Emma Storr takes us behind the scenes at her uni club of choice – the Glasgow Caledonian University’s Jets cheerleading squad.
When you think of the word cheerleader I’m sure there’s a host of stereotypes that come to mind. Luckily, I’m here to ensure you that they aren’t true. Constantly portrayed in movies as mean airheads, the cheer girls I know and train with are much the opposite.
I first heard about my university’s cheerleading squad – the GCU Jets – through a course-mate and friend, also by the name of Emma, who had already joined the squad when we first started uni just over a year ago. Although this made me acknowledge that it existed, I only really became curious when I saw a group of the girls in our student union one night while I was celebrating passing our first real uni exam with my friends.
Egged on by the night before to like the squad’s page on Facebook, I found myself a little hungover and messaging their group page to ask about tryouts and practice times. The reply was immediate and encouraging – they don’t do try outs and they’ll accept new members all year round whether you’re experienced or not just come along to practice.
I turned up for my first practice nervous and shy, not my usual traits, but I had no reason to be. I was greeted by our then-captain Susiee and now-captain Morven – probably two of the funniest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
At Glasgow Caledonian we have a pom and stunt team which means we do get sparkly blue and white pompoms – trust me they’re heavier than they look – we mainly focus on dances paired with level 2-3 cheer stunts. As well as training twice a week we cheer at university sports games, perform at events, hold fundraisers for charities and the team, and we have the best nights out together. We just made it past our 2nd birthday and have a packed calendar of events for the rest of the uni year.
It was definitely normal to be scared going into something with a group of new people but well worth it. I have made so many friends – girls who are there for you through university stress and fights with your boyfriend, and girls who always have the best stories to make you laugh again and again. There are inside jokes and pictures from pre-Wednesday-night-Bamboo that maybe no one should ever see, as well as a lot of hard work and a sense of determination from the whole team.
The people aren’t the only perk. It’s a great way to keep fit, be somewhere that isn’t the inside of a lecture theatre and get a sense of achievement and pride after you’ve learned a routine or finished a show.
After nearly a year as part of the squad, I would encourage everyone to join a team, club or society when the start at college or university. Cheerleading or not, not only is it something to take your mind off assignemtsn and stress, it’s such a simple and easy way to make friends – but no guarantee that your uniform will be as cute as ours…!
