Vanessa M. Johnson
Prairie View A&M University College Visit
Providing the students with access means that we as teachers have to find outside opportunities that interest our students. In getting to know my students, it was important to me to research and present opportunities to my students that are not regionally obvious and readily available to them. As the cheerleading coach at my school, 8 of the 10 girls on the team are graduating seniors who have expressed interest in collegiate cheerleading. The evidence outlined in this section surrounding Senior Day, which celebrates high school and college seniors as they anticipate graduation. In the evidence, the students demonstrate how access to this opportunity opened doors for them.
Table of Contents:
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Event Flyer
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Photos of Student Engagement
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Student Testimonials
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Picture of Appreciation
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Access to Further Opportunities
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Coach Reflection
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Event Flyer
The event flyer was posted to the Prairie View A&M events page, so I reached out to Cheer Coach at the school and asked if my team could attend the Senior Day event. I felt this was important for my students to attend because it provides them access to cheerleading on the collegiate level, where they could practice routines and get in contact with the coaches for the future. It also gave the cheerleaders the opportunity to see how and what they needed to do to prepare for opportunities like these before they get there.
Photos of Student Engagement
In the footage below, the cheerleaders got to participate and cheer for a real game. The students got to learn a new collegiate cheer. None of our girls had experienced an event like this. With this, I wanted to expose my students to the college experience. I also wanted them to realize that they are capable of pursing cheerleading on the college level if they want to. This real world opportunity gave them the space to meet coaches and other cheerleaders to gain access to this opportunity.
Students stand with Mascot
Students Pose at Stadium
Student Testimonials
To see if the students best understand the importance of activities like these, student testimonials offer the students the opportunity to reflect on how these opportunities open doors for them and help them to navigate their own futures.
"Before we came to Prairie View I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I love cheer but i wasn't sure if I would like to cheer after I graduate. Seeing the girls perform showed me that I want to continue to cheer. The PV Cheerleaders gave me a lot of tips that I could use to practice before the try outs in April. I was also invited to the cheer clinic in February to prepare for the tryouts. I am really excited about going to PV and getting involved."
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12th Grader
Cheerleading Captain
12th Grade Student Athlete
"This was my first time visiting a college campus and going to a college football game. We learned two new cheers that I will never forget. Even though we were there to celebrate all the seniors, it really made me want to go to college because it seemed so fun! I look forward to leading the team next year and getting them ready for a new season."
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11th Grader
Cheerleading Co-Captain
11th Grade Student Athlete
Picture of Appreciation
After attending this opportunity, the cheerleaders received a picture of appreciation for participating and an invitation to return for open house. With access to this opportunity, the girls have a place where they feel welcomed.
Prairie View A&M University Thank you Note sent to students
Access To Further Opportunities
To further research opportunity for my cheerleaders, I found that the school would be having upcoming events as pictured below. The first is a cheer clinic, where the girls could learn collegiate cheerleading. The second pictured is of the actual try out date for incoming freshman. As a team, we are working to be in the best shape for these upcoming events, if the students want access to these opportunities.
Cheer Clinic Opportunity Flyer
Cheer Tryouts Opportunity Flyer
Coach Reflection
As a coach, I am grateful to be able to offer meaningful opportunities like this for my girls. Moving forward, I think that it is important to incorporate more activities, community service, and other volunteer opportunities for my team to participate in. These opportunities would expose them to new experiences where they could make connections to different places and people that could help them further their goals.
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College visits seem like a norm for high school seniors, but this trip was especially important because they got to participate in an event that involved their interest. In getting to know my team, they have grown to love cheerleading as a sport, and as a coach it is my job to ignite their passion with a pathway to success. I liked this opportunity because it brought clarity to some one my seniors in their college decision making processes and gave them insight in life beyond high school, not just for them, but for their families as well. This eye-opening experience encouraged me and my team to look for other schools in Texas that offer similar activities for graduating seniors. For me, I now know that I have the power to present life changing opportunities to my students that are not readily available to them, which open doors for other resources. Before leaving the campus, I encouraged each of my girls to exchange contact information with members of the collegiate team. In doing that, they can keep in touch and further make connections if they choose.