Most Americans that went to public high school have experienced what it is like to be at a pep rally. The cheerleaders are tasked with getting everyone pumped up for the big homecoming game. At Southeast High School, there is only one cheerleader, and she refuses to give up. Her spirit is an inspiring lesson in leadership for all of us.
The cheer squad at Southeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri started the season with six cheerleaders, but for various reasons, girls left the team, until it was down to one last cheerleader. She was given the option to quit if she didn't want to cheer by herself. She chose to keep cheering.
KMBC9 News reported that high school junior Jaziah Rowe is the only cheerleader at Southeast High School for basketball season, but that never stopped her from doing what she loves.
She recognizes that it is not typical, and may even be weird to do by herself because cheerleading is considered a team sport, but that never stopped her, which says a lot about her character.
She told ABC9 News:
"At first, it was like, you know, kind of weird because nobody's really used to cheering by themselves, but I got used to it as it went on." -Jaziah Rowe (Source: KMBC9 News)
Head Cheer Coach Leslie Friday is Encouraged by Jaziah's Tenacity
Even the Head Cheer coach, Leslie Friday, spoke to Jaziah, and gave her the option to quit, given the circumstances.
Coach Friday said:
"I told her, ‘You know it's just you, so if you don't want to continue the season, we can let coach Ramsey know that cheer is done for this season,' and her response was, ‘I don't want to quit.'" -Leslie Friday, Head Cheer coach (Source: KMBC9 News)
Coach Friday was impressed with Jaziah's character through the adversity of being the only cheerleader, and has admired her drive to keep going.
She said:
"To me, it says that she is very brave. She's very dedicated. This is something she's passionate about." -Leslie Friday, Head Cheer coach (Source: KMBC9 News)
Jaziah's Academics, Future Plans, and Message
KMBC9 News reported that Jaziah is set to graduate at the end of this year and plans to go to Lincoln University of Missouri, to cheer and pursue nursing. She is an outstanding student at school, and a great cheerleader.
She has demonstrated her leadership to us as the only cheerleader at her high school, and will no doubt be a future leader in the nursing field.
The message that Jaziah gives is "don't stop doing what you love" even if you are the only one doing it. Give it your all.
That's a message we can all learn from this story.
Jaziah Inspires Others to Not Give Up on Dreams
Coach Friday said this about Jaziah:
"I just hope that other people that are seeing her understand that if it's something you want to do, then you can do it and just go for what you want to do, and don't let anything stop you." -Leslie Friday, Head Cheer coach (Source: KMBC9 News)
Jaziah's story has been very encouraging and inspiring (for me personally) to pursue the things in life that you are passionate about, even if you are the only one doing it.
It will get easier if you put your all into it. Jaziah never gave up and it did get easier for her, and the fans were very supportive.
Please share this positive and inspiring article on social media so others can be informed about this story.
Sources
KMBC9 News on Facebook.
Shope, Alan. "Kansas City student still pumping up crowds, despite being her high school's only cheerleader." KMBC9 News. 2 March 2023.
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