After four years of cheering for the University of Tennessee, Kylee Dick took some time to reflect on her experiences as a Vol and share some of her favorite memories from the sidelines.
Rings and titles cannot define my time cheering at Tennessee--it is about the little girls at Vol Walk dreaming of standing where you are. It is about bringing a little bit of Neyland Stadium to a nursing home or an elementary school, and the games I have cheered at that ended in tears because we finally beat Florida after 13 years. I will leave Tennessee cheer remembering the moments where I stood back and realized I am a part of something so much bigger than myself.The aspect of Tennessee cheer I will miss most is the friendships I have made. The girls who stand by my side on game day will be the girls who stand by my side when I get married. For the past four years, I have gone through so much with the people on my team, and I am grateful for the bonds I have made with each and every one of them.
To the rookies on Tennessee cheer: enjoy every moment and opportunity you have. I know it gets tough, but looking back on my time at Tennessee, I would not trade the chaos, crammed schedule, or long practices for the world. Take each day one step at a time. Always remind yourself how lucky you are to be in the position you are in.
I would also like to thank Mrs. Joy and Coach Chelsea for all the time and effort they have put into coaching junior varsity (or the three senior girls)--I know we are a handful, but we love you both and are so thankful for our time on Rocky Top.