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Health & Fitness

The First Phase: Where it All Began

Two weeks ago I introduced myself as the soon to be proud owner of a new All Star Cheer and Dance gym called Phase Cheer and Dance. This journey has made me reflect...

Two weeks ago as the soon to be proud owner of a new All Star Cheer and Dance gym called Phase Cheer and Dance. This journey has made me reflect on how I got to this phase in my life. It all started in Miami, Florida at a local All Star Cheer and Dance gym called Top Gun All-Stars. A gym that continues to be a part of my life and will be in the gym this summer to teach a clinic; but on with the story!

My sister Ashley was a dancer at Top Gun on a Jr. Pom team and as she prepared to travel to Atlanta for a competition, our Father asked if I would be her chaperone. I had been to a couple of competitions before but nothing prepared me for what I was about to walk into. As I sat there in front of one of the many stages, I was mesmerized. I wanted to be on that stage. Fast forward to one year later and I am a junior in high school. I made the decision to cheer. Yes, this is pretty late join cheer having never done it before. Regardless, I braved one of the most intimidating tryouts I think I will ever participate. In front of more judges than I can remember I found myself on a Sr. Open team.

My coaches, Julio and Jose were some of the toughest coaches I had ever come across. Practices were rough and we worked hard, but as the gym motto said “Competitions are Won at Practice.” At the end of the day, I knew this was the most demanding sport I had ever taken part.

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I was by no means an amazing cheerleader, but I will say this: I had heart. I was more of a “head in the books, loved school” kind of kid. I didn’t do it for the makeup and the uniforms, I did it because I loved to tumble, stunt and perform. Nothing compares to that feeling that you get when you step onto that stage and you fight and perform for two minutes and thirty seconds. Nothing beats the rush of emotion when you walk off the mat knowing you did what you had to do and you did it well.

After more than a year at Top Gun, I began to apply to various colleges throughout the State of Florida. However, I had my eye on one. I was hoping for the University of Florida. A few months before summer classes began I found out that the University of Florida would be where I would spend my next four years and begin the next phase in my cheer life…

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