As a child, my parents loved watching sports, and I often visited baseball and rugby fields. The athletes moving in the stadium were captivating, but what shone even brighter were the cheerleaders who danced spectacularly during games. I still remember being overwhelmed by their superhuman physical abilities flying high and captivated my heart. I strongly wanted to try it myself, so I entered junior high and high school with cheerleading clubs. I was captivated by the sense of accomplishment when I performed difficult tricks and decided to continue cheerleading at university. While visiting cheerleading clubs at various universities, I was drawn to how students led their fun performances and decided to enroll in J. F. Oberlin University.

When I actually joined, I found many members, from beginners to experienced athletes. Because of the differences in experience, it's important for everyone to celebrate every small growth and raise the overall level of the team. Everyone understands this, and when they master a trick, they cheer up the team with cheers and advice, working hard to improve their motivation and skills. I think the unique charm of J. F. Oberlin University 's cheerleading club is that you can enjoy and improve together.

The most memorable experience I've had so far was the 31st All Japan Student Championships in December of my first year of university. My goal was to successfully perform high-difficulty techniques and stand on the podium. However, two of our members got injured just before the competition, so we had to drastically change our routine and lower the difficulty level. I was disappointed that we couldn't achieve our initial goal, but this competition made me realize that until then, I had been so focused on the techniques that I hadn't been able to entertain the audience with my performance. The essence of cheerleading is to involve the audience and cheer for someone. I was reminded of the importance of enjoying ourselves while also making an appeal to the audience.

Based on this experience, I made sure to always smile while participating in club activities, and as a result, I was appointed club president in February 2021. I'm not naturally good at expressing my emotions and tend to hesitate to rely on others, but the advantage of team sports is that members can cover each other's weaknesses. As both a competitor and a club president, my challenge going forward is to rely on my teammates for things I can't do alone, to value communication, and to build a team together.

Last year, the competition rules were changed due to the impact of the coronavirus, and stunts and vocalizations were prohibited. The number of participants that could compete was also drastically reduced, and we were unable to perform as we had before. I sometimes found myself wondering, "What kind of cheerleading do I really want to do?" and my motivation dropped. Even so, I was very happy that we were able to win an award at the "JAPAN CUP 2020 Japan Championships," which we entered with only a short month of practice time.

Currently, the format of the competition remains undecided due to the ongoing spread of the infection. However, our goal is to achieve good results regardless of the format. To relive the excitement of winning an award last year, we will not forget to "enjoy cheerleading" and will strive to improve each individual's skills and strengthen the team's fundamentals. While cherishing the essence of cheerleading, "smiles," we will hone our skills with the aim of becoming a team that can win the JAPAN CUP, where top schools from all over the country gather.