Balancing schoolwork and cheer take focus and planning. Cheerleaders dedicate time to practices, games, and competitions while also keeping up with homework, projects, and studying. It takes discipline, organization, and commitment to give attention to both.

“Overtime I’ve gained the ability to balance out school and cheer. My coaches understand the mental state of a student, and I would say academics come first and is set to be top priority,” Noel Kerlin said.

For Noel, finding that rhythm didn’t happen instantly. Some weeks feel heavier than others, especially when exams, performances, and personal responsibilities all overlap. Cheer requires focus, preparation, and effort daily similarly to school. Over time, she has learned that staying organized and managing her time carefully is what allows her to handle both without falling behind.

“Keeping up with both school and cheer isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned to take it one step at a time,” Layla Wilkerson said.

That commitment takes different forms daily. Sometimes it’s reviewing notes on the bus ride home from a game. Other times it’s finishing assignments before practice starts. It’s about understanding that progress comes from consistency rather than perfection.

Cheerleaders put effort into both their routines and their schoolwork. Balancing practices, games, and assignments can be challenging, but it helps them build time management, resilience, and responsibility. Being a cheerleader doesn’t take away from being a student, instead it adds another layer of dedication.

And as Layla said, “It’s not about being perfect, it’s about staying committed.”