Special Needs Cheerleading Coach

Hours: 15

Area: Service

Date: October 2012-February 2013 (meeting during lunches, competitions)

Learning Outcomes: Increase my awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth, undertake new challenges, plan and initiate activities,work collaboratively with others, develop new skills. 

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Beginning in the fall of my junior year, I took on the position of the head coach of the Millbrook High School Special Needs Cheerleading Squad. Twice a week, myself and the other cheerleaders on the team, went up to the special needs classroom during lunch to work with them and teach them a routine that they would perform at competition. Throughout my time working with this wonderful group of children, I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I am strong leader that is able to take control of a situation and make sure work gets done. I also learned how much I enjoy working with the special needs class, and how that could potentially be a job for me in the future. I learned that I can be organized and stay on top of things. I also learned that even though I am creative, I may need to work harder because I struggled to create the entire routine and make up the cheer for the squad in a such a short period of time.  I learned these things because I was undertaking new challenges each time I coached the special needs squad. Although I helped as an assistant coach my sophomore year, I did not realize how much work goes into being completely in control. I had to create an entire routine, make up a cheer, find stunt groups, find girls who were interested in helping participate, mix music for the routine, and more. Most of these things were challenging because I had never done them before. One of the biggest challenges was planning and initiating everything. There is so much that has to get done that I felt as if I was constantly checking behind myself and making lists of things that I had to do.

I also had to work with others to make sure that these things were getting done. It takes patience and cooperation to make sure that everyone is on the same page and working their hardest to get everything done in the best way possible. Overall, I consider my time working with the special needs cheerleading squad a blessing, and they hold a very special place in my heart. I am so excited that I get to continue working with them throughout my senior year, and I look forward to seeing myself and them develop into better people. Working with this squad has taught me so much, not only new skills, but it has also taught me a lot about being happy and making the best of everything. This is by far my favorite activity that I have been given a chance to work with at Millbrook and I'm looking forward to one more year!