Double Trouble

BY KENDYL COUNTS

As the clock on the scoreboard flips through its last few seconds, Cooper City High School senior Kristen Richards exchanges her glittery pom-poms for her flute.  After a long night of radiating tireless positivity from the sideline, she races to join the marching band at the end zone, where they will prepare for their high-energy halftime show.  When the final note resonates through the bleachers, Richards is gone again, back on the side of the field and ready to lose her voice with her fellow cheerleaders.  Breathless yet exhilarated, Richards spends another routinely chaotic Friday night rushing between two driving forces of school spirit, delighting in every second spent under the floodlights.

Going into sixth grade, Richards was faced with the familiar decision regarding electives at Pioneer Middle School; the meager selection was limited to a choice between band and P.E.  Following in the footsteps of her uncle, a former trombonist and drum major at the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University,  Richards entered the beginning band on the trombone and began learning the basics of music.  By eighth grade, tired of lugging the heavy brass instrument around, she resolved to switch to the lightest instrument in the program: the flute.  Even though flute was not her first choice,  Richards soon fell in love with the delicate silver instrument and its enthralling trill.

Richards wasn’t immediately drawn to cheerleading, either.  A self-proclaimed tomboy through the beginning middle school, the idea of slipping into the skin-tight cheerleading uniform seemed absurd at first, but the thrill of competition soon caught her attention.

“I liked to play football with my brother and stuff like that, so to put a skirt on was kind of against [my nature].” Richards said. “Eventually,  it just became something that I enjoyed doing.”

Richards has since uncovered a remarkable aptitude for both cheerleading and band.  Her band-related achievements include a number of superior ratings at Florida’s district level “Music Performance Assessment: Solo and Ensemble”, as well as awards earned by the larger ensembles she performs in.  As a cheerleader, Richards has been able to compete on a local all-star team, earning the prestigious title of national champion.  This well-deserved recognition, however, does not come without a price.  

The notion that band and cheerleading are relatively easy is misleading; they each require a great deal of time and effort, and are both athletic activities involving rigorous physical aspects.  As one of the three varsity cheerleading captains, Richards teaches cheers and facilitates communications between the team and the coach.  In band, she holds a librarian position; on a typical day after school she’s often found rushing around the music suite making copies, sorting sheet music, delivering paperwork, and running other document-related errands for the Sound of Pride.

A schedule involving classes at Broward College on Mondays and Wednesdays, cheerleading and band on Tuesdays and Thursdays, football games on Fridays, and competitions on Saturdays might appear to leave no room for any further pursuits.  Nevertheless,  Richards manages to give back to the community in her spare time through Becca’s Closet, an organization that assists girls in need of formal dresses.

“At Becca’s Closet, we take girls that can’t afford to buy a homecoming dress,  military ball [dress], or prom dress and help them find one that represents [their style].” Richards said. “The girls are always so appreciative of getting a dress.  It helps them feel more confident .”

On top of her extracurricular and volunteer commitments, schoolwork is an undeniable priority for Richards.  With cheerleading and band practices often running consecutively, Richards is regularly up until ungodly hours, struggling to keep her eyes open long enough to complete homework for her three AP classes and two dual enrollment courses. Stress builds up anew each day, but instead of buckling under the weight of her heavy responsibilities, Richards happily continues on in spite of it all, exciting in the challenge.

Even though Richards is able to handle the stress of balancing band and cheerleading, a common theme throughout her high school years has been the pressure to choose between the two.  Having so many things on her plate can lead to days of puffy-eyes and the urge to fall asleep in class, but no matter how much sleep she loses, Richards cannot bring herself to pick one over the other.

“I block [the negativity] out.” Richards said.  “I’m not going to make a decision, because they’re two parts of me.  I can’t rip one out.  [Together], they’re what make me, me.”

To many, the social adversity that is being a “band geek” does not necessarily seem compatible with being cheer captain.  For Richards, the preconceptions of the two traditionally mismatched cliques vanished as she became more involved.

“I think the first time everything became real was sophomore year, when I did my first halftime show in my [cheerleading] uniform.” Richards said.  “The worlds had always seemed so separate, so when I did them together, it was eye-opening.”

Certain expectations of cheerleaders and band “geeks” are commonly prevalent in high school lore, perpetuated by pop culture and religiously adhered to by the majority of students. In Richards’ experience, band members and cheerleaders have both proven themselves intelligent, dedicated, and kind people, even if that’s not the impression they give in the hallways.  Knowing the true nature of the people she works with, and how the two groups are not so different after all, Richards hopes to see an end to the stereotypes surrounding the two crowds that she so lovingly associates herself with.

“Get to know the people that you’re judging before you judge.” advised Richards.  “You have to have an open mind, and to not have it set in your mind that there is only one way that someone or something is.”

While the relationship between the band and the cheerleaders used to appear distant and detached, Richards’ involvement has sparked a sense of camaraderie between the band and the cheerleaders that can easily be observed on the field.  With both groups embracing their shared member, they enjoy interactions including drumline activities, games, and, without fail, the repeated chanting of Richards’ name from the stands and the sideline.  No doubt inspired by Richards, the two seemingly unrelated units continue to support each other at school events.

“The cheerleaders love the band,” said Richards.  “We had one away game without the band, and it didn’t feel right.  It just wasn’t as fun.”

After spending her entire high school career uniting her two very separate interests, it seems almost incontrovertible that she would continue with both long after walking across the stage at graduation.  Realistically, however, the future remains unclear.  

“In a dream world, I would continue with both.” said Richards. “I’m [definitely] going to have my flute around, and even if I’m just cheering in the stands, I’ll be content with that.”

Despite her acceptance of the fate that may await her favorite pastimes in college, Richards is by no means passive when it comes to striving for an unwavering feeling of satisfaction.  Enthusiastic for whatever the future may hold, Richards will continue forward in life with the very two qualities that ensured her success throughout her action-packed high school experience; an optimistic outlook, and an inextinguishable determination.

“[It’s important] to do what you want to do.” said Richards. “You’ll figure it out on your way there.  Don’t let anything scare you away from what you actually want.”