Female Athleticism Scholarship

I’d always struggled with what people thought of me, more so if that person controlled my playing time. I tried to fly under the radar of most male coaches to avoid being subjected to inappropriate comments or attempts to pit my teammates against me. This tactic was unsuccessful and subjected me to a plethora of things, including a comment about “not coaching fat girls.” After putting up with maltreatment for two seasons, I finally decided that I wasn’t going to be defined by what this coach thought of me. I quit the team, and when asked why, I said that I didn’t have to put up with a grown man’s attempts to make me feel bad about myself. This experience taught me that what a man in power thinks of me doesn’t define who I am as a woman, and that I have the right to walk away from a situation where I am mistreated. It taught me resilience as I faced the backlash of players. I realized that I was not only resilient enough to stand up to a male coach but was also resilient enough to ignore the negative comments of teammates who didn’t understand my struggle. My class load is heavily AP-oriented; I took eight APs in three years. Balancing practices, homework, and a social life, all while trying to give myself time to decompress, became a superpower. I learned very quickly that to get everything done, I had to be efficient with my time. Efficiency meant that I was taking notes for class on the way to practice, using the weekend to get assignments done, and making sure that I had an hour before bed to relax. As I got better at managing my time, it became my superpower as I was able to get homework done days before it was due, giving me time to see friends and practice soccer. Time management is a skill that is still being mastered well into adulthood, so to be able to learn how to do it in high school gives me the ability to have an advantage when I go into the workforce. As a woman, this gives me a unique opportunity to stay ahead of male counterparts who may have not learned this skill, allowing me to have the upper hand in male dominated areas. Lastly, sports have taught me the importance of confidence as a female. When I was younger, I was a competitive Irish dancer. My teacher taught us that in order to stand out on stage, we needed to be confident in our abilities and hold ourselves with pride. Utilizing my confidence from dance, I began to be more self-assured and noticed that as I showed more confidence in my abilities at school, my male counterparts were more likely to listen to my ideas. In comparison, when I’d spoken my thoughts or opinions in a less confident manner, my ideas were usually pushed to the side in favor of male students' ideas. The assertiveness that my dance teacher helped instill in me, helped me express my ideas in male dominated situations. Since I want to be a part of the male dominated medical field, using my self-confidence, I will be able to present ideas with the same poise as my male counterparts. Participating in sports has taught me resilience, not to worry about what others think about me, how to manage my time with a busy schedule, and how to use confidence to promote ideas. These skills will allow me to thrive in male dominated fields and be a stronger female.

I have had a passion for dance since I was three years old is dance. I have been in dance for (15) years, and I have danced competitively for the past (9) years at Dance With Me Studio. I also have been a varsity member of the GGD dance team all (4) years of high school. I also am very proud that I will have the chance to continue my passion for dance, by committing to the BVU dance team. Dance has provided me with an avenue to express myself freely without the need for verbal expression. In a sense it has been my therapy, my release, my peace. In high school (at age 16) my boyfriend at the time, and childhood friend died by suicide. His death was unexpected, confusing, and very traumatic. I attended his funeral and left and went straight to dance practice. I was able to focus on the present and I escaped my inner thoughts and was able to learn my new solo for the year in 3 hours. Through dance I have also been able to work on improving my self-confidence. In the competitive dance world, it is easy to constantly compare yourself to others. It is easy to get lost on focusing what others can do that you cannot do. However, in reality if you shift your mindset, you actually can learn that you can figure out what makes you unique and different to make yourself be competitive by focusing on what sets you apart. Dance can be unique because it can be a co-ed sport. You can have male dancers on your team, but in general it is a female dominate sport. However, competitively and ironically if you have a male dancer on your team you generally stand out more. Dance technique is universal but in reality, competitively male dancers are stronger which allows them to be able to do tricks most females do not have the strength to do. The inside joke is if there are male dancers they will typically score higher as individuals or as a team- this is referenced as having "penis points". Although dance is female dominated, there is still an advantage of being a male. Despite this - being able to be part of a coed team has given me a perspective of diversity, perspective, and life experience I can take with me as I enter college and the workforce. In summary as I reflect, Dance has taught me so many life skills that I can apply throughout my adulthood. These include: 1. Commitment to a team (you are only as strong as your team in a group dance). 2. Mentorship towards others who may need help and the ability to know when to ask for help. 3. Accepting feedback from others (trust me, Judges’ comments at a competitive level can be hard to hear and accept, especially with a solo). 4. Confidence and self-love. You can be your hardest critic, so show grace towards yourself. 5. From the wise words from my dance teacher- “Practice until you can’t do it wrong.” When you fall down, just get back up.

Being involved in cheerleading for four years, including one year as a team captain, has helped shape me into a confident, resilient, and empowered young woman—especially in a world where leadership and strength are often associated with male dominance. Balancing the physical demands of cheerleading with academic responsibilities and personal life has taught me discipline, time management, and the ability to stand firm in who I am, even in spaces where women are often underestimated or overlooked. Cheerleading is frequently misunderstood or not taken as seriously as other sports, despite the strength, endurance, and mental toughness it requires. As a female athlete, I’ve experienced moments where people doubted the legitimacy of my sport or the work that goes into our performances. Instead of letting that discourage me, I used it as motivation to prove otherwise. Behind every routine are countless hours of practice, conditioning, and teamwork—and I’ve pushed myself through injuries, exhaustion, and self-doubt to lead my team with strength and pride. At the same time, I had to learn how to balance schoolwork, leadership responsibilities, and life outside of cheer. There were days when I would go from classes straight to long practices, and then home to study or help my family. I didn’t have the option to slack off or fall behind. This taught me how to be organized, stay focused, and push through even when things felt overwhelming. It also taught me the importance of self-worth and using my voice, both on and off the mat. As a team captain, I found power in uplifting others and leading with empathy. In many leadership spaces, especially in schools or sports, male voices tend to be louder or more dominant. But I learned that I didn’t have to change who I was to be respected—I just had to be confident in my abilities and stay true to my values. I created a team environment built on support, accountability, and trust. That experience showed me that being a strong female leader doesn’t mean being aggressive or overpowering—it means being consistent, compassionate, and fearless. Cheer taught me how to advocate for myself, stand up for my team, and push boundaries in spaces where women are often underestimated. I carry those lessons with me into every area of life. Through sports, school, and leadership, I’ve grown into a young woman who is not afraid to take up space, lead with purpose, and fight for her place in the world.

