Quitman High School freshman Millie Jordan stays busy on Friday nights. Between cheering on the sidelines and performing with the marching band, she has plenty to keep up with during football season.
Jordan has been involved in cheerleading for nine years and band for two. She said the friendships she has made are a big part of why she enjoys both activities.
“I chose to be a part of these activities because of the friendships I have created within them,” Jordan said.
Her favorite part of cheerleading is stunting, which allows her to show off her strength. In band, she plays the vibraphone, an instrument she enjoys for its sound and versatility.
“And what I love most about playing vibraphone is how pretty the instrument sounds, and the many different songs you can play on it,” Jordan said.
Being involved in both activities isn’t always easy, especially during football games.
“I can’t play in the stands while I’m cheering, and I can’t cheer while I play. So I don’t really get the full experience of both extracurriculars,” Jordan said.
Despite the challenges, Jordan has made some good memories with both groups.
One of her favorite cheerleading memories was a trip to Eustace when she and a friend, Cayslyn, spent the van ride learning sign language together.
Her favorite band memory came after a percussion competition. When the group returned to school, they sat in a circle outside in the dark while Jordan rapped the children’s book “Llama Llama Red Pajama” along with a TikTok audio clip.
Jordan said participating in both activities has taught her that while she can accomplish things on her own, having friends alongside her makes the experience better.
“When you do what you love, with the people you love, it makes things 100 times better, just because of who you’re surrounding yourself with,” Jordan said.
After high school, Jordan plans to attend Tyler Junior College and enroll in its sonography program. She also hopes to join the Apache Band and continue playing the vibraphone.