By Derrick Smith

Cheerleaders are not only a representation of the school whose uniform they wear, they also represent the community. They work hard to spread school spirit all around town and help get people out to support all the athletes. Jaidyn Hudson is a cheerleader for Cashion High School and she is proud to wear the maroon and gold.

“My hometown and the people in it make me who I am,” she said. “Cashion has been the best most supportive community to grow up in, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

As a senior at Cashion, Hudson is a member of cheer and powering. She has worked hard to become the athlete that she is and says she does it for an important reason.

“Both of my sports take endurance and tremendous work ethic,” she said. “In any sport you participate in, you have to be confident and want to succeed. The cheerleaders that will come up after I am gone is what keeps me motivated. The fact that I have younger people looking up to me. I want to set the biggest example for them as I can, and show them anything is possible.”

Throughout her life, Jaidyn has had a number of people that have had an influence on her, both as a person and an athlete. But she has two people that have had the biggest impact on her and have helped her become who she is. 

“My biggest role model is my mom,” she said. “I got the opportunity to have her as my cheer coach all through junior high. She always pushes me beyond my limits, and encourages me to do my best. Mrs. Liles, my Leadership teacher, has made the biggest impact on me. Although I have only had her as my teacher for two years, she has helped me grow into the person I am now. In high school being your true self can be hard with all the opinions and stereotypes that surround you. Mrs. Liles and her leadership class has shown me I can be confident in who I am.”