Bullying is a pervasive issue for kids from elementary through high school. It happens online and in person, and it can have devastating consequences. Fortunately, the most effective antidote is when peers stand up for the person who is being bullied. In the case of one cheerleader with down syndrome who was being mocked by students from the opposing team, three young men who stood up for her, redirected the course of the entire school culture.
The Cheerleader With Down Syndrome
Desiree Andrews is a middle school cheerleader at Lincoln Middle School in Wisconsin. This 14-year-old is cheerful and enthusiastic—the perfect characteristics for someone leading the crowd to cheer for their team.
So how did she become interested in cheerleading? After becoming an avid fan of Glee, Desiree decided she wanted to become a cheerleader because she saw cheerleaders in action in the television show. According to her dad, Cliff Andrews, being a cheerleader has been a boost for her self-esteem.
One friend shared, “Desiree is an awesome cheerleader who is always eager to give the players high-fives and fist-bumps as a sign of support.”
Only one day when she stood on the sidelines cheering for a basketball game, it was she who needed the support. Apparently, some students from the opposing team noticed this cheerleader with down syndrome and began mocking her from the stands.
Three Basketball Players Stand Up Against Bullying
Three other middle school students, Chase Vasquez, Miles Rodriguez, and Scooter Terrien were on the basketball court at the time, when they noticed what was happening. The three young men consider Desiree a friend, calling her D; so they weren’t happy to see this bullying occur.
Chase Vasquez shared about the event. He said, “The kids in the audience were picking on D, so we all stepped forward.”
The three middle school basketball players stopped the game in its tracks.
“We were mad,” Miles Rodriguez explained. “We didn’t like that. We asked our sports director to talk to the people and tell them not to make fun of her.”
When the other players on the Lincoln Middle School team noticed that Desiree was being bullied and saw their three teammates standing up for her, they too asked for a timeout and left the court.
But this wasn’t the end of their support for sweet Desiree, the cheerleader with down syndrome.
After that day, the boys began walking her to class to make sure she was safe and treated with respect. According to the school, what Chase, Miles, and Scooter did that day of the basketball game and since then has changed the culture of the school in profound ways. School officials noted bullying to be reduced significantly, and other students have begun to stand up against unkindness and bullying.