Learning Perseverance Early in Life

By Janine Oliva

Melia flying

Do you remember what it feels like to be 9 years old?  What moments helped teach you about perseverance? 

I have a little girl who loves to fly - and she has the pleasure of learning about perseverance at a young age in her life.  Her name is Melia, which translates in Hawaiian to the frangipani flower.  She likes to go by "Me-Me" or "Grace." Grace is her middle name.  Melia is younger sister to Dylan, and even with their 10-year difference in age, they have a very special bond.   When asked about her brother, she responds with bright, starry eyes, "He's nice to me, he shows me that he loves me, and he plays with me."  The characteristic that they share in common is their athleticism.  

Melia is a pretty well-rounded little girl.  She graces through the academics in elementary school, she loves playing video games, she enjoys time with her friends, and, as previously mentioned, she is a humble athlete.  Her favorite extra-curricular activity is Competitive Cheer, and through this sport she is exposed to learning about perseverance.  

Cheer brings on many feelings for Melia.  She gets very excited for competitions, and she likes that she gets to portray an attitude of "sass," which is not a characteristic of her true personality.  Portraying the emotions during routines takes practice and perseverance in getting the expression to come naturally, at the right time, and look believable.

There is a physicality to cheer that many do not realize.  Another aspect about cheer that Melia loves is that it makes her feel strong.  There are techniques and positions that require strength and precision, so repetition and persistent practice are non-negotiable.  The team is encouraged to participate in off-season training, which typically consists of work on tumbling skills.  Melia feels strongest when tumbling, jumping, and working in her stunt groups.  

Stunt groups bring many challenges to this sport, as there are multiple athletes required to perform the stunt, and all participants must be on the same page to be successful.  Stunts fail for one reason or another - and the parts must communicate and identify the breakdown to resolve all issues.  Melia is particularly immersed in this process, as she is a flyer - the athlete who is lifted to the top.  If a stunt fails, there is a chance that she is dropped and injured, or falls and injures another teammate.  The group is challenged to work through identifying the breakdown and to persevere in repeating the set again and again until they are in unison and succeed.  When I asked Melia how she speaks to herself when faced with challenges, she replied "I tell myself don't give up, do it again. We got this!"

Perseverance is an important skill that we must learn to master throughout life.  It allows an individual to build resilience and put in the work it takes to accomplish tasks, meet goals set forth, and accomplish dreams.  As a parent who was very resistant to her daughter becoming a cheerleader, I am now humbled after witnessing two years of effort, growth, and perseverance.  The sport of competitive cheer is benefiting my 9-year-old with more tools, skills, and confidence than I could have ever imagined.  This training will help her to navigate the challenges she will be faced with throughout her lifetime. 

Janine is in the Pre-ADN program at the University of Bridgeport. She lives in Shelton and she enjoys nature, helping others, and being a mom.