Everyone Needs a Cheerleader
By Dr. Marci
February 10, 2025
For a while now it seems as if my writing juices were not flowing and so I just didn’t write! It might seem strange to many, but I am sure people who write daily understand where I am coming from. Hopefully with some cheering on from my readers and some words of affirmation, the juices will start flowing again.
So, I always try to write about school and me working in the education environment and of course where part of my purpose is to educate, encourage and motivate. Most people, if not all, know that as educators we wear many hats. I continue to wear several of them.
Recently, I was reminded of a student I had many years ago who was considered, a selective mute and I met another student who is also considered to have selective mutism. Selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder that makes it difficult for a person to speak in certain social situations. That’s the shortened version of it but the long and short of it, is that the student spoke softly on a one on one. The “talk” was very brief, but it was after a lot of encouragement and coaxing and a month later she was coaxed again into jumping rope during gym. Even though it was brief and short. I was excited about the fact that I was instrumental into encouraging her because I was her cheerleader. She was nervous and shy but with encouragement she eventually made my day by talking and jumping rope. This was a blessing. Even though no one else patted me on the shoulder for a job well done, I gave her a high five and beamed in my heart that I did something great.
A friend of mine recently sent me a note to say that I am also so encouraging and a genuine friend over decades. Those words resonated with me and made me feel empowered. Empowered because I didn’t think I was making a difference, I thought I was just being me. Overall, I was being a cheerleader in my small and you know what? It worked and has been working. Everyone needs a cheerleader to lift them higher especially in a sometimes, cruel world!
Many of our students I realized, had, learned helplessness, which is term where some students gave up because they failed at first try however some of their peers got instantly. The students who gave up must have felt frustrated, rushed or simply that their confidence was shot. That task can also be applied to academia or applied to their lives forever. This of course can be changed if they had people who were cheering and will always cheer for them.
Are you a cheerleader? If not think about being a cheerleader for someone, so you can help to encourage him or her. Being a cheerleader will also make you feel good about yourself. So, it’s a win/win situation.