That Time I Didn't Make The Cheerleading Squad...
The Caroline Doll, CEO of POSH PR®, shares how she let a fifth grade failure turn into a lifetime character!
Recently someone told me I was "on fire" -- In a good way (I hope!) at least! This made me think about a time when I was younger that shaped who I am today....
Growing up, I went to the same Christian school from elementary school through high school. This means the same people you shared “Show and Tell” with, were also the people you shared “Kiss and Tell” with! You made your high school best friends in pre-school. Except for me.
Where I grew up in Kentucky, you either entered pageants, rode horses, or cheered. In fifth grade, my friends and I chose cheering. We were SO excited we counted down the days to try-outs. “What fun!,” I thought. We’ll have cute uniforms, bows in our hair, pom-poms. I had it all ready-to-go! Except for one thing…talent.
You see, all of my friends’ moms were cheerleader all-stars, themselves. So naturally, they coached their daughters on. They had it in their DNA since day one. My momma, on the other hand, worked every day. I didn’t realize try-outs required preparation and practice. I thought popularity automatically granted you a spot on the cheerleading squad! Needless to say, that is NOT the case. My friends went on to make the squad, and I entered sixth grade as a bit of a loner. I wasn’t a cheerleader, so I couldn’t sit at the cheerleader lunch table...
I still remember where I was standing in my house in Louisville, Kentucky when I received the phone call that I did not make the squad. I was shattered. Entering the sixth grade without my "friends" was probably one of the hardest moments of my life. However, I am SO grateful for it.
Little did I know it changed my life...
Today, I never take no for an answer. I always find a creative solution to every problem that presents itself. I owe this to the hardship that happened to me all the way back in sixth grade.
Instead of wallowing in my sorrow, as they say, I decided to prepare for my desired tomorrow. My mom hired a private cheerleading coach and bought me a trampoline. I trained EVERY SINGLE DAY for an entire year. My future entailed me being on that squad!
The following year when try outs came around I was totally prepared. Not only did I make the squad every year after... I even ended up as one of the captains. I didn't let my failure define me, only shape me. That moment turned into Rule No. 8 in my 10 Rules for Success: “Never Let Them Say No!”
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, sweet dolls. There’s a way to turn your dream into a reality. There’s a way to build that brand in your head, and we can help! E-mail us at heydoll@poshpr.com!
