James Wood High School 17-year-old junior
Sport: Cheerleading
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about cheerleading?: All the connections I’ve made. I love competition season, when there’s a nervous feeling right before you go on a mat. Then you just give it your all, and you feel like you’ve just completed the world.
Most memorable moment in cheerleading: This year, me and my friend Raelynn [Holmes] were the only two juniors left. Our freshman year, we were really proud of our team that year. This year at regions, we were so upset and crying, because we realized that next year, we would be the only ones left from that team. It was just a sad ‘letting go’ of our seniors.
Most embarrassing moment in cheerleading: Every single time after we compete, I always throw up after because it’s like an adrenaline rush. It’s uncomfortable, because I have to do it out in public. Before we compete, my friends always help me scope out a trash can so I know where to run to after.
Most difficult moment in cheerleading: Anytime you’re not doing good, but you want to make people believe that you are, and you have to put on a face that shows the goodness that you’re trying to spread.
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My dad; he passed away three years ago. I appreciated how he was just so welcoming. Anywhere we went, he wasn’t a stranger to anyone. Everyone loved him. He was such a good guy. He was a really good role model for me to look up to. Jesus; I would love to hear all the stories. Even though they’re already in the Bible, I would just love to hear word-for-word what he would say. And my granddad, John Beverly Day; I didn’t get to meet him before he passed away. I would love to hear all the stories that he’s gone through.
Biggest athletic influence: Definitely my cousin, Ashanti. (Ashanti Day was a 2017 James Wood High School graduate who competed in volleyball and track & field for the Colonels, and played volleyball for Virginia State. Day was Virginia State’s valedictorian in the spring of 2021 and the vice president of the National Society of Black Engineers.) In high school, she balanced out schoolwork, she took a lot of honors classes, and she was also a really good athlete. She always set a bar for me as far as balancing out my cheer and my schoolwork, just to prove it can be done.
Favorite teacher: Mr. [Charles] Wilson. He was my biology teacher last year. Me and him just have a good connection. We have this buddy bench that we sit on. Even though I don’t have him this year, I make time to go see him. We talk about each other’s day. He comes to the football games. He shows support. He’s just the best. He’s a really good teacher, and he’s a really good friend.
Favorite movie: “Free Willy”
Favorite TV show: “Peppa Pig”
Favorite song: “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake
Favorite food: Lasagna. I like Stouffer’s.
Worst thing you’ve eaten: Crab. I do not like seafood.
Plans after high school: I did want to become an environmental lawyer. Now I’m leaning more toward the military. I’ll take the next year to figure out which option. Environmental lawyer, I’m a very outdoorsy person. I love nature, and I love the lawyer aspect where I can stand up for something I love. The military aspect, I love helping people. I love serving for a good cause. I also love the aspect of special intelligence and finding out more about cultures and people.
— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki