Valeria Hernandez, a junior at Parlier High School, is a dedicated and passionate member of the school’s cheer team. Her journey into cheer began unexpectedly after she broke her ankle while playing soccer, which meant she could no longer play the sport she once loved. For a while, she lost motivation to join any sports until cheer tryouts started. What began as a new challenge quickly turned into something she deeply enjoys, and now she’s in her second year on the team.Valeria is known for being well-organized and loves to stay busy, which helps her balance both her schoolwork and cheer practices.
When asked about her favorite parts of cheerleading, Valeria said she loves basing and working on stunts with her flyers, as well as cheering with her whole team. While she doesn’t find anything too challenging now, she admits that when she first started, it was difficult to get used to the cheers and dances since it was all new to her. One of her favorite traditions is when the team prays together before games and competitions it’s a special moment that brings everyone closer. A memory she’ll never forget is when a little girl came up to her and asked to take a picture because she wanted to be a cheerleader when she grows up. Valeria even taught her cheer, calling the whole experience “so cute.”
Valeria says she usually doesn’t feel pressure performing in front of big crowds, except when it comes to big stunts that require extra focus. She believes a good cheerleader is someone who knows how to be a strong team player and always tries their hardest. Cheerleading, she says, has helped her grow as both a student and a person. It’s made her more involved in school, more organized, and has helped her make many new friends. Her advice to anyone who wants to join cheer in the future is to understand that while it’s a lot of fun, it also takes up a lot of time, so learning how to manage your time and take it seriously is important
