[Real_not_perfect]

It's been quite a long time since I've logged onto here, but I'm still crushed and not over this and kind of want to vent. Plus it seems like many could be of great words and help

So, I'm going into my 3rd year into high school, and I've had a pretty nasty battle with my illnesses and hospitals for awhile, and it's been over a year since anything has happened and I've really broken out of my shell a lot and finally tried things I was originally too scared to do, like cheerleading.

It may seem cliche but I used to dream of being a cheerleader, I've always loved them and I'm not an athletic person but I enjoyed doing anything for cheerleading, hell I've even gotten better, but I started very late, and tried out for a winter cheer at my school but got denied, but it was my first time so I didn't expect much and the coaches are very friendly people and they said despite my lack of skill I showed strong confidence and personality, which made me extremely happy and I was excited for the summer for cheer practices then later try outs. Now, try outs were about 2-3 weeks ago, and I know I learned a lot and improved heavily, many of the teammates and even the coaches who saw me from December were amazed and told me how good I had gotten, I was so confident I could make it, cause I always wanted to, even though I was extremely late to the party and everyone else had many many years of experience.

So, the tryout day came and I felt extremely good about myself for once, I felt I did good for the most part (except the dance we had to do, I knew the moves and the timing but I'm barely the best at that) Then after a long wait, they finally made the decision and put up a list of everyone who made it, and guess what?

My name did not exist on that paper.

I started to stress and then I asked the coach what I did wrong, and she wouldn't tell me and said "oh go to a cheer clinic and try again next year" I don't know what I did so wrong, and I was having such an amazing time with everything before, I was crushed. My heart honestly just dropped to the floor and broke, and it still hurts now. I've talked to many people about this and they've said its favoritism at play, they've explained their experiences, but I didn't tell anyone how terrible I felt. On the outside I showed an "oh its ok I got next year to train!! " but on the inside I was crying, and eventually once I was finally alone that day I just cried for several hours. I feel like it wouldn't be considered ok but, its awful when you find something you love and enjoy doing, only to get kicked out. They're not even planning on keeping winter cheer so my last chance is for my senior year... and if I manage to **** that up too I don't know how it's going to affect me.

[Perna]

I'm so sorry you did not make it this time. It is hard, starting so late to break in I think, the others have been doing/practicing it for so long. Do you watch the Dallas cheerleaders show? Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team (TV Series) | Season 10 Episodes | CMT That might have some ideas for you on what to do/how to improve. I admire your physical energy, I don't have any of that anymore. Senior year might be your last chance for your school team but perhaps there are other places you can work to get into (like local sports teams, college, etc.). It has to be hard to get all the pieces working at once. Watching the Dallas shows, just how high they can kick can mean they don't make it! And being on the team does not get you anything, makes it harder because there are people like you coming up that are good and if you have a bad day you can be replaced. It's very competitive I think, everywhere with many more trying out than can get in so it's the little things that can mean not getting in on any one tryout. But I would keep trying until you make a team! If it's a dream, eventually it will come true if you keep working for it -- it's just like any other thing you have to work for.

[Strive4health]

Oh I'm so sorry I remember when I was in middle school and I tried out for the dance team and didn't make it in...I cried and I felt so crushed. It's so hard to accept rejection like that when you had your hopes up so much, and you put in so much time and energy learning the cheer or dance, putting in your enthusiasm, and hoping for the best.

[Open Eyes]

Hi Really_not_perfect, it IS hard to try to achieve something only to not quite make it. I totally respect that you put forth the effort and actually did try out, that's such a positive and an important part of developing towards gaining on anything in life in general.

I think you should try again, get more practice in and try out again next year, as there are probably seniors on the team "now" that will not be there next year.

Please know that so many successful people had one thing in common, "they kept trying even when they were rejected". Actually, Jim Carey was one who got rejected a lot, kept trying anyway and finally did make quite the name for himself.

Also, remember that High School is only "one place" in our lives that we have things that we may "try" to achieve and may not, but, there many other things in our lives that come after that and we finally realize how High School was not the big deal we thought it was. We all learn by "doing" and you have that first step that is so important, "you tried doing", THAT IS SO IMPORTANT in life overall. The decision that even if you don't make it, "you will keep trying" anyway.