I remember trying out for cheerleading at the end of the sixth grade school year for the following year, in middle school. My Mom tried to prepare me for not making it. She knew that my dancing skills, might not be what was called for in cheerleading, as I could barely flip a cartwheel and front handspring. My neighbor and friend at the time was involved in gymnastics and most likely my Mom had seen us practicing in the yard and was able to size up the situation and she didn’t want me to get my hopes up. When my Mom came to pick us up from tryouts, she couldn’t tell as we walked towards the car who made it or if either of us got a spot. We both had our heads held low and there was silence as we got into the car and for the first few minutes. Finally my friend said, “I didn’t like the outfits anyway, glad I didn’t make it!” My Mom still did not know if I had. When my friend exited the car and closed the door, my Mom asked what happened. I told her that I was going to be a seventh grade cheerleader and the following year, I made the eighth grade team as well.
However, when it came to high school, surely cheerleading was not in the cards for me. In fact, at tryouts they made one cut and then eventually they called eight girls out onto the floor to do the cheer for tryouts, they told me, number 43, to sit down, then they announced the ninth grade cheerleaders for the following school year. My Mom let me sulk a short time and then she said, “You’ll find something to do, a sports team or club.” I did. A few friends in the neighborhood were going to join the swim team, so I got my physical practice suits & goggles and then when August hit, I was ready. It was all fine until school started after Labor Day and the Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5 am practices started. That wasn’t going to work for me, it was too draining. A new friend invited me to work on costumes for the school fall play, “Flowers for Algernon.” That was fun! Realizing that the costumes an actor wears can help tell the story. I scoured my Dad’s closet for old shirt, trousers & cardigans. Mr. Haynes, the theater teacher & Thespians sponsor knew so much about the story, the author and how theater worked. It was fun just to be around to hear practices while we worked on costumes. Mr. Haynes and his wife hosted to post play party. I enjoyed playing with their two elementary school aged children and ended up with a babysitting job once the play commenced. Mr. Haynes took the theater kids to Stratford in late October or early November to see two plays. What an experience to learn about Shakespeare and to get to see the great British actress, Maggie Smith, perform. The more I learned about Shakespeare, the more amazed I was about his works. What a talent to write about so many human experiences that were of interest when they were written and still today, appealing to a world wide audience. Some lessons and stories do surpass time and boundaries. The experiences working on costumes and getting to go to Stratford inspired a tryout for the high school musical, “Bye Bye Birdie,” which ended in a bit part as Gloria Rasputin, the tap dancer and a chorus part. That was a surprise! Freshman (especially girls) just didn’t get a part in a musical. At that time, the music and theater department at Grand Blanc High School was top-notch. With Mr. Haynes, the choir Director, Mr. Schaffer and the drama teachers, Ms. Snuffer, and Mrs. Deritich , Grand Blanc High School was known for putting on first rate productions that sold out every night of performances. In addition to that, Mr. Shaffer brought in a Hollywood choreographer, a friend of his, Al Gilbert, who came in for a week to choreograph the whole show, and he usually came back for one night of the production to see it and it’s entirety all put together. Oh, and Mr. Shaffer arranger for rental of previous Broadway costumes from Eves, which sent a week before the show in crates. Eves is a big costume company in New York City that purchases costumes from old Broadway shows and rents them out.Not only was the production first rate, but with professional costumes AND a full orchestra, directed by a “Mr. Holland type”-think, Mr. Holland’s Opus”- high school band/orchestra teacher, Dave Ryan. What an experience to be part of!!!
“Trying out” and competing is so good for any child. To have to perform on the spot, teaches a child to prepare and have perform, whether it’s for a sport activity, a musical performance or any other achievement. To learn to loose is just as important as learning how to win graciously. Look at the great sports competitions, Martina & Chrissie, Fed & Nadal. You never saw them trashing their opponent, in fact, you saw the opposite, they usually complemented their competitor. Most likely that came from losses along the way. Learning to loose graciously means that you look at the loss and garner what to learn from it; were you unprepared and what do you need to work on. Maybe your opponent was just hands down better. Some losses lead us to surmised that we need to move on or find another activity or sport. Loosing prompts more introspection than winning. Be grateful for these very valuable lesson in life for your child and your self. Don’t shield your child from them. They’d be better for it, leading to many Great Days whether they realize it or not AND, they will thank you 🍎
