Last in Cheerleading, First in Life

Dear Triton/Cheerleaders/House Comm,

I like how it was mentioned in the newspaper the other day about how we should never reach the pinnacles in our life but rather the mountain range, many peaks with some higher than the others but all generally reaching the extreme level. You guys were a special bunch, to think a year ago I was the junior being scolded and being drilled through the routine, now it is I doing the scolding and I doing the routine.

I also like how I phrase the summation of today. If there was one thing you danced your harts out and no matter what life threw at us, you all took it in your stride and continued on, acknowledging the fact that there lay a task at hand to be done and we had to keep focused in order to obtain that goal in mind. You fought on like how warriors should fight, with passion, determination but most importantly with the fire in your heart to win.

It wasn’t the fact that there was 3 years of cheerleading gold on our backs that kept us going or the irritating voice who incessantly shouted at you but the fact that we didn’t give up. There were times when time stopped us, a higher authority stopped us and most importantly fatigue but it was mind over matter all the way for us.

When I gathered you in a circle at the end of everything, we were impervious to all around us, the emotion entrapped within the circle was immeasurable and we were enmeshed within our tears so liquid, our words so solid but our bodies- invincible. I knew I was going to cry sooner or later but the moment I did, so did the rest of you. From this, I was reassured about how much you wanted it. Even though people were looking at us, I knew I had to keep on talking and the rest of the house comm members knew they had to say something.

There are certain warriors in us that emerge when we want it the most. This warrior may not come out when we most want it, maybe it didn’t reflect in our performance but I knew the warrior was there when I saw those crying comforting others. To see a man cry, to see a woman cry and to hold them to your shoulder is something only someone invincible can do. That shoulder would serve to be a river to cry in, or a tissue to lay the tear upon but most importantly when you offer your shoulder, you offer solace if only temporarily.

I hope the dinner put abit of closure to everything, it’s back to our same old lives and it would sting a little not to have something at the end of the day but I have learned that to be with those I like is enough (Walt Whitman). I don’t need to see you guys every second to know that there are people to count upon when I pass the baton on to the 7th house comm and neither do I need to spend days to nights trying to relive the experience better, wondering what could have been better or what we could have avoided. What’s done is done, it was the most special experience to live life through with you guys.

I was never a good captain but I always tried my best to lead and to use whatever I could to bring people together. Thank you to all who comforted me, know that you were one of those warriors I was talking about; invincible. I have said my goodbye but I can’t say goodbye to my house comm…this friday would see the end of everything that brought life to Junior College. 

There would be no catharsis but only reflections and reminders about the past. No regrets absolutely. I went into this knowing what I was getting myself into and I’m going to come out of it knowing what I’m getting out of. 

Thank you Triton, thank you cheerleaders, thank you house comm.

 

Sincerely,
Your Captain