Undergraduate / (cheerleading labour) - PENN STATE PERSONAL STATEMENT [6]

Please choose one of your activities or another experience you would like to share and provide a short description of its importance to you. Include why that commitment could be relevant to your student experience at Penn State.

This is what i have so far...

People often take cheerleading lightly, but it can be back-breaking labor--literally. All Star Cheerleading has become one of the major priorities to which I have fully dedicated my time and energy. An experience that affected me deeply occurred in the Summer of 2008. During one practice, I attempted to execute a difficult skill and injured my back. An Orthopedic Surgeon's report showed that I had broken my spine in three places and therefore, could not

cheer in the upcoming season. I felt devastated and presumed that my cheerleading career had come to an end. I vowed to work to strengthen my back, and hoped to compete at The Cheerleading Worlds April 2009, in Florida. I expressed my dedication to my team by attending every practice to cheer them on and further unite with my teammates. I worked out at physical therapy twice a week to strengthen my spine as I persevered my goal of returning. After three short months, I returned to the Orthopedic Surgeon for an x-ray and the doctor seemed astonished by my quick recovery. The Orthopedic allowed me to compete by February, which surpassed my goal by two months. I believe that with determination and hard work, I can achieve anything.