The word cheerleader usually brings a particular stereotype to mind. The pretty girls, the popular girls, the ones who care about their appearance, boys and clothes.
Now, I’m not saying that the stereotype always holds true, but never in a million years would I think that a cheerleader would shave her head.
I would never shave my head. Most girls I know would never even consider shaving their heads.
So when I heard that two Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders shaved their heads for charity, I admit I was in a slight stage of shock.
The two raised $22,670 with their selfless act and had their heads shaved during the Colts game against the Buffalo Bills. The entire time, smiles were plastered on their faces and not a tear was shed.
The money they raised went toward cancer research in support of Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who has leukemia.
Acts like this make me admire people in the spotlight. I know it sounds cliche, but these two cheerleaders used the publicity that they have access to in order to work for the greater good.
Another sports story that touched me recently was about a girl in high school with special needs who was bullied, but then befriended by the football team.
As we all know, so much revolves around popularity and being “cool” in high school. For the star quarterback of a high school football team to invite the girl to sit with the team at lunch takes a lot of humility and compassion.
He had no idea at the time that his act would result in an ESPN story that was shared on Yahoo news. In fact, he didn’t tell a soul about what he was doing. He just wanted to help.
And for all that quarterback knew, he could have become the laughingstock of the team.
Instead, the football players embraced this girl and made her feel welcome at school.
When it comes down to it, humility is something I have a lot of respect for. When someone can put him or herself out there in order to help others, it says so much about his or her character.
This is especially true about someone in the spotlight – whether it be at the high school level or at the professional level.
And I have to admit that the cheerleaders’ act of head shaving earned them quite a bit of respect.
I mean, bald cheerleaders cheer just as well as those with hair.
