Confidence is the key to life. Often times, however, the fear of failure obfuscates self-confidence. Fear itself is a warning signal; it helps us to protect ourselves when faced with threats. But it also prevents us from taking that extra step needed to make a difference in our communities. Many times, we are so overwhelmed with the thought of failure that we tend to abandon life’s challenges. Each year of my early youth, I begged my mother to let me try out for cheerleading, to let me begin an exciting new chapter in my life. I idolized the energetic girls flipping upside down and being thrown high into the air; I could not wait to do the same. I fell in love with the sport at only four years old, and have cheered ever since. With each new season, my passion for cheerleading grew. In recent times, however, that passion has stagnated. Because I have competed at the same level for the past four years, cheerleading does not challenge me anymore. As much as I love going to…show more content… I am only eligible to cheer for a few more years, and I want to make as much out of that time as possible. However, joining a more cutthroat cheerleading team would open me up to more ways to fail. The fear of doing so makes me doubt if trying out would be worth it. Higher caliber cheerleading teams require a significantly larger commitment; they practice longer and more frequently. Their practices are extremely difficult, consisting of cheerleading, conditioning, and a lot of running. These practices require a great amount of stamina, a high level skill, and a lot of dedication. Higher level cheerleading programs are extremely cutthroat and serious. Without the option to fail, however, I would rush to join a higher level team. I would not have to be nervous about letting down my teammates, nor would I have to worry about not being able to keep up with the vigorous
