It's a good thing

When I hear about great organizations I get excited. I love kids. I love teenagers. They are so alive. They feel BIG things. They say BIG things (very loud). Everything is drama. Everything is wonderful, awful, cool, awesome and horrible. And they can go through all of those things in a matter of a few seconds.

This morning as I was doing my grown up things like make my weekly shopping list, cleaning the kitchen, making out my todo list for the day and watching tv, I came across a program that caught my eye and my heart.

Leonardtown High School

From the beginning of time I always wanted to be a Cheerleader. I had very low self esteem in high school and knew I would never make my squad. Like most teen age girls, I wanted to be cute and popular and date the cute jocks. I was very shy to the point that if you didn't know me, you really thought I was a snob because I never talked to anyone. Yes, I had great friends and going into the 2nd semester of my high school career I was friends with the Cheerleaders and many of the popular kids.

It was at this time that I really wanted to try out for the LHS JV Cheerleading squad. I practiced with my best friend who was a year behind me and with my friends who were already on the squad. But at the last minute, I chickened out and didn't try out. I really think I would have made the squad, but I just couldn't make myself try out.

The end of that spring, we had cheer tryouts for the fall squad. By then, my BFF could try out and together we tried out and MADE the squad. Yes, I said I MADE the cheer squad. I was so excited, I remember calling my mom in tears because my dream had come true. I was a LHS CHEERLEADER.

And that brings me to this morning. I came across a program that highlights programs that promote a positive outlook on life. They were promoting THE SPARKLE EFFECT. The Sparkle Effect is a youth-led, youth-driven, youth-staffed, and is fully integrated into High School sports program. During the season, sparkle cheerleaders cheer right along side the Varsity Cheerleaders at all sporting events, in front of packed stands to cheering crowds. Who are these sparkle cheerleaders? They are special needs girls/guys that live daily with down syndrome, get around in a wheelchair or have some other special need.

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The existing cheerleaders become peer coaches and help their sparkle cheerleader learn the cheers and become their friend. As of now there are 41 sparkle squads across the country. Including three right here in Tennessee. Two about 20 miles from our house. Oh, they even have a team in SOUTH AFRICA!!!

The offer free on-site training if you are interested and also have a uniform grant program sponsored by Varsity Spirit Uniforms for qualifying programs that is worth $1200.

I remember what cheering did for me and my only need was to feel accepted and crawl out of my shell. Special need girls and guys many times just want a place where they can be just like everyone else. Many don't suffer from shyness or low self esteem, because they know they are complete well adjusted people that just want a chance to be just like others. I love that this program promotes that. Check them out.