“If we’re going to rise, lets do it together. . .”
CHEERFIT AMBASSADOR FEATURE: SHA’CIAH BANKS
The CHEERFIT ambassador community is filled with leaders and motivators who all share a passion for fitness, love for cheering and drive to help inspire others.
Our ambassadors share with us their personal stories and obstacles they overcome along the way. We have an amazing community of athletes who fuel their passion and determination with the CHEERFIT lifestyle. In addition to cheerleading, many of our ambassadors are committed to having a positive impact on their community.
This week, we meet Sha’ciah – a straight ‘A’ student and inspiring cheerleader who tells us that “work, dedication and motivation” is what makes you a stronger ambassador and athlete! A member of the CHEERFIT family since August 2016, we share with you our ‘Ambassador of the Week Feature’ with Sha’ciah Banks!
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND HOW YOU GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
Before I became a CHEERFIT Ambassador, I struggled with technique in my tumbling, as well as learning new tumble skills. At my old gym South Jersey Storm, I used to get really bad pain in my knee every time I did a tumble pass. My mom took me to see a doctor and that is when I learned that i have osteochondritis in my right knee – in order to fix it, I was going to have to quit cheerleading or get surgery done on it.
Before leaving Storm, I became a CHEERFIT Ambassador and joined in on every work out challenge since the summer. Every work out video Mrs. Danielle posted, I found myself doing. Following my work outs, my coaches and I myself noticed that the technique in my tumbling had improved. I started setting better and moving faster during my tumble passes. I also learn new tumble skills faster than I normally do.The best part is i no longer have pain in my knee since I work out everyday now! I also started a new eating habit – less junk food.
What I learned being a CHEERFIT ambassador is that you really have to be fit if you want to be apart of this sport.
What I’ve learned being a CHEERFIT ambassador is that you really have to be fit if you want to be a part of this sport. I’m glad to be part of this organization so that I can continue to motivate others in my situation, and in the sport of cheerleading world-wide to be CHEERFIT strong! I now have a punch front through to a roundoff handspring full which I learned two weeks ago, and now throwing it on the floor.
I am Sha’ciah and I am CHEERFIT💪
– CHEERFIT Ambassador Sha’ciah Banks
ARE YOU INVOLVED IN ANY VOLUNTEER OR NONPROFIT AND HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE OTHERS?
I am a Loveemwithkindness topaz ambassador and I enjoy spreading kindness and love everywhere I go! Being on the LEWK squad, I get to lend a helping hand to others in need. Although I don’t like praise for this, I enjoy it. Over the summer I got to help a family in need in Texas and they were very grateful for it. When I was in Baltimore at American Masters nationals, I saw a homeless lady sleeping out in the cold and I left her some breakfast so that she would have something to eat when she got up. These are just some of the little things I do outside of cheer.
I love helping others and by sharing my CHEERFIT and lewk journey, I am motiving and inspiring others to be the change, join in on my journey, and create their own by becoming a part of both organizations.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GOALS:
My goal for 2017 was to get my level 4 and 5 tumbling skills before next season, and I have mastered them within two months of learning them. My next goal is to make it on a worlds team before I enter into high school which is in 3 years.
I also maintain straight A’s in school and get my homework done while being in the gym 4 days a week. When I graduate high school, I want to cheer for college and become a physical education teacher.
HOW HAS BEING AN AMBASSADOR HELPED YOU?
Being a CHEERFIT ambassador helped me become confident in my tumbling and learn new skills faster than I normally do. It also helped me get rid of the pain in my knee.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A CHEERFIT AMBASSADOR?
My favorite part about being a CHEERFIT ambassador are the workouts because I get to do them with my mom and challenge her – fun, fun, fun! I also love meeting fellow ambassadors at the comps and getting new cheerleaders to join.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL OTHERS WHO WANT TO BECOME A CHEERFIT AMBASSADOR?
Work, dedication and motivation is what you need in order to become a CHEERFIT ambassador . . .and if you think you have what it takes, then apply and come join the family on our CHEERFIT journey.
FUN FACT ABOUT ME:
I never had any tumbling lessons and don’t own any tumble mats. I taught myself every tumble skill in my yard on a mattress, and clean it up when I go to the cheer gym. My mother is a single mom raising four of us on her own, so she can’t afford to buy any tumble mats or pay for tumbling privates. If you look at my Instagram account shaciah_njse_official, you will see videos of me tumbling in my yard and cleaning it up in the gym.
I am just lucky to be able to do all star cheer and I am grateful for that.
WHAT 3 THINGS ARE ALWAYS IN YOUR CHEER BAG?
Hair ties, lotion and socks.
FAVORITE SONG TO JAM OUT TO DURING A SWEAT SESH:
The music to my routine . . .
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EXERCISE?
Burpies, planks, pushups, & bike riding!
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“If we’re going to rise, lets do it together – as a team we can be better.”
(this is a quote I thought of when I was on my old team because there was so much arguing during practice . . . this motivated them to do better and we started hitting 0 after that. Basically it means if we work together as a team, we can earn that Big W as a family.)
Thank you so much for sharing your story with the community Sha’ciah! It sounds like you have big goals and dreams ahead of yourself and great motivation from within and amazing support from your mom. We hope you continue to inspire others with your CHEERFIT journey and can’t wait to follow along to see all of the things you have yet to accomplish.
We are SO proud to have you in the CHEERFIT family! #CHEERFITstrong
Stay FIT <3,
your CHEERFIT team
cheerFIT is so much more than just a workout brand – we are a lifestyle, a community and an inspiration. We are a community who is strengthened through fitness – both mentally and physically. It is our mission to spread the awareness that cheerleaders need fitness. We are dedicated to building a community of strong, powerful individuals who are a true inspiration to their team and leaders in their community. Together we are disrupting the traditional methods of fitness training and revolutionizing the way people think about cheerleading and their fitness needs! Are you the next cheerFIT Ambassador? Apply today.