“There are a lot of activities at this school, but not everybody can find one that [feels like] their home. The cheer team was [made] for us to have our home activity, and to offer that to other girls in [our] Division,” said UDI Vida Quarshie.

UDIs Natalia Napper and Vida Quarshie are regarded by the St. Benedict’s Prep (SBP) community as upstanding students, dancers and now founders of the SBP Cheerleading Team. Napper has been developing proficiency in dance since the second grade and wanted to share her passion for the art with her peers.

This is why she founded the cheerleading team at The Hive alongside her close friend and fellow dancer, Vida Quarshie. In just one week after their first official meeting on November 8, 2023, they raised 4,000 dollars, formed a team and found a moderator, Ms. Priscila Cruz.

Girls Division students were frustrated that they could not pursue dance and cheer at St. Benedict’s, whether they were experienced or new to the sport. A few were even scared to ask permission to form a team in fear of being shut down immediately. However, the creation of the Cheerleading Team offered the space necessary for more girls to participate in the sport they enjoyed.

Many of the girls say that the cheer team has brought them together and created a sisterhood among them. “There’s a lot of team bonding, so we meet on a personal level, it’s not just athletics. I didn’t know these girls at first, but eventually found out [we] have a lot in common and we formed a deeper bond,” said freshman Joelle Desormes.

There’s a mutual sense of support and association on the Cheer Team. “I thought it was going to be just conditioning and cheers, but we have talks after every practice,” said UDI Angel Manns.

The students had an unstoppable determination throughout their pursuit. “We were not getting support from people who we thought would support us in everything, and not just money but just genuine support—emotionally,” said Quarshie. However, a key to success is perseverance. “We didn’t take that as a ‘stop’, it just made us go harder.”

Quarshie shared the wisdom she gained from her experience founding the team. “Be confident and don’t let other people’s opinions affect how you feel about something you love. If you want to do something, do it. You could make something good out of it,” said Quarshie.

When looking to the future of the team, Napper shared,“If you want something, you have to push to get it because if you don’t push, it will fail. We didn’t do this for nothing. If this falls, honestly I’ll come back and I’ll make it happen again and I’ll be a coach.”