) like five or 10 times during practice.”

Balancing her school work and cheerleading responsibilities have been difficult for Taylor.

“I had a job before and I once had to take a break from it because of the practices coming up,” Taylor said.

Although cheerleading can be challenging, Taylor has many treasured memories from the sport.

“After the teams compete, they will roll the mats and have all the teams sit on the floor and they play music and people are dancing having fun,” Taylor said.

Because she is now a senior, this is Taylor’s last year cheering in high school.

“I don’t even want to think about it,” Taylor said. “ I keep blocking it out and I know that some girls were crying at sectionals because they’re like ‘this is my last competition.’”

The cheerleading team ended up qualifying for sectionals but did not qualify for state.

“Our coach was telling us throughout the season that she doesn’t want us to worry where we’re being placed during competitions but more of our own little goals,” Taylor said.

Taylor hopes to continue to cheer after high school if given the opportunity.

“I’m seeing a lot of schools that need tumbling and I’m one of the five people on my team that doesn’t know how to tumble but if I could then I would absolutely love to,” Taylor said.