I came to ESD as a freshmen. And let me tell you, it was terrifying. Not only was the huge campus intimidating, so were the people. Everyone was beautiful, smart, poised. Everything I thought I wasn’t. Everyone smiled and laughed, talked and giggled. And they all seemed perfect.
Despite the terror building up in my stomach, I forced myself to go to cheerleading tryouts. It was something I was good at. But despite my confidence in myself, I clenched my fists and ground my teeth as I walked into the auditorium to see thirty perfect girls. But when I walked in, I received no weird looks, no dirty whispers. Everyone smiled welcomingly and three or four girls who looked my age ran up to me.
Despite the terror building up in my stomach, I forced myself to go to cheerleading tryouts. It was something I was good at. But despite my confidence in myself, I clenched my fists and ground my teeth as I walked into the auditorium to see thirty perfect girls. But when I walked in, I received no weird looks, no dirty whispers. Everyone smiled welcomingly and three or four girls who looked my age ran up to me.
“You must be Tauri,” one of them said. “We saw your name on the sign-up list and didn’t recognize it. So that must be you! We’re so glad you came.”
I was shocked. But in a good way. A way that relaxed my hands and jaw enough to smile and stick my hand out to shake hers. But she was having none of that. She grabbed my outstretched hand and pulled me into a hug.
“I’m Natalie. And welcome to ESD. Come meet the other freshmen. We are all so nervous.”
Those seven other freshmen girls, now young women, are my family. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Those seven other freshmen girls, now young women, are my family. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Cheerleader, class of 2010
