by Trina Walker
Saniya Miller’s introduction to cheer was cut short her freshman year by COVID but that did not stop her. Now a senior at Anadarko High School, Cheerleading has taught Saniya resilience. “When you fall, you get back up,” she says.
Saniya needed something new to try and cheer helped her work through a time where she says she was mentally and physically not herself. “I am passionate because cheer has helped me mentally throughout high school,” she said.
Her favorite part about being on the team is seeing the younger girls grow throughout the year. Representing the positive parts of her community is also important. Saniya says cheer lets her “show other people the good things in our town.”
The teammate leaving the biggest impression is Saniya‘s best friend, Brielle McDuffey who is now studying marine biology in Florida. “Brielle was the quiet girl in school but knew when she had to come out of her shell. She was a cheer captain my second year of cheering and it wasn’t easy,” says Saniya.
Gymnast, Simone Biles, is the professional athlete Saniya looks up to. “She(Biles) is one of the athletes I look up to because she is an melanated athlete just like myself, so it shows me that I can do anything no matter my skin color,” Saniya said.
Spanish teacher, Mrs. Laura Headly, pushes Saniya to be the best person she can be. “Mrs. Headly is hilarious and she is open hearted to everyone that comes in her path,” she said.
Saniya’s grandmother is her biggest inspiration. “Growing up my grandmother has always told me to ‘give it to God, and he will make it work.’ She gives when she doesn’t have anything left for herself and always wants to help others. She has also raised so many of her grandchildren from when we were born!
“I want to shoutout to all of my siblings, my mother, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my friends. I also want to thank all of my teachers believing I could do the work even though I always said I couldn’t. Most of all I want to give a shoutout to God, because without him I wouldn’t be able to do what I am doing now,” said Saniya. Screaming when the team scores, pep assemblies, seeing younger kids faces light up, and trying out for All-Region & All-State Cheerleading are all the best memories Saniya
has of cheer.
Sanyia is also a member of Native American Club and will run track in the spring.
