As the holiday season is approaching and Thanksgiving is just around the corner, it makes me realize how many things there are to be thankful for. Though many of them may be small, nothing should ever go unnoticed.

Every fall, the LHS Cheerleaders withstand the rain and cold in order to cheer on the Football team. As I have sat through the long football games, I began to notice how unappreciated the hard workers on cheer and how lucky Liberty High School is to have such a great program to be a part of.

Not only do the cheerleaders travel countless hours with the football team, but they recently have also taken on a larger responsibility with the school. Cheer now makes sport’s appreciation posters for each individual sport, using their personal time to stay after school and ensure the recognition of each individual person participating in each sport.

Furthermore, this year, LHS Cheer has joined a program called the “Sparkle Effect” where each cheer member is paired with mentally disabled students from surrounding schools. These students get the hang out with the cheerleaders as well as cheer beside them at some of the games. This is the cheer team’s way of getting more in touch with the community and making a positive impact in any way they can.

While it is easy for many people to overlook all the dedication and care cheer puts into the recognition of each sport, to me, their hard work is always appreciated and doesn’t go unnoticed.

Every time I sit in the stand at a Football or Basketball games, I find myself “peeling the banana” or “trucking” across the stands. Cheer not only promotes recognition of sports team, but also fosters an environment of inclusion among all students. I am thankful that Liberty High School is lucky enough to have a cheer squad that truly cares.

Liberty Cheer is truly something everyone can be proud of.