*The reason I smile*

Coming from a city where opportunities are limited, I am very honored and pleased to be in the presence and the cheerleader coach of these wonderful young ladies. There is not much to do here in my city; my town has always been flawed for poverty, drugs, gun violence, murder, etc. Most of their families are low income families and usually when an opportunity as this one approaches them, they feel that they would have to pay money to be apart of the activites. My job paid for everything. The ladies were issued uniforms, shoes, hair ribbons, pom poms and their parents did not have to pay a dime for anything. I did not require the ladies to tryout, every person was picked based on if their parent turned in their application before the due date. The ages range from 5-12. I did not feel the need to break a child's heart if they did not make the cut for tryouts, I was willing to work with each of them every way possible. This organization was built to build self esteem's and sister hood, show confidence, and to encourage them to be anything that they desire to be. I can't explain the feeling of watching them progress and grow as a team each day, each basketball or football game. Before rehearsal, we always have warm ups where we shout as loud as we can, "I"M BEAUTIFUL, I'M ME, I"M FREE." The look and confidence in their faces are the reason I smile because at those moments, they are free from the world. Each day, they look forward to practice and being apart of an organization that supports and encourages them. Every game, I show my appreciation to them buy showering them with gifts, just to let them know that their hardwork never goes unnotice. They have taught me to be patient and understanding in any situation that emerges. I am so thankful and grateful to know that I can put a smile on their faces and make a difference, but little do they know, they are the reason I smile:)