As a woman, where for thousands of years male dominance has covered the many facets of life, the realm of sports can be frustrating to navigate. By steering through competitive academics and athletics, I have been demanded to grow not only through discipline, but through the continual reaffirmation of one's value. As one of only three girls on a co-ed varsity ultimate frisbee team as a senior, I have gained resilience that has not only molded my determination, but created my identity as a strong female athlete. My tedious experience as a varsity cheerleader has taught me the importance of simply showing up, earning me two consecutive state championships. Being a woman in sports to me is to embody a spirit of resilience; a quiet courage carried by the ability to harbor tenacity, providing a legacy woven not only into championship banners, but into the character of each individual student-athlete who dares to step into the pond of excellence. While technically a co-ed sport, ultimate frisbee continues to carry the undercurrent of male-centered dominance. With only .2% of athletics on my team being women, the pressure to "earn" visibility and trust intensifies. This quiet hierarchy shown on the field, mirrors the large societal dynamic where women must over-perform to even be perceived as equal. To be a woman on a team that is flooded with men, I am not just playing the sport, but defying a narrative engraved in our minds. Show up, block it out, assert your character. Cheerleading, although portrayed as the sport where women stand on the sidelines while the boys play football, it has bloomed into so much more. Through transcending self-doubt, I emerged as the athlete who earned her first Division II state championship as a sophomore, and captained my second consecutive championship my junior year. These accomplishments benefit not only as measures of talent, but as proof that enduring the agony of resilience results in a found peace where true success is not defined by gender, but by repeated failure backed by relentless effort to try again. Often dismissed by those who see cheerleading simply as an aesthetic performance, there is failure in acknowledging the rigorous physicality and coordination it demands. What I find most motivating, is the frustration I encounter in knowing my endurance and intense will-power is still barely granted the same respect given quickly in male-dominated sports. Yet it is exactly within this dismissiveness that I have found my fuel. Continuing to fight, I get up each day not only to bring recognition of cheerleading as a true sport, but myself as a serious athlete. Amidst my athletic dedications, I have stayed dedicated to my academics, earning a 4 in my AP course and receiving consistent 3s and 4s across all classes. While balancing the tedious tasks of academics with athletic commitments, I have gained the knowledge that has taught me the importance of time management. The discipline required to study for AP exams after hours of dedicated training, fortifies the multidimensional power I believe every woman possesses. Ultimately, the hardships I’ve faced as a female athlete in a male dominated world have not discouraged me; but defined me. Teaching me the power of my voice and how to speak through my performance, I will lead by example. Whether it’s competing in a mainly male sport such as ultimate frisbee, or shattering the stereotypes that take over cheerleading, there is strength in showing up, again and again. And in doing so, I will make space for not only myself, but for every single girl after me, ready to claim her own.

Throughout high school, I participated in the VHS Cheer team. On the team we learned more than just cheers and stunts, but also balanced responsibility, built discipline, and how to push through challenges; skills that I will carry with me in my life. Cheer may not always get the credit it deserves. Behind the glittery bows and pom poms, there is a team of hard working young women: waking up early for competitions and practices, pushing their limits in the weight room, and staying up late to do homework. Balancing cheer with academics, Explorers, tutoring, babysitting, and caring for my grandmother wasn’t easy. I had to learn to manage time down to the minute–fitting practice, games, weight lifting, and competitions around late night study sessions and dr appointments. Cheerleaders are often overlooked as athletes, but make no mistake; we train like athletes, commit time like athletes, perform like athletes, and make sacrifices like athletes. That pressure forced me to grow up fast and sharpen my ability to manage competing priorities without letting anything slip. On top of cheer, Explorers, tutoring, and caring for my grandmother, I’ve taken a schedule full of AP and honors courses; classes that will push me academically while potentially gaining college credit. I’ve also earned multiple industry certifications in areas such as Python, Adobe, and small business, proving that I’m driven both in the classroom and tech world just as I am on the mat. In both cheer and Explorers, I built strength in spaces that I initially wouldn’t expect. I didn’t just survive in male-dominated areas–law enforcement with Explorers–I thrived. This shaped who I became, someone not afraid to ask questions, push boundaries, or lead, even if I am the only woman in the room. This mindset is already helping me make strides towards entering the computer forensics field, a field where I will combine both software engineering and forensic science, both heavily male-dominated industries. But I know I have the grit and focus to push myself and thrive in this industry. Cheerleading was more than just a sport to me, it was the start of becoming a strong, capable woman, who can handle pressure well and break stereotypes. I've learned to balance it all, speak up, and put in the work when no one is watching. Most importantly, I’ve learned that being a strong woman isn't just about holding your own; it's about showing up fully, lifting others up, and proving through action that we belong anywhere we choose to be.