Rose From Mom
By Kim Detmer
My family and I had just moved back to Utah from Arizona. I was sent to a middle school across town because of boundaries, so 2 years later when it was time to head to High School it was like starting all over again. I didn’t know very many people and the school was very large. I wanted to be involved, so I decided to try out for cheerleader. I had no previous experience but when I was younger I had taken some dance classes. I was a quick learner so I thought I would give it a try.
Tryouts consisted of a day learning a dance routine and then the next day performing a dance routine and a cheer, we had to make up on our own, in front of judges. I was scared to death. None of my friends were trying out so I didn’t have that support group I needed to feel confident. I practiced my routine all night and my mom watched when I asked her to assess my skills. She was always so encouraging and loving even when it wasn’t perfect.
The next day she sent me off with a kiss and wished me luck during my tryouts. As I waited in the hallway alone and scared for my number to be called I kept wishing I had someone close I could talk to. I performed my routine and waited with the rest of the girls as to who the new cheerleaders were going to be. As they began to call the numbers of the girls who were chosen I was taken by surprise as my number was called. Desperate to hug someone I ran to the hall to call my mom when I came out the doorway standing right there in front of me was my mom and my sister holding a rose for me waiting for whatever the outcome would be. I remember thinking just when I needed her the most she was there. She was always there when I needed her. I lost my mom to cancer at an early age. I will always have those memories and I pray that I can be as supportive and loving to my four girls as my mom was to me.
