Graduation Speech: Lennox High School

Pendleton dance team were all sitting in a circle with big smiles on their faces like as they had already won. They were our biggest competition this competition because our scores were really close first round. When we performed second round most of my teammates were telling us how they messed up which I hated because it made me think

We were this close to being stripped of our "Undefeated" title. The band sat there in the bleachers, stunned as the announcer pulled up the scores and was ready to reveal first place. Blood rushed through my veins and the butterflies in my stomach were more active as ever. After all of our hard work, it would have been a shame if we did not conclude the season with a bang. The announcer raised her microphone and everything seemed to come to a halt.

Throughout the hallways of the Xcel, all I could hear was people cheering for us. Not only were the students of East High happy to have won, but over 75 percent of the people attending the game were as well. As we finally made it out of the Xcel, I knew this was a moment I would remember for the rest of my

It was the evening before our departure to Richmond to compete in the 1A Basketball State Semi-Finals against Radford High School. We were at practice and Coach Burns wanted to have a meeting before practice. As we gathered around coach, he looked at all of us and said, “I love every single one of you guys.” I think that meant something special to all of us on that team. He trusted us that we would play our hearts out during this game and come out victorious. I think to myself, we can do this; we can beat Radford, who had beaten us earlier in the season.

The day the team got together and fought threw a tough battle facing pinnacle high school. It was our second home game and our record was 1-2. After all of the hard work we had put in over summer, we realized we could not lose, especially in front of our home crowd. At the beginning of the game we did our usual warm-ups, I have never felt so much adrenaline pushing threw my veins in my life. After the warm-ups the whole team got in a big huddle, we chanted a chant that will never be forgotten and one day make history for the pride. After the chant we got ready for kick-off, lined up and ready to go. The crowd started cheering at the first 2 seconds of the game “go pride go, go pride go”. This made the whole team nervous, not just because there was so many

The results came in and for the first time in school history the cheerleading team advanced to semi finals. That moment is one I will carry with me for the rest of my life. We now hold the national title of 16th in the

Cheer team's results are going first. We watch as some teams cry because they didn't place and other teams cry tears of joy for achieving. It's dance teams time now and the tension is thick. We grab each other's hands tightly. “And the Grand Champions of the 2016 ------- is…Paul Laurence Dunbar!” Screams immediately escape our mouths. The captains get up to go receive the trophy and the banner. The seniors are crying and we go around hugging each other. We take turns taking pictures with the trophy and banner. We’ll be getting our shirts and jackets in a couple weeks. My mom congratulates me We have the rest of the day of to do whatever we want, so a group of us decide to go back to change at the hotel and go to the

3…2…1…BZZZZT. The buzzer sounded and tears flooded my eyes as I sunk to the ground in what felt like slow motion. I couldn’t breathe. As I looked to the left I watched the blue and gold sea of fans as they rushed to file out of the stands as if they were being herded like cattle. As I looked to the right I saw the scoreboard, both making the tears fall faster. This was our shot, one win away from making a state appearance in over eight years and we blew it in the sectional final game. That was the last time I would ever play high school basketball.

The team was ready, we had been working extremely hard for the past seven months for this. We were all in great shape and very rested. A few of the returning players were meeting me at my house to carpool to the final game of the state championship tournament. Everyone knew that the hard work had paid off when we won the semi-final game the preceding day.

Right before kick off, the boys huddled in a circle and chanted the familiar words Coach Peters says to them every day. At first the rest of the cheerleaders and I couldn’t hear very well, but then we heard the words, “Won’t be beat.” As the football players repeated those words, so did we. Our school was finally becoming a true Falcon family. We all had the same goal, “Be great at everything,” as Coach Peters says. As my team and I lined up on the side of the field for the kick off, I could hear the rustling of the poms like leaves on a windy autumn day. Standing next to my team, all I could smell was hairspray and perfume; because of course cheerleaders have to look good 24/7, right? As West kicked the ball and the game officially started, I heard the huge roar of the crowd. There were so many people and they were all so loud that it sounded like I was at an NFL game or some extravagant

Coach high fived me at third and I glanced at at the scoreboard and it 13-13 were tied and there's one minute left I just need to get home and we win the championship. Ashleighs up to bat and she has one strike and one ball the next ball the pitcher throws is a ball but goes past the catcher and I sprint home like never before and slid for the win and the catcher didn’t get there in time! WE WON all that pain i've gone through has been relieved knowing that i won this game and that all my effort paid off in the

My teammates and I faced the reality that we were going to have a losing record for the first time in three years, as we were currently at 3-6. We had finished walk-throughs for the last time before our final Friday night lights, when I realized that this was the last time I would suit up with my brothers. Walking into that locker room to put my equipment away, I just sense some type of sadness but happiness because I’d be playing one last time for my school, Bethesda Chevy Chase, a public high school located in Bethesda, Maryland.

I vividly remember standing in the exact spot on the blue mat, looking out unto an almost identical judges panel, and same anxious crowd only in a different gymnasium. Due to the fact I had been cheerleading since a toddler, I’ve competed numerous times before, but for some reason this time felt different. I needed to prove to my coaches they did not make a mistake choosing my group as the main stunt, show my parents all the hours of processing and car rides home were worth it, and most importantly display to my team I would do anything to not let them down. The music blared throughout the gymnasium, echoing through the stands. A feeling of excitement, joy, and relief came over me as I hit my stunt perfectly in front of the pandemonium the crowd had created in the stands.

The crowd went absolutely wild, and everyone was hugging (compound). My team and I were in a group hug in the middle of the court with our coach. When we turned to the crowd, it erupted with applause (complex). I went over and hugged my best friend, Delaney, and we told each other that we each did outstanding. We then were presented with medals and the State Championship trophy. We all stood huddled on the floor, holding the trophy high above our heads. After that, all the fans and parents came onto the floor. I could tell that my parents were ready to embrace me.

After tryouts were over, I went home to wait for the time the results were going to be posted. Nervously I came back to Meadow Glen when the results of the girls who made the team were posted and I saw my name on the list! My face gleamed with joy. Both of my two friends made the team as well and I was so thrilled for the year to come.