Jeff and Angela Boyle Family

The Grass is greener on the other side……………..….or is it?

This phrase we use so commonly about the grass being greener on the other side can sometimes make complete sense. We have a well on our property for our sprinkler system, and in the spring we have to have professionals come and “turn on” our water system before we can use our sprinklers. Before this happened in late April, the weather was nice with some extremely warm days. Our lawn was starting to get some brownish spots to it. I would look in envy at our neighbor’s yards and see how nice and green their lawns were; no brown spots, no weeds. It appeared to be that the actual grass was, in fact, greener.

Back in high school, all I wanted to do was make the cheerleading squad. Did you ever watch the cheerleaders as they hung out in the hallways, in their cute skirts and long blonde ponytails, talking with friends and cute boys? Did you ever study them at the games while they cheered and yelled for their team to “shoot that ball!” or to block their opponent by screaming “defense!” ? They always looked like they were having so much fun. They were always surrounded by people, and were well liked by everyone. And I just wanted to be a part of that. Their “grass” looked so much greener.

In my high school, there were usually more than 75 girls who spent a week in late May learning and practicing a dance routine, yelling cheers and chants, perfecting jumps, turning cartwheels, and if you were really good, throwing a back handspring or two. It all came down to 2 sets of “competition.” The first being in front of a panel of judges, composed of teachers at the school, as well as the cheerleading coaches. They were there to critique your every move – strong arms, straight legs, loud words, and high jumps. They were going to pick a total of 16 out of the original 75 to go onto round 2. Imagine a huge high school gym, a table at center court, 5 chairs occupied by your teachers, and you – all by yourself in front of them yelling at them to “B – E – Aggressive!” It was nerve racking. And the odds were stacked against you.

Funny thing however, every year that I tried out, I ALWAYS made it past the judges into round 2.

This is where it got difficult.

Round 2 was in front of our peers – on stage, at an assembly, with everyone getting a chance to vote afterward. Only a total of 8 Varsity cheerleaders would be chosen. We would perform our same dance, same cheers, and same jumps. Then the student body would go back to their classrooms and cast their ballets. All 16 of us would be called down to the office and they would tell us the outcome before they announced if over the P.A. system to the rest of the school. This is where I NEVER got enough votes. I was always 1st or 2nd runner up….which basically meant squat!

(I know, this isn't a picture of me, mine are in storage somewhere. Plus, I have better hair!)

Until my junior year. During Christmas break, one of the Varsity cheerleaders decided to quit the squad. You can imagine my utter shock and surprise when the cheer coach called me and informed me that I was to take her place. No way, is this a joke? Is this real? Oh my gosh! AAAAAHHHHH!! One of the cheerleaders came to my house and taught me all the chants and cheers in an afternoon cramming session. In January, I showed up to school with my cute skirt on, and my blonde hair in a ponytail. And just like that, I was one of “them.” I felt good, I was well liked, and I was on the “greener” side.

It’s amazing what you can find out once you are on the other side. I started to see how these girls acted outside of school. It wasn’t the image that I had studied in the hallways. I saw the girls in whole new light – and it wasn’t green. It was an atmosphere that I started to dislike and was glad when it was finally over.

What I learned about my brief experience as a high school cheerleader - while the grass may seem greener for now, once you get into it, it could be full of bugs that just eventually turn it brown later.

I didn’t try out for the cheer squad my senior year. I had bigger and better plans coming my way.

BTW, my neighbors' grass is turning a little brown.