Senior night is a special celebration for every athlete who has spent their high school career dedicated to putting in effort into the sport. Family, friends and staff from all around come to celebrate these seniors.
This night was extra special for senior Lara Reimche, a German exchange student who pursued her dreams in the United States as a cheerleader.
“We don’t have sideline cheerleading in Germany, so I was always dreaming about doing it one day,” Reimche said. “Especially because you saw it in the movies.”
Sideline cheering is a cultural concept found only in the United States. Not only that, but high school sports are difficult to find in the majority of German states.
“This might shock people, but we don’t have sports in at German schools,” Reimche said. “If you want to do a sport you need to do it outside of school at a club. But the major sports we have at my town are soccer, track, handball or dancing.”
As an exchange student, Reimche could only cheer for one year. This meant she was unable to create the bonds athletes usually develop within the team.
“It was hard to talk to other people on the team or to be extroverted,” Reimche said. “Especially at the start because I was a little bit insecure with my English.”
Still, she persevered and ended up making bonds along the way.
“My coach has helped me most as a cheerleader,” Reimche said. “I don’t know where I would’ve been without her.”
This problem ended quickly as she warmed up to her teammates and eventually created long lasting memories.
“One of my best memories is, to be honest, the away games we had,” Reimche said. “It was so much fun driving with our coach and team to the different schools and cheering, this also helped me get closer with the other cheerleaders.”
Reimche also documents her experiences as an exchange student athlete through TikTok, accumulating over 3,000 followers of teenagers from around the world.
Each video is dedicated to encouraging others to follow in her footsteps by providing words of advice and encouragement to others dreaming of a similar future.
“Just do it,” Reimche said. “Don’t be scared, it might be one of the best experiences you’ll ever have.”
