Jackie Perez – Argos Cheerleader
HUDDLE UP BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM
By Jackie Perez
Bullying occurs in all shapes, sizes and genders and these experiences can leave permanent scars in people that may never disappear. Everyone has experienced bullying as a target, a bully and, in most cases, a bystander.
For me, it was learning how to deal with social bullying in my last few years of elementary school. Being an adolescent is already tough, it’s a period where you’re still figuring out who you are and there’s the incessant need to belong. As a bystander, I was afraid to speak up or stand up against bullying out of fear that I would be the next one to get picked on. I chose to stay silent. These days, bullying in the form of cyberbullying has only magnified the issue for kids. We are told to not stand by, but to stand up when we see bullying, but sometimes we don’t know how to do so.
The Tim Hortons’ Huddle Up Bullying Prevention program was one of the reasons I joined the Toronto Argos Cheerleaders in 2010. Through the program, I am able to speak up against bullying and give kids the tools, the confidence and the encouragement to tackle bullying in a positive way. One of the sessions offered in the Huddle Up program has an Argos cheerleader meet with females from grades 4 to 10 to talk about social bullying as well as self– esteem, supporting one another and how to make a positive impact within their school and community.
I was so nervous my first presentation. What could I offer them? What if the things I say don’t make sense or what if it wasn’t the right answer? But I had nothing to worry about. I shared my experiences, what I did, what I should have done, and what I could have done knowing what I know now. Girls opened up and you could see they were not only absorbing what I was saying, but that they connected with what I was saying, especially the importance of supporting each other as females.
At one of the middle schools I visited this past year, there was a quote by Michael Jordan painted on one of the gym walls. It said, talent wins you games, but teamwork wins you championships. The Argos Cheerleaders are a team. And on this team, being the best dancer or the prettiest girl in the world means nothing if you don’t have the right attitude. I am so lucky to be in such a positive environment where we support each other and make sure everyone feels involved. Every single Argos cheerleader brings something unique to the team which makes us stronger as a whole. Regardless of our background, status or skills, we all come together as one to accomplish a common goal: showing how Toronto Argonauts Football Club are champions on and off the field.
Every May, we gather for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Symposium where Jason Colero, Argos players, Argos cheerleaders and student leaders from participating schools in the GTA came together to showcase how they’re spreading the Huddle Up message in their own communities. Seeing the energy and enthusiasm from students of different backgrounds and ages coming together was truly inspiring. Knowing that the Toronto Argonauts Football Club are constantly making such an impact on these youth was a humbling experience and I am so happy to share in that positive change.