What three teenage basketball players did for one of their team’s cheerleaders has touched people throughout the country. We should all keep in mind the importance of standing up for those who are being ridiculed.
High school is often considered to be a difficult time for kids. Since we have all experienced bullying, we are all aware that it is a common problem and that school staff members appear to be doing nothing to stop it and protect the victims.
In contrast, pupils defended a classmate and made it obvious that they would not put up with bullying.
Students from Wisconsin’s Lincoln Middle School Miles Rodriguez, Chase Vasquez, and Scooter Terrien saw some rival supporters make fun of one of the cheerleaders, Desiree Andrews, while they were watching the game. The three teenagers were horrified by this and made the decision to halt the game in order to protect their buddy Desiree, who goes by the initials “D” and has Down syndrome.
When “the kids in the audience were picking on D, so we all came forward,” according to Chase, the incident started, a Milwaukee news website stated.
As soon as the remainder of the squad discovered what their teammates had done, they called a timeout and exited the floor.
“We were furious. We didn’t at all concur with that. According to Miles, then 14 years old, “We asked our sports director to talk to the people and tell them not to make fun of her.”
Desiree is a fantastic cheerleader who never holds back while giving high-fives and fist bumps to the players to express her support.
This sweet young woman was inspired to pursue her ambition of being a cheerleader when she saw a cheerleader with Down syndrome on her favorite TV program, “Glee.”
Cliff Andrews, D’s father, spoke on how the program gave D greater self-assurance and inspired her to join the cheering team. He was unable to suppress the tears that were rolling down his cheeks as he learned what the players had done for his daughter and how they had protected her. She compared this to the boys’ behavior, calling it “kind, nice, great, and amazing.”
Since the event, the men have been accompanying D to class to make sure she is safe.
The school claims that as a result of the boys’ extraordinary efforts, bullying is now all but nonexistent and inclusion and friendliness are popular issues. Numerous kids all throughout the country were motivated by this tale to respect their peers and become better individuals.
Lincoln Middle School exceeded expectations and completed a commendable task. They named the gym “D’s House,” which stands for friendship, after Desiree.
Timothy Nieman, the athletic director, raised a banner bearing the new name and said, “This is what standing up is, being a true team, not just a basketball team but a team of people who are going to support somebody.”
Scooter subsequently said, “Since we are all the same, it is unfair to treat others differently. We are all the same since God created us in the same manner. To be perfectly honest, we couldn’t agree more with you, and we’re glad that even young children are beginning to understand the significance of not allowing others to suffer because of who they are.