Buttons And Magnets

I’ve been coaching cheerleading at the high school level for most of my adult life. The local school gymnasium is like a second home to me, and I wake up each morning with the vim and vigor that it takes to win a state cheerleading title. For the most part, this energy and enthusiasm rubs off on my squad. But late last year, we received a disturbing piece of news that shocked us to our very core.

Our most talented senior was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and we all watched with dismay as she lost some of her basic motor functions. This tragedy made me forget all about cheering – I worried about her future. Then an idea hit me. I had been wearing the same customized cheerleader button for years. Maybe it was time for a change. I ordered buttons with a picture of the ailing girl’s face for the whole team to wear. The buttons served to unite us during our darkest hour.

Cheerleaders are a happy bunch. The cheerleaders provide moral support to the school’s varsity basketball team. They keep the school spirit alive by leading the crowd in cheers and encouraging the crowd to cheer loudly.

These cheerleaders may not know it but they play a crucial role in every sports event that the school joins. They bring zest to any game. They must be proud of who they are and what they do for the school because they often pin a cheerleading button on their uniforms.