This season, I had the privilege of welcoming the Texas Tech and Baylor Spirit Squads into AT&T Stadium before their football matchup. It was an extremely special day for me, as I was a member of the Texas Tech Pom Squad from 2014-2017. During my three years on Tech Pom, I met some of my best friends, traveled to new and exciting places, and made lasting memories that I will never forget. I got the opportunity to dance in West Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, and even Shanghai. We went from a 7th place finish at Nationals my first year on the team, to winning the first National Championship in school history during my senior year. Needless to say, we accomplished quite a lot in those three short years. The values and lessons that I learned from the program pushed me to try out for a team that I had been dreaming of for my entire life: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Since I was a young girl, I had dreamt of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, but it wasn't until I had the opportunity of performing in AT&T Stadium as a Tech Pom member that I officially made the decision to try out. My first year cheering at the stadium, I met a girl who had previously danced for Tech and went on to become a DCC. She was living out my dream while I was walking in the same path she took to get there. It made me realize that this big dream of mine could one day become a reality, if only I worked hard enough. My teammates and coaches supported me along the entire journey, and they were the first to congratulate me when I found out that I made it.
Coming back to this game as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader was a very surreal experience for me. Three times in the past, I sat in the DCC locker room as a member of the Texas Tech Pom Squad, listening to the women talk about their own journeys to DCC. Little did I know, I would be doing the exact same thing the year following my graduation. However, I wasn't just talking to Texas Tech Spirit, I was talking to the people that helped me achieve my dreams. Seeing my former coach and teammates reminded me of how lucky I am to be doing what I love every single day.
