Update Post

So I havent blogged in forever =\ My once a week rule went completely out the window...please forgive me!! This is just a quick update post. Im still in school (got A's on my first 2 tests by the way!), still coaching (the girls have learned their competition routine. first comp december 11th!), and still working.

I went to my school's homecoming last week...I had so much fun! I definitely thought I was going to go down there and party like it was my senior year again....i was beyond wrong lmao. Every night I was tired at like 12:30 and every morning i was up by 9. I think I'm getting old =[

Here are some pics of that weekend!

Me & my linesisters <3

All in all it was an amazing weekend =]

Rule #3

Rule #3 You Have to Be Cruel To be Kind. 

As you all know, I've been assistant coaching JV cheerleading since July. I absolutely love it. Cheerleading is my passion. Seriously. Although I only cheered for 4 years (2 years middle school, 2 years varsity) I became quite good. AMAZINGGGGGG motions, pretty jumps, and I was a kick ass back. Im proud to say, after 4 long years of not cheering...I STILL GOT IT. Heres where this happy nostalgic story ends.

I love my JV girls. But they are EXTREMELY lazy. So lazy it annoys me. Like...we had Hell Week a few weeks ago (basically extreme boot camp) and they finished the week out amazing. Jumps were so much better, motions were....alright, they had begun doing elite stunts, they had perfect pushups (they do them every time the football team scores), and were making progress with their tumbling . I was so proud of them. 3 weeks later and they look like the bottom of my shoe. All of the hard work they (and the coaches) put in isn't apparent anymore.

What pisses me off is that they have the potential to be phenomenal. They are one of the most advanced JV teams I've ever seen. Id be perfectly fine with them looking like shit if I wasn't aware of their potential....but I am, so Im not. Im the nice coach. I try to give constructive criticism in a nice way because I know how sensitive teen girls can be. But those days are over.

I've learned that with this particular group of girls you HAVE to be a drill sergeant. I have to be cruel to be kind.

I want them to go to competition and place. Hell...I want them to go to competition and WIN. If being the mean coach is what will motivate them to get there then Im more than willing to sacrifice their 'like' towards me. I want them to take this seriously. They want to be seen as athletes, they have to work to prove they're worthy of the title.

Giving Back

So this week I started volunteering as the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Assistant Coach. Im so excited to see where this season will take the girls! I was a varsity cheerleader my junior and senior years of high school.....and I loved it. It became such a huge part of my life that I still miss it to this day. I chose not to cheer in college because I knew they would try to make me a flyer (the girl they throw in the air) seeing as im barely 5'5 and relatively slim. NOT GONNA HAPPEN lol! I may be small but was a pretty great back (backs are usually tall) back in the day. Anywho now Im back at home and one of my close friends and former teammate is Head Coach of JV at our old school. I asked if she'd like my help this year and she excitedly agreed.

Those girls are HILARIOUS lol, I can tell im going to love them dearly. They have tons of passion and potential. I love that. The cheerleading program has grown stronger and stronger over the last 5 years or so. We've won competitions and are finally receiving the recognition we deserve! Our girls work so hard and Im excited that people on Long Island actually respect them as a squad.

Im sore as hell tho. It started raining about 45 mins into our practice today so we ended early...RIGHT when i was demonstrating how to put up a lib. My mom says that was God's way of "telling me to sit my old ass down" lmao -____- . I will DEFINITELY be in shape by the end of this summer, which is great because i think Im getting a little pudgy =\

Hope everyones week is going well =]

Life Lessons

Sometimes you learn life lessons in the most unexpected ways.

Let me start by sharing that i am somewhat of a performer. I have about 11 years of tap, jazz, ballet, and african dance lessons under my belt. As well as 4 years of cheerleading and about 6 years of stepping. I basically grew up on the stage lol.

During all of the sweat, blood, tears, and COUNTLESS hours of practice, i had no clue that i was learning so much more than how to throw the perfect basket toss or how to master a crisp, clear time step.

it wasnt until recently that i realized i had been learning little lessons that will stay with me for life.

1) If you dont perform at your best each and every time you practice...you WILL lose your spot. Performing taught me that there is always someone ready, willing, and capable of taking your spot. Nothing in life is guaranteed to anyone.

2) Hard work beats talent when talent doesnt work hard enough. In life, there will always be someone who is better than you. At least thats the case 9 times out of 10. The only way to set yourself apart from the rest is to exhibit your drive and determination. How badly do you really want this? Work hard enough and you will find yourself front row center!!

****dont forget life lesson number one though! no position is permanent!

3) Hold your head up high. Whenever she caught someone dancing with their eyes to the floor my dance instructor would say, 'Are you dirt???' (No Ms. Vanessa) 'Then why are you associating yourself with dirt??? Thats what's on the floor right???' Not making eye contact with people is a sign of insecurity, a sign of weakness. Even if you are doubting yourself, SMILE. Be animated, stand tall. I bet you no one (but you lol) will notice your butterflies.

4) You dont always get what you deserve. Sometimes you will fail regardless of how much effort you put into a task. And thats ok. Failure is what gives one the strength to master life lessons 1-3. Life isnt fair and you shouldnt expect it to be.

Who knew that performing would have such a lasting impact on my life?? hmm.