My name's Abby, and I was an SEC cheerleader for the University of Arkansas. My story doesn't begin there, though. It begins as an awkward, lanky high school girl sitting in the stands, watching my friends live out my dream. I wanted to be a varsity cheerleader more than anything. My first step was just making the varsity cheer team, and I couldn't even do that. I had many setbacks, trials, pressures, and heartbreaks. Nothing extremely devastating ever happened, and I am forever thankful for that. But I still endured hard times, and that was enough for a young, teenage girl to handle. I went through girls being hateful to me, being left out, and being told: "I wasn't good enough." And most importantly, I wanted to give up, but God pulled me through those times and I became stronger.

I was an SEC cheerleader for the University of Arkansas. My story doesn't begin there though. It begins as an awkward, lanky high school girl with a mouth full of braces sitting in the stands watching my friends live out my dream. I wanted to be a varsity cheerleader more than anything. I had many setbacks, mental blocks, trials, girl drama, pressures and heartbreaks. I was told I wasn't good enough. And the most devastating, I wanted to give up. This is the story of me not giving up, overcoming the trials, and becoming the first Division One college cheerleader in my high school.

When self-proclaimed geek girl Bethany becomes the newest member of the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there’s one thing worse than blending in to the lockers: getting noticed. Who knew cheerleading was so hard? Well, at least there’s a manual. Too bad it doesn’t cover any of the tough questions like: What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party? And how do you protect your best friend from the biggest player in the senior class? Bethany is going to need all her geek brainpower just to survive the season!

The author, a former cheerleader for Louisiana State University and the Kansas City Chiefs coed squad, presents step-by-step instructions for all the basics leading to several routines.

My journey throughout life was not easy; the road was hard and full of mistakes. But it was blessed by God! I probably would not be here today if it was not for the hand of God stepping in and changing the empty road I was on and directing my life to something bigger and better. Praise God! I owe everything to God! Thank you!

Think cheerleading is just pom-poms, "gimme an 'R,'" and pleated skirts? Not anymore. Take an exhilarating trip through the rough-and-tumble world of competitive college cheerleading.... College cheerleaders are extreme athletes who fly thirty feet in the air, build pyramids in which a single slip can send ten people crashing to the ground, and compete in National Championships that are won by hundredths of a point. Cheer! is a year-long odyssey into their universe, following three squads from tryouts to Nationals. Meet the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack cheerleaders from Nacogdoches, Texas, who seem destined to win their fifth National Championship in a row -- until they are shaken by the departure of their longtime coach. Fall in love with the Southern University Jaguars from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an African-American team hoping to raise the $17,000 needed to travel to Nationals and transform their near win several years ago into a Cinderella victory. Root for the University of Memphis All-Girl cheerleaders from Tennessee -- a team that continually struggles for the same respect Coed teams get -- when their quest for a national title is threatened by injuries and dropouts. Along the way, meet unforgettable characters like Sierra, a cheerleading prodigy who has never lost a competition; Doug, who is in his eighth year as a college cheerleader; and Casi, one of the few female bases who can lift another cheerleader on her own. These are people who risk horrifying injuries on a daily basis, battle demons like eating disorders and steroid use, and form intense bonds. In the immersive tradition of Friday Night Lights, Cheer! is a captivating, all-access journey into a deeply absorbing world.

A life story is unique to each one. My journey's story is one of faith and hope instilled years ago in the heart of a young girl. In the twist and turns of life, this inspirational memoir is written in such a way that there is no question of God's penning. To tell my story is to tell of Jesus. It is my heart's desire that what is written will encourage you in your life's journey. A journey where your dreams are inspired and your soul is fed. About the Author Donna Hare is a wife, mother, grandmother, and businesswoman. She is the author of Donna's Diner at JoinWithMe.life, a Christian website, which was cofounded with her husband, Rayburn Hare. It gives her a platform to write. She loves and lives with family in the beautiful state of Missouri